I am very disappointed to learn that Rep. Jim Matheson voted for the so-called "Forest Health Protection Act" sponsored by anti-environmental Colorado Rep. Scott McInnis. That's supposed to be "forest health," as in protection from wildfire.
Unfortunately, the McInnis bill is really more about the health of the timber industry's pocketbook.
Protecting forest communities should be the single most important priority of wildfire legislation. But instead of directing attention to where wildfire is the most serious threat, near people's homes, the McInnis bill permits loggers to cut the most fire-resistant trees in wild lands miles from where anyone lives.
Richard Leetham
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Salt Lake City