233 



114 E. Philadelphia #3 



Rapid City, South Dakota 57701 



September 6, 1993 



The Honorable Dale Bumpers 

 The Honorable Larry Pressler 

 Small Business Committee 

 U. S. Senate 

 Washington, D. C. 20515 



Dear Senators Bumper and Pressler: 



I briefly attended the recent Rapid City hearings of the Senate Small Business 

 Comnittee that were to addresi "public land use impact on small business." 

 I was extremely disheartened by the lack of rational discussion and fairplay 

 at these hearings. I am submitting these conments to help correct the record. 



First, the hearing was called to investigate "public land use impact on small 

 business." Little of the testimony actually addressed that issue. Instead, 

 Senator Pressler used the hearing as a political rally for his new-found corporate 

 supporters in the poorly-named "multiple-use" movement. 



When grassroots citizens see our Congressional representatives using 

 taxpayers' money to hold a political "be-in," respect for Congress and its 

 institutions pluimet. I had come to hear thoughtful presentations on a legitimate 

 area of controversy. Instead I was treated to the tired and overblown rhetoric 

 of the self-appointed "multiple use" crowd. I walked out of the hearing in 

 disgast. 



In order for the public to have any faith in Congress, I would hope that 

 such "show" hearings will be curtailed. With the federal deficit and its economic 

 ramifications killing small business, every effort to spare taxpayers the expense 

 of these political rallies must be made. 



In this regard I ask the Small Business Committee to determine whether it 

 is legal and acceptable to falsely advertise a hearing of the Committee and 

 proceed to use it as a political rally. Further, the Committee should charge 

 the cost of this hearing to Senator Pressler's campaign fund, rather than stick 

 the taxpayers with the bill. 



Second, the "hearing" included vitriolic attacks, some by Senator Pressler, 

 on South Dakotans, including small businesses, who value the natural resources 

 of our public lands. According to the Forest Service figures, 40 percent of 

 the economic impact of the Black Hills National Forest is derived from recreation- 

 based activities. Only 22 percent of the Forest's economic impact results from 

 timber. Despite this, the timber industry drives the management decisions on 

 the Forest. It is this real imbalance that must be addressed, not Senator 

 Pressler's hallucinations about "environmental extremists" ruining the timber 

 industry. 



Third, it's great that Senator Pressler says he wants to retain public land 

 in multiple use, but before he says that he should be at least minimally 

 conversant with the Multiple Use-Sustained Yield Act. Senator Pressler is.upde* 



