Commissioners Robinson, Dunbar attend NACO in "Big Easy"

Commissioners Lesley Robinson and Richard Dunbar attended the National Association of Counties (NACO) Annual meeting in New Orleans July 11-15. The annual conference is when policy is developed to guide NACO for the next year.

Commissioner Dunbar sits on the Energy, Environment and Land Use Committee. He sponsored a resolution creating policy that states, “NACO urges Presidential or Congressional approval of the Keystone XL Pipeline”. It was adopted by NACO. Last year the policy simply asked for a decision. This year the language asked for approval of the pipeline.

Commissioner Robinson is a vice chairman of the Public Lands committee. This committee passed forty one resolutions. Far more than any other committee at NACO. Some examples are supporting legislation to reform the Endangered Species Act (ESA), opposition to listing the Greater Sage Grouse as an endangered species, supporting legislation to amend the Equal Access to Justice Act, supporting funding for Payment in Lieu of Taxes (PILT) from the Land and Water Conservation Fund, and supporting an amendment to the Antiquities Act to require approval of Congress and the affected State and local governments.

The Western Interstate Region (WIR) also met at the convention. President Robinson reported that the three working groups created in Anchorage have been having conference calls to work on solutions to the ESA, PILT and Secure Rural Schools (SRS) funding and wild horse and burros.

Louisiana Senator Mary Landrieu, chairman of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources committee spoke about her pledge to work with Senate Finance Committee Chairman Ron Wyden of Oregon to find a long term funding solution for PILT and SRS. Senator Landrieu is a staunch supporter of the Keystone XL Pipeline.

The fall WIR board meeting will be hosted by President Robinson in Malta October 1-3.