Strike The Root

There are a thousand hacking at the branches of evil to one who is striking at the root.

  Federal Register Watch

by Mike Powers

December 16 - 20, 2002

 What freedoms have you lost this week?

The Federal Register is the official daily publication for Rules, Proposed Rules, and Notices of Federal agencies and organizations, as well as Executive Orders and other Presidential Documents.  This column attempts to summarize the highlights (or lowlights) of the Federal Register during the preceding week.  

Instructions for subscribing to the Federal Register can be found at the end of the column.

DECEMBER 16, 2002 :

International Trade Administration (ITA) – Antidumping Investigation On Imported Tomatoes

The ITA announces that it is suspending its antidumping investigation on fresh tomatoes from Mexico after exporters agree to sell their product at higher prices set by the Department of Commerce.

Why would the federal government artificially inflate the cost of goods available to American consumers?  To prevent the “injurious effects of imports” sold at “less than fair value,” of course.  Apparently, these economic illiterates believe that consumers are better off when every dollar they spend is worth less. 

Inflation, courtesy of the federal government.

http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/14mar20010800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2002/02-31618.htm  

Presidential Documents – Executive Orders – Equal Protection Under The Law For Faith-Based Organizations

Executive Order 13279 allows faith-based groups to be considered for taxpayer-confiscated federal financial assistance under social service programs without discrimination on the basis of religion. 

Equal opportunity theft for faith-based organizations.  Whatever happened to the Seventh Commandment? You know, the one that says thou shalt not steal?

http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/14mar20010800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2002/02-31831.htm  

DECEMBER 18, 2002 :

Fish and Wildlife Service – Proposal for Critical Habitat Designation for Various Hawaiian Plants

The Fish and Wildlife Service proposes to designate 437,285 acres on the island of Hawaii as critical habitat for 47 endangered plant species.  Critical habitat designation restricts any development that may result in “destruction or adverse modification” of the endangered species, severely curtailing the rights of private property owners.

The preliminary economic analysis estimates the direct cost of critical habitat designation at $51.3 million to $71.8 million over a ten-year period.  Furthermore, some indirect costs could be “substantially larger.”

http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/14mar20010800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2002/02-31876.htm  

Fish and Wildlife Service – Incidental Take Permits for the Alabama Beach Mouse

The Fish and Wildlife Service announces its intent to issue two permits for the incidental take of the endangered Alabama beach mouse.  The announcement is in response to the planned construction of two residential condominium projects in Baldwin County , Alabama . 

The permits allow “non-federal landowners” to take endangered and threatened species, provided the take is incidental and will not affect the survival of the species.  To obtain the permit, applicants must prepare and submit a plan containing a strategy for minimizing the take.  Applicants must also ensure that adequate funding for implementation of the plan will be provided.

It is estimated that expenses incurred from taxes and compliance with government regulations add nearly 20% to the cost of every home built in the United States .  I wonder how many of these future condo owners will realize that part of their purchase price goes toward protecting the local rodent population?

http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/14mar20010800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2002/02-31777.htm  

DECEMBER 20, 2002 :

Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) – Revocation of DEA Certificate for Marion “Molly” Fry, M.D.

The DEA proposes to revoke Dr. Fry’s DEA certificate, the license that allows practitioners to dispense controlled substances.  Her crime?  Prescribing and supplying marijuana to her patients for relief from various physical ailments. 

The insane War on Drugs ensures the health of the State while compromising the liberties of every American.

http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/14mar20010800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2002/02-32008.htm  

Geological Survey – Cooperative Agreement Awards

The United States Geological Survey (USGS) has announced a Cooperative Research and Development Agreement (CRADA) with LockClickPrint, Inc. of Los Lunas , New Mexico .  A CRADA is an agreement between a private company and a government agency to work on a project.

The purpose of this CRADA is to “develop and test the marketability of high-quality, museum art products based on satellite, aerial photography, and mapping source data from the USGS.” 

I smell a government boondoggle.

http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/14mar20010800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2002/02-32008.htm  

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