Rep. Wayne Owens, D-Utah - who is disliked in many parts of rural Utah for his proposals to turn 5.4 million acres into wilderness - is urging President Bush to hold a summit on the State of the Rural Union.
Owens joined in a letter-writing campaign organized by Rep. Byron Dorgan, D-N.D., seeking the summit to address concerns about government policies that make it tough for farmers and ranchers to cover expenses."With renewed interest in domestic issues, President Bush must be encouraged to focus on the critical needs of our rural areas," Owens said. "The problems faced by people in rural areas are no less important than anyone else's."
Owens also recently introduced a bill to create incentives to attract doctors and other medical practitioners to rural areas.