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Republican Rich Tarrant takes on Bernie and Senators Leahy and Jeffords-That's the Vermont Congressional Delegation if You Don't Know, Rich

In a deceptive mailing and on his attack website, Republican Rich Tarrant, falsely accuses Congressman Bernie Sanders of introducing wilderness legislation that will, according to Tarrant's mail piece, ".limit hunting and other traditional outdoor activities on over 30,000 acres of Vermont forests" and restrict Vermonters' right to hunt and fish.

In fact, H.R.5157, introduced by Sanders in the House, and the identical bill S.2565, introduced by Vermont's Sen. James Jeffords and cosponsored by Sen. Patrick Leahy in the Senate, preserve the ability of Vermonters to hunt and fish on affected lands.

Republican Rich Tarrant apparently thinks it isn't bad enough to lie about Congressman Sanders' record, now he is attacking legislation that has been introduced by the entire Vermont delegation. This legislation does not restrict Vermonters' right to hunt and fish on these lands. In fact, by protecting this land from development, it preserves hunting and fishing opportunities for future generations of Vermonters that might otherwise be lost.

On wilderness, Tarrant has an extreme position even further to the right of the Republican governor. He has stated that "we've got enough wilderness now," which means he doesn't support even the compromise wilderness legislation supported by Gov. Douglas that includes some 42,000 acres of new wilderness. It's unfortunate that Tarrant is out of touch with Vermonters. The wilderness legislation, which has had enormous input from the people of Vermont, will benefit Vermonters for generations to come and is the right thing to do for our state.