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For Immediate Release
Contact: Darryl Glenn May 18, 2009
(719) 271-6690 CITIZENS PROTEST RITTER
FAILURE TO SUPPORT OUR TROOPS – COSTING COLORADO JOBS AND MILLIONS IN MILITARY SPENDING Citizens gathered in front of the Fountain City Hall today
to protest Governor Ritter’s pledge to sign HB 1317 the “No State Lands to Expand Pinon Canyon” bill. The
bill would prohibit the Colorado State Land board from selling or leasing land adjacent to the U.S. Army at the Pinon Canyon
Maneuver Site. The bill would also allow the State of Colorado to veto the sale of private land by a private individual
for Pinon Canyon expansion. “This bill is a job-killer and a slap in the face to our service men and
women, who dedicate their lives for our country,” said Darryl Glenn, El Paso County Republican Party Vice Chairman. “Since
the introduction of this bill, the Pentagon has already shifted $17 million from Fort Carson for this project to Fort
Polk, Louisiana and decided against creating a 3,500-soldier
infantry brigade that was promised to Fort Carson in 2007 and against
bringing the 24th Air Force to Colorado Springs. This bill makes Fort Carson, the second largest employer
in the State of Colorado, vulnerable during the next round of base closures.” “Our
men and women fighting for our country need large areas to conduct realistic combat training in order to protect lives and
increase mission success,” said Glenn. Expansion of Pinon Canyon would provide that much needed training area. To
say we do not want to allow the Army to purchase the land at fair market value is, in fact, telling the soldiers that their
lives and the lives of innocent women and children in combat zones are not important enough to provide quality training.”
“Governor, the citizens gathered here and many others in El Paso County ask you to reconsider
your pledge and instead veto this job-killing bill. Send a message that we support our troops and we welcome the economic
growth it provides.
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