Senate Passes Conservation Tax Incentives
Legislation that includes incentives for private landowners to conserve their property (S. 476) was passed in the Senate by a vote of 95-5 on Wednesday. These incentives, promoted by Caucus members Senators Charles Grassley (R-IA) and Max Baucus (D-MT), include President Bush's proposal for a partial exclusion from capital gains tax when an easement or land is sold to a public or nonprofit conservation agency and an increase in the ability of donors to deduct contributions of conservation easements. If enacted, these tax incentives will result in significant new conservation of farmland, forests, wetlands and wildlife habitats across the country - all through voluntary, landowner-initiated action. CSF joined Ducks Unlimited, the International Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies, and other conservation organizations in a letter supporting the conservation tax incentive provisions. Legislation including these provisions has not been introduced in the House at this time but is expected to be introduced later this month.
House Passes Gun Industry Lawsuit Protection Act
This week, the House passed HR 1036, "The Protection of Lawful Commerce in Arms Act" by a vote of 285 - 140. As reported last week, HR 1036, which is sponsored by CSC member Cliff Stearns (R-FL) and co-sponsored by over 80 percent of the House Caucus, would put an end to frivolous lawsuits filed against the firearms industry that hold manufacturers and dealers liable for the criminal acts of third parties. Five amendments were offered to water down the legislation but were defeated easily.
The Senate version, S. 659 sponsored by CSC member Larry Craig (R-ID), has broad support from 52 co-sponsors, including almost 80% of the Senate Caucus. Action in the Senate is expected before the end of the summer.
PETA Urges Hamburg, N.Y., to Change Name
A national animal rights group has offered Hamburg officials $15,000 to change the town's name to Veggieburg.
"The town's name conjures up visions of unhealthy patties of ground-up dead cows, " said Joe Haptas, spokesman of People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, or PETA, in a letter faxed Monday to Hamburg Supervisor Patrick Hoak.
PETA offered to supply area schools with $15,000 worth of non-meat patties for the name change.
"Our offer is serious as a heart attack, " Haptas said. Hoak immediately declined. "With all due respect, I think it's a delicacy in our community, " he said about hamburgers. "We're proud of our name and proud of our heritage."
The Buffalo suburb, named Hamburg since 1812, claims to be the birth place of the American culinary staple. Hamburg commemorates the birth of hamburgers at the annual Burgerfest.
In 1996, PETA proposed that the Hudson Valley town of Fishkill change its centuries-old name to Fishsave, since the group believed the name conjured up violent imagery of dead fish.
The town was named by Dutch settlers in the early 1600s. "Kill" is the Dutch word for "stream."

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