American Land Rights Association
Encyclopedia
The American Land Rights Association (ALRA) is a Wise Use organization based in Battle Ground, Washington
. The group describes itself as "dedicated to the wise-use of our resources, access to our Federal lands and the protection of our private property rights."
, located within Yosemite National Park
. It was initially named the National Park Inholders Association; it describes its mission at that time as "to protect private property landowners from unwanted acquisition by the National Park Service".
The group changed its name to the National Inholders Association (NIA) in 1980. In 1985, it added a number of grazing permittees on federal land to its membership roll. In the early 1990s, it championed the cause of mining claimholders. In 1995, the organization was renamed the American Land Rights Association (ALRA).
ALRA and other Wise Use organizations were most politically active in the 1990s fighting land use restrictions by the Clinton administration. With Republicans in control in Congress and the White House in the 2000s, ALRA had more friends in Washington; this allowed them to exercise some power over the administration's appointments. A notable case was that of John Turner, a friend of vice-president Dick Cheney
, who was under consideration for the #2 position in the Department of the Interior
. ALRA and other property-rights organizations opposed Turner's appointment because of his position as president of the Conservation Fund
, which an ALRA release asserted was "dedicated to threatening, dividing and isolating land owners and small towns". President George W. Bush
chose not to appoint Turner, instead selecting mining-industry lobbyist J. Steven Griles.
on radio and television. ALRA has also sent representatives to testify before various governing bodies.
Battle Ground, Washington
Battle Ground is a city in Clark County, Washington, United States. The population was 17,571 at the 2010 census. According to the Washington State Office of Financial Management, Battle Ground ranked 4th of 279 eligible incorporated communities in population growth between 2000 and 2005.-Origin of...
. The group describes itself as "dedicated to the wise-use of our resources, access to our Federal lands and the protection of our private property rights."
History
The organization was founded in 1978 by property owners in the community of Wawona, CaliforniaWawona, California
Wawona is a census-designated place in Mariposa County, California. It is located east of Mariposa, at an elevation of 3999 feet...
, located within Yosemite National Park
Yosemite National Park
Yosemite National Park is a United States National Park spanning eastern portions of Tuolumne, Mariposa and Madera counties in east central California, United States. The park covers an area of and reaches across the western slopes of the Sierra Nevada mountain chain...
. It was initially named the National Park Inholders Association; it describes its mission at that time as "to protect private property landowners from unwanted acquisition by the National Park Service".
The group changed its name to the National Inholders Association (NIA) in 1980. In 1985, it added a number of grazing permittees on federal land to its membership roll. In the early 1990s, it championed the cause of mining claimholders. In 1995, the organization was renamed the American Land Rights Association (ALRA).
ALRA and other Wise Use organizations were most politically active in the 1990s fighting land use restrictions by the Clinton administration. With Republicans in control in Congress and the White House in the 2000s, ALRA had more friends in Washington; this allowed them to exercise some power over the administration's appointments. A notable case was that of John Turner, a friend of vice-president Dick Cheney
Dick Cheney
Richard Bruce "Dick" Cheney served as the 46th Vice President of the United States , under George W. Bush....
, who was under consideration for the #2 position in the Department of the Interior
United States Department of the Interior
The United States Department of the Interior is the United States federal executive department of the U.S. government responsible for the management and conservation of most federal land and natural resources, and the administration of programs relating to Native Americans, Alaska Natives, Native...
. ALRA and other property-rights organizations opposed Turner's appointment because of his position as president of the Conservation Fund
The Conservation Fund
The Conservation Fund is an American environmental non-profit with a dual charter to pursue both economic development and environmental preservation.The Fund partners with community, government and corporate leaders to fulfill their conservation priorities...
, which an ALRA release asserted was "dedicated to threatening, dividing and isolating land owners and small towns". President George W. Bush
George W. Bush
George Walker Bush is an American politician who served as the 43rd President of the United States, from 2001 to 2009. Before that, he was the 46th Governor of Texas, having served from 1995 to 2000....
chose not to appoint Turner, instead selecting mining-industry lobbyist J. Steven Griles.
Activism
ALRA cooperates with broad-based conservative organizations on land-use related issues. It sponsors the Land Rights Network, a nationwide mail, phone, fax and e-mail lobby outreach network. It also organizes the League of Private Property Voters, which has published a vote index since 1990, scoring members of Congress on votes relating to regulations on private property rights and restrictions on use of federal public lands. The League promotes some general conservative causes unrelated to land use as well: for example, their 2007 ratings of U.S. Senate members were based on ten votes, one of which was a measure to prevent restoration of the Fairness DoctrineFairness Doctrine
The Fairness Doctrine was a policy of the United States Federal Communications Commission , introduced in 1949, that required the holders of broadcast licenses to both present controversial issues of public importance and to do so in a manner that was, in the Commission's view, honest, equitable...
on radio and television. ALRA has also sent representatives to testify before various governing bodies.