Where’s the chair for the taxpayers?
Herald and News letter by
George Warner, 11/20/08We thank the Herald and News for, over past months, bringing to light details of the “Klamath Basin Restoration Agreement” developed by fishing, farming, tribal, environmental and government “stakeholders” during more than two years of closed door discussions and meetings.
You point out that almost half of the estimated $450 million cost of removing four dams from the Klamath River will be paid for by PacifiCorp customers, and that the “Agreement” seeks “the use of public funds to buy private land for the Klamath Tribes.”
On Nov. 15, your headline asked “Who’s at the table?”
We ask, If someone pays the bill for the meal at the table — shouldn’t that person be seated at the table, and be considered a stakeholder?
Some years ago public funds were given to most members of the Klamath Tribes in exchange for their land. Now, years later, some so-called “stakeholders” are proposing to take more public monies from the taxpayers to give land to the Tribes.
Aren’t the taxpayers who pay for this land “stakeholders?” If not, why not? If we PacifiCorp customers and taxpayers are going to be expected to pay for all of this, when are we going to be recognized as “stakeholders” and invited to sit at the table?
George Warner
Klamath Falls