Western senators are upset that Jim Baca, Bill Clinton's nominee to head the Bureau of Land Management, once called Republicans "jerks" and ranchers "hysterical."
They like it even less that he supports raising grazing fees and mining taxes. And they worry the former board member of The Wilderness Society will too heavily favor environmentalists.So they took plenty of shots at him in confirmation hearings this week. But they shot to maim, not kill, as Republicans openly said he would be confirmed despite their reservations - and many of his critics themselves vowed to vote for him, too.
One of those was Sen. Bob Bennett, R-Utah, who said the tough questions were meant to prod Baca - who is now the elected land commissioner of New Mexico - to keep pledges to seek balanced compromises between development and protection of land.
Bennett said he worries the administration is ignoring the economic impact that many of its proposals would have - such as one to place a 12.5 percent royalty (or tax) on "hard rock" mining such as copper and gold.
"If you impose a 12.5 percent royalty, there will be fewer jobs, a loss of revenue for the federal government and a bigger deficit - all tied with devastation to the (mining) families involved," Bennett said.
Baca, however, said, "I don't feel the hard-rock mining industry is going to pack up and leave if a royalty is put in place." Bennett said the extra costs could close down companies such as Ken-ne-cott, which he said already struggles to produce copper at the low prices set by international markets.
Bennett and other Westerners also shot at Baca for his support of raising grazing fees to collect "fair- market" prices. The administration says ranchers are now heavily subsidized. Ranchers say the administration wants to raise fees to chase cattle off ranges, as desired by environmental groups.
Bennett said total operation costs for ranchers on public lands are already high - and raising grazing fees will force most small ranchers in Utah out of business.
Sen. Larry Craig, R-Idaho, said Baca created the appearance of a conflict of interest. While he was the elected land commissioner in New Mexico, he also served on the board of The Wilderness Society, thus making it appears he favors environmentalists.
Sen. Malcolm Wallop, R-Wyo., read news clips where Baca had called Republicans "jerks," ranchers "hysterical," ranchers who raised buffalo instead of cattle "enlightened" and a group seeking compromises on land use guilty of "David Duke kind of stuff."
Baca agreed such statements do not help seeking compromises and apologized for making them. He said his door is always open to all groups.