an article from the FlorenceMiningNews.com
Kagen sees tough economic times ahead
To a forest products industry looking for a little good news, U.S. Rep. Steve Kagen offered only a few nuggets amid a generally gloomy economic outlook.
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Doesn't that say it all, "forest products industry looking for a little good news", They were looking for a little good news and got beat up and kicked in the process from their congressman. The people of the 8th district are owed more from Congressman Kagen than a few nuggets.
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Kagen, D-Appleton, spoke via cell phone over a loudspeaker at the 4th Annual Sustainable Forestry Conference last week at the Encore on Central in Florence. Kagen said he intends to push for greater access to timber in the national forest, a chief concern among some in the forestry industry.
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With all the federal spending today, he had Wisconsin's first cell phone conference call! No comment!
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Congressman Kagen has it correct on timber access. Will he present a bill in congress to open up more harvesting timber in the National Forests? He did not say. The lumber industry is looking for direction, again what bill will Steve Kagen bring before congress, Answer, still nothing. If the people in Florence invited him to speak, what specific federal change will he present in congress to help the forest industry? Answer, still nothing!
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“It makes no sense to let trees fall and not reap the benefits,” he said, adding that a balance must be struck between harvesting timber and protecting endangered species.
In the Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest, three animals, the pine marten, the goss hawk and the red shouldered hawk, are the primary concern among wildlife officials, said Harv Skjerven, district forest ranger for Florence and Eagle River.
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Congressman Kagen you again are correct, “It makes no sense to let trees fall and not reap the benefits.” In your same breath why did you have to bring up "a balance must be struck between harvesting timber and protecting endangered species." The people in Northern Wisconsin do not want to "endanger any species." Was he trying to blame the forest industry for killing off endangered species? They need to put food on their table and gasoline in their vehicles! How many people will lose their jobs because your left wing kooks are trying to protect a beetle, butterfly or wolf? The forest industry probably goes out of their way to protect our environment. Can we all ask, who or what is more important, A bug or furniture factory?
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On another key front, Kagen said he’s been in contact with “a number of potential buyers” of the Niagara Mill and he holds out hope that a deal can be struck to keep the mill open. NewPage, which acquired the mill late last year, said it intends to close the facility in October.
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On Tuesday, Kagen joined 22 other member of Congress in asking the Commerce Department to make a determination in favor of an anti-dumping petition filed by Appleton Papers. U.S. manufacturers blame Asian dumping for eroding their U.S. market share.
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“If U.S-based companies are to continue to make investments in jobs and capital equipment necessary for long-term prosperity, they cannot compete on an uneven playing field against artificially low-priced imports,” the letter said.
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A decision by the Commerce Department is due in early May.
A primary reason for the slumping lumber market is the lack of housing construction. Kagen sees no sign of a quick rebound in that sector. In fact, things could get much worse, he warned.
"Could get much worse", why not tell them you will send them unemployment applications, food stamps and welfare checks. Since you were on a cell phone, you didn't see their faces when you said "things could get much worse, he warned." Not like kicking someone when they're down.
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The housing market “simply doesn’t have a floor,” he told attendees at the conference.
Published reports put expected foreclosures at 2 million to 3 million. Kagen, however, said it’s conceivable that as many as 20 million homes could go into foreclosure before the crisis ends.
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What does “simply doesn’t have a floor" mean? Maybe he was telling a joke. Get it, floor, wood products. Hey,I didn't say it!
What does "expected foreclosures" have to do with economic growth in the forest industry. Foreclosures are on houses that are already built and not new construction for the timber industry. They are looking to harvest trees and not prop up some one's mortgage with tax dollars.
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“Eight thousand families per week are falling behind in payments,” he said. The mortgage mess is the nation’s No. 1 economic crisis, he said. “We have to establish a floor.”
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The people in Florence had to be scratching their heads. “We have to establish a floor.” What does that mean and what does that have to do with the forest industry?
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Last week’s conference was attended by about 125 people who listened to presentations on a range of topics that included wood fuel pellets, securing ample resources, opportunities in woody biomass, and evaluating the feasibility of bioenergy projects.
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Tim Baye, a professor of business development for University of Wisconsin-Extension who has extensive experience in the private sector, presented a detailed inventory of what should be done before a bioenergy project becomes an economic reality. He discussed strategy and planning, financing, site analysis and many other matters associated with this emerging industry. He stressed the importance of thorough planning and the use of sound business principles in bringing a concept to the marketplace.
Opportunities abound in biofuels, he said.
“The winners will have good business models and the losers will not,” Baye said. “It’s all about that business model in my opinion.”
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Hank Murphy
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Congressman Kagen, "If a tree falls in a forest and no one is around to hear it, does it make a sound?" The people in the forest indusry want to hear results not excuses. They want to hear how you will help them, not how you need to help someone in L. A. or Milwaukee. Are you for the forest industry in Wisconsin or with the Sierra Club in California?
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To the 8th district constituents, next time you see or hear congressman Kagen, he will be flying a plane with a 100 ft banner behind it. His cell phone will be blaring from the plane and he will be shouting "together we will as long as I am your congressman"! As he flies over Florence he will drop his monthly newsletter. Oh yea, the banner on the plane will say "call me in Washington if you need me again!"
After the confrence call, I bet some said,
"We need to send Dr. Kagen back to private practice."
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