BLUE RIBBON COALITION, INC.

"PRESERVING OUR NATURAL RESOURCES 'FOR' THE PUBLIC INSTEAD OF 'FROM' THE
PUBLIC"

NEWS RELEASE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Don Amador - 925.625.6287
or Clark Collins - 208.237.1008
MSNBC poll is at http://www.msnbc.com/news/545197.asp

Date: March 27, 2001

NATIONAL POLL SHOWS SUPPORT FOR BUSH FOREST REVIEW

POCATELLO, ID -- A national poll shows that there is strong public support for the Bush administration to review and possibly amend Clinton's roadless initiative. Over 70 percent of respondents to a MSNBC poll state that they are against the former presidents effort to close almost 60 million acres of federal forest lands.

The poll reflects a broad cross-section of folks who fought hard against the Clinton administrations top-down edicts issued from the White House instead of from the local forest supervisors office. Many groups opposed the plan, including various state fish and game departments, back-country recreationists, the Forest Service Employees Union, and local governments.

Don Amador, the western representative for the BlueRibbon Coalition, said, "I think the MSNBC poll reflects the number of forest users who are opposed to Clinton's land closures. The percentages in this national poll almost parallels the amount of opposition I saw at the local roadless meetings."

"Millions of Americans who enjoy access to their public lands, and who voted for Bush on election night, are urging him to review and amend the roadless program. The president talked about the roadless issue during the debates and said he did not support top-down directives. It appears that his supporters want to hold his feet to the fire on this all too important
topic," Amador concludes.