BFA / NRA endorsee Rob Portman submits to interview with USSA/ Outdoor Writers of Ohio

7:00am Thursday, October 14, 2010

Editor's Note: Buckeye Firearms Association was the only Ohio gun group to have an outdoor writer (Region Leader Larry S. Moore) at the recent U.S. Sportsmen Alliance/Outdoor Writer of Ohio interviews with Rob Portman, former Congressman and current candidate for U.S. Senate. Also represented at the interviews were Ohio Outdoor News, Ohio Valley Outdoors, Akron Beacon Journal, Columbus Dispatch, Dayton Daily News, The Buckeye Sportsmen Radio Show and the Greene County Dailies. Below is a list of the firearms law and Ohio outdoors-related questions both candidates were asked and their responses.

by Larry S. Moore

Rob Portman put his views regarding gun ownership, hunting, conservation, alternative energy and invasive species on the line at the recent U.S. Sportsmen Alliance (USSA) Ohio Rally in an interview with the Outdoor Writers of Ohio.

Portman was clearly relaxed and enjoyed being at the USSA rally. He walked the floor of the event. In addition to the interview, Portman addressed the nearly 850 people attending the event before dinner. He led the Pledge of Allegiance and the invocation.

Portman's challenger for Ohio's U.S. Senate seat being vacated by Senator George Voinovich is current Lt. Governor Lee Fisher. Fisher did not respond to the invitation for the interview. I think most regular readers at BuckeyeFirearms.org understand the strong anti-gun positions that Fisher has long held. I was hoping for the opportunity to ask him to clarify his recent statements that he supports the Second Amendment.

I'd like to know which part he supports or doesn't support. Perhaps the thought of having to define his Second Amendment position was enough to make him ignore the invitation.

THE SECOND AMENDMENT:

The United Nations has been working toward a small arms treaty. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and the Obama Administration have signaled support for such a treaty. What is your position?

Portman: "It is very important to have Senators who understand the Second Amendment. This work by the U.N. would be a treaty that must be ratified by the U.S. Senate. The U.N. Arms Trade Treaty language under consideration is more far reaching, more aggressive, than any previous language. The President must present the treaty for ratification by the U.S. Senate. It is critical to have a Senator who will stand up for the Second Amendment. This is the United State's Constitution and we cannot have that overridden by an international treaty."

GRAND LAKE ST. MARY'S:

Grand Lake St. Mary's has experience severe algae bloom that has devastated the communities around the lake. What can be done at the federal level?

Portman: "I don't have a lot of details about the specific issue. It is a shallow lake and not a lot of water circulation. It is largely a state issue but there are federal EPA rules that may come into play. The role should be to focus the work with state and local officials to ensure all the parties are working together.

As you are aware, there are also algae bloom problems on Lake Erie. Lake Erie is much deeper and has different water flows. There is a lot of great fishing and recreational opportunities. It is a tremendous resource. We have to protect the resources of the Great Lakes. There is a $7.5 billion economic impact from the Great Lakes. There are the Asian Carp threatening the Great Lakes. Some have said you can't spend millions on stopping the Asian Carp. But compared to $7.5 billion, it's an investment we've got to make."

ASIAN CARP:

You mentioned the Asian Carp problem. Lake Erie and all the Great Lakes are threatened with the Asian Carp and other invasive species. What is your plan to attack these problems?

Portman: "We need to be very aggressive on the issue. We need barriers in place and working. The proposal from Michigan Senator Debbie Stabenow is to separate the Great Lakes from the Mississippi River. I don't know the projected costs but we need to look very closely at this solution. The Obama Administration is protecting the shipping interests which are, quite frankly, minor. $7.5 billion in economic impact of the Great Lakes is at risk. Separation to prevent Asian Carp access to the Great Lakes is critical. I've read and am comfortable with the legislation that Senator George Voinovich has sponsored to deal with the problems. It provides funding and specifies the joint partners in the efforts. The zebra mussel invasion has cost about $5 billion around the Great Lakes mostly from clogged water inlets. Twenty per-cent of the world's fresh water is in the Great Lakes. We have to make an investment to protect these significant resources. The legislation that Senator Voinovich has introduced also addresses the issue of the ballast water. It's a complicated issue since we have very few U.S. flagged ships. There are lots of species in the ballast water. We've got to protect our environment."

CHRONIC WASTING DISEASE (CWD):

CWD is prevalent in other states but not yet in Ohio's deer herd.
What can be done to prevent it from being transported into Ohio?

Portman: "The ODNR has done a good job of monitoring and management of our deer herd. Hunting is the main management tool. I believe in hunting, not only because I am a hunter, but because I believe in healthy wildlife. I would be surprised if the U.S. Fish and Wildlife service is not already monitoring and assisting the states with these efforts. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service should be working with the states regarding transportation of wild animals to ensure rules are in place to protect the deer herds. We are lucky that we don.t have CWD in Ohio because that could be devastating."

ALTERNATIVE ENERGY: WIND/SOLAR/NUCLEAR:

Portman:"I'm fine on renewable energy. It's got to make economic and environmental sense. Right now 1% of our energy comes from wind/solar/hydro power. I am also in favor of nuclear energy. We have to ensure that we are using the resources in an environmentally safe manner. I like clean coal technology. I like natural gas. There is lots of natural gas under West Virginia, Ohio and Pennsylvania. This could be the largest natural gas find in the world. This can benefit Ohio. There should be oversight to ensure it is done right.

My campaign is all about jobs. We can't cut off jobs. We must ensure actions we take today create jobs. Ohio is well positioned today. We have the manufacturing infrastructure and the capacity to be producing. Manufacturing things that go into nuclear power is something Ohio does very well. We make a lot of parts for the wind energy industry. We also have to understand that this solution, alone, is not going to solve our problems.

I'm all for clean coal technology. Clean coal is taking the carbon in coal, separating and sequestering it. They are doing it now at an AEP plant in WV. The technology is still evolving and being perfected. We can do it. We have huge coal resources.

I am very much against the cap and trade legislation that passed the U.S. House. It puts Ohio, which is already falling behind, at a competitive disadvantage. 87% of Ohioans get our electricity from coal and coal is targeted in this legislation. The numbers vary from 20 to 60% increase in electric costs in Ohio from cap and trade. That's a job killer not to mention hurting individuals. Cap and trade is being pushed but it will not be effective. Cap and Trade will simply drive jobs overseas where there are no environmental controls. The problem is, sooner or later, we all breathe the same air. There are better ways to approach the issue than cap and trade.

The revenue from cap and trade goes to the federal government with no requirement to invest in clean renewable energy. The federal government can do with the money whatever it wishes which, under the current administration, is likely to just grow the size of the federal government. I will not support cap and trade in the Senate.

I am for incentives to have renewable energy but we have to use existing resources. We have to create a complete package approach to our energy needs. It is an opportunity for Ohio if we do it properly. Focus on renewable energy and clean coal technology; focus on nuclear energy which is emission free energy. There are two nuclear plants in Ohio. I've been duck hunting right next to one of the plants on Lake Erie."

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Portman concluded his pre-dinner address noting, "Sportsmen are the nation's premier conservationists. Sportsman organizations partner with state and federal agencies to lead the nation's conservation efforts. Sportsmen pay the fees for conservation. I enjoy being here with people who share these great American values. Thank you."

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