Ms. Gale Norton, the newly nominated secretary of the US Department of Interior by President-elect Bush, believes in the free market system and local control solutions, according to an AP news story.<\/p>\n
“In 1984, she went to work for the Agriculture Department in Washington. A year later, she was named assistant solicitor for conservation and wildlife at the Interior Department where she worked to open the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge to oil drilling. Bush said the same while running for president.<\/p>\n
The 46-year-old lawyer served as the State of Colorado’s first female attorney general. It’s an elected position and secured it in 1990 against an incumbent. She won re-election in 1994.<\/p>\n
She has gone up against the federal government opposing the US Forest Service in its attempt to take over private and state water rights to ensure a certain level of water continued flowing through streams and rivers. The Forest Service’s requirements were higher than water flows called for in the state law.<\/p>\n
“Issues of growth and land management are among the most important in Colorado, a growing state where residents treasure open space. Norton has argued that government must not get too involved trying to direct growth.<\/p>\n
“I don’t think that the state or any government guesses particularly well in the long run,” she said in 1995.<\/p>\n
It seems that Ms. Norton’s basic philosophy of “local control solutions” augurs well with the nearly decade’s-old-struggle to protect our inherent rights to self-government. It is imperative, therefore, that local leadership rallies behind her confirmation as the next Secretary of Interior.<\/p>\n
The administration, legislature and the business community should converge to rally collective support of her appointment as secretary. Let us show Ms. Norton how grateful we are that someone with a basic commitment to “local control solutions” is the very person we need beginning this year.<\/p>\n
The political mood in Washington is just right to rebuild the ruined bridge of constructive engagement. The bridge has been bombarded by the lame duck administration’s cabal who had caved into US labor unions’ demands. They were commanded to jump at the snap of a finger. They did! They became spin masters and whipping boys for four long years.<\/p>\n
The fight to protect our inherent rights to self-government as guaranteed under the Covenant Agreement is far from over. There still are labor unions’ pet tigers in the US Congress who would still do anything within their means to derail the very essence of the agreement. This is what we must guard against at all cost.<\/p>\n
We hope Ms. Norton would be amenable to exercising the very philosophy she’s held about local control solutions. This side of the Pacific divide has thirst for it since 1993. Let’s join hands and work with her beginning today! Si Yuus Maase`!<\/p>\n
Idea of Tinian-Saipan Bridge<\/p>\n
The long-term benefits of a bridge between Saipan and Tinian are greater than what we have in place today.<\/p>\n
It would open up daily opportunities never before available to its residents and visitors. From medical emergency, education, commerce, etc. The floodgates to bring Tinian closer to the business center would swing wide open.<\/p>\n
This is the time to seriously consider it. We can make good use of our friends in Washington for funding purposes. We will have Mr. Jack Abramoff and his team of expert public relations people work Capitol Hill. He can also provide liaison with the Bush administration to ensure that the funds appropriated is signed into law. Let’s not hold back using his services on this and the defense of our freedom under the new administration.<\/p>\n
Strictly a personal view. John S. DelRosario Jr. is publisher of Saipan Tribune.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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