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Letters to the EditorMonday, September 3, 2007 12:03 AM CDT
Commend Johnson for environmental leadership
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Rep. Tim Johnson has earned commendation for his work to protect one of the most special places in America's natural heritage - Utah's red rock canyons. He should also be commended for his past and future leadership on environmental issues in general.

A group representing Illinois Clergy and Laity Concerned for Utah Wilderness met recently with Rep. Johnson. By becoming a co-sponsor of ``America's Red Rock Wilderness Act'' (HR 1919), he has agreed to assume a leading role in supporting this legislation in the U.S. House of Representatives and work to protect these special public lands from looming threats of mismanagement that can lead to irreparable harm.

One might ask, ``Why would people from Illinois be interested in such legislation?'' The Red Rock bill is designed to protect federal wilderness quality lands which belong to every citizen. This makes Utah wilderness an issue that affects us all.

As people of faith, we believe each of us has the obligation to be responsible stewards of this land, wherever it is. Besides, many of us in Illinois through hiking and camping experiences have found these wilderness lands to be places of renewal.

Ours was a bipartisan group consisting of registered Democrats and Republicans. Since preserving our natural resources is a bipartisan issue, it makes sense that we would approach it from that perspective.

We learned in our meeting with Rep. Johnson that he represents that long history of strong Republican participation and leadership in protecting the environment surrounding us. We discovered that Rep. Johnson is eager to work in a bipartisan manner on such environmental legislation as the Red Rock bill.

We thank Rep. Johnson for his leadership in these efforts, particularly during this time in which long-standing commitments to environmental protection are being eroded by our federal government's action and inaction.

Howard Daughenbaugh

Bloomington

The writer was joined in this letter by the five people who accompanied him to the meeting with Johnson.

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Reader comments on this story - 7 total

Note: All views and opinions expressed in reader comments are solely those of the individual submitting the comment, and not those of the Pantagraph or its staff.

Johnson is Worthless wrote on Sep 4, 2007 10:02 PM:

" While he may have gotten some small commendation on this matter, he's so notoriously out of touch with the real world and he also marches lockstep with The Shrub in the White House. He and Jerry Weller rank right up there with the worst that Illinois has to offer in US Reps. Blagojevich ranks right up there with the worst of governors. We sure know how to pick 'em folks! "

The Irascible Fachna wrote on Sep 4, 2007 11:50 AM:

" Afflicted as I notoriously am with chronic Democratic rabies, I must, in fairness, say a word for Tim Johnson's constituent service. His staff handled a small matter of obtaining replacements for my father's lost World War II service medals in a most expeditious and satisfactory manner. Ideologically, of course, I'd sooner be represented by a fence post ..... and Weller is much, much worse. "

what has he done.. wrote on Sep 3, 2007 10:57 AM:

" ..about the destruction of our rights and libertys ? the shredding of the constitution ? the planned and allowed "illegal alien invasion" ? The plan to devalue our currency and replace it with the "amero" ? The plan to erase our sovereignty and uniting mexico and canada as one union by the year 2010 ? The fingerprint/eyescan national ID perhaps spoken of in the Book of Revelation (mark in the right hand/forhed).??? Nothing ?? guess we're on our own. "

Commend? wrote on Sep 3, 2007 10:46 AM:

" Seriously...Can you commend someone on their future leadership??? "

ES wrote on Sep 3, 2007 8:48 AM:

" I have to agree with the 6:39 Poster. This man refuses to answer calls on education as well and to obtain his email is similiar to jumping through hoops of fire over a canyon. He comes around on election time only. Let's find a new representative out there. "

Vic Connor wrote on Sep 3, 2007 8:30 AM:

" Having watched Johnson's voting record. He has never gone against anything of important in the Bush Administrations manaical and anti-environmental laws they've wanted to pass. I guess this letter writer is saying that he didn't go against the environment one time. I guess one time is better than none at all. "

Let Johnson hold office in Utah wrote on Sep 3, 2007 6:39 AM:

" bcause he is certainly pretty worthless to the people in his district. This guy and Weller both are the invisible men to their constituents. This guy in particular will not return a phone call on any topic. I have called his office on 5 different occassions and the furthest I got was to talk to his assistant Kevin. Although Kevin was a polite young man and listened as if he were interested in my concerns, no follow up or return call was ever made. Now I know why, Tim is more concerned about canyons in Utah than gas prices in central Illinois. Good luck in your new career T. Johnson R-Utah. "

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