Ehrlich on Washington column, February 11, 1996

NEWS FROM Robert L. Ehrlich, Jr. Second Congressional District of Maryland 1407 York Road, Suite 304 Lutherville, Maryland 2 1 093 3 1 5 Cannon House Office Building Washington, D.C. 20515 EHRLICH ON WASHINGTON Week of February 1 1, 1996 By Congressman Robert L. Ehrlich, Jr. PROTECTING THE ENVIRONMENT: A BALANCED APPROACH During my first year in Congress, I received thousands of thoughtful letters from informed constituents-many of them about environmental issues. While I do not agree with everyone who writes, I nonetheless welcome the chance to hear and consider their views. One recent letter— mailed to several area newspapers rather than to me personally— is more an attempt at manipulating public opinion than it is a forthright expression of someone’s views. In the letter, the local head of a wealthy, Washington-based environmental lobbying organization criticized my voting record in Congress. He called upon me to “seek the advice of (my) constituents— the vast majority of whom favor strong environmental protection” before casting such votes. While I respect the author’s passion for the environment, his analysis of my voting record and of my constituents’ wishes is fundamentally flawed. The people of the Second Congressional District support the preservation of laws essential to protecting public health and safety. I share this view. At the same time, my constituents expect me to keep the promise I made in 1994— to reform an overburdensome federal regulatory process that kills jobs and stifles economic growth. Since coming to Congress, I have successfully met both of these mandates.