Sportsmen fight Trump energy plans alongside environmental leftWASHINGTON/SALT LAKE CITY, Utah (Reuters) - When Republican Congressman Jason Chaffetz of Utah introduced legislation last month to transfer about 3 million acres of federally-held public land to state control, he was bombarded by thousands of angry phone calls, letters and social media posts urging him to back off. The pressure came not only from liberal environmentalists – but also from gun-toting, often conservative outdoors enthusiasts who are central to Chaffetz’ political base. Both camps fear that transferring federal lands to state control could open them up to drilling and coal mining rather than recreation and preservation. “I hear you,” Chaffetz wrote in a post on his Instagram account announcing the withdrawal of the bill. “I am a proud gun owner, hunter and love our public lands.” Chaffetz’s office did not respond to requests for comment on his reversal. Outdoor sporting groups - long associated with conservatism because of their support for guns rights and small government - are now collaborating with the environmental left to fight U.S. President Donald Trump’s push to open more public lands to energy development. Such areas include national forests, parks and Native American tribal territories and account for about one fifth of the United States. Recent funding data from the Foundation Center database, which aggregates information from tax filings, shows groups such as the Backcountry Hunters and Anglers and the Outdoor Alliance have accepted grants from big environmental and liberal foundations, including the Turner Foundation and the William and Flora Hewlett Foundation. The Hewlett Foundation gave $100,000 in 2015 to Backcountry, a conservation group created in 2004. The money accounted for more than two-thirds of its foundation grants that year, and Backcountry told Reuters it is an annual gift with no conditions. Hewlett said it supports Backcountry because of its “critical work to preserve America’s outdoor heritage of hunting and fishing and protect wild places.” The Turner Foundation gave an unrestricted donation of $100,000 to the Outdoor Alliance in 2015, the group’s only foundation grant that year. “Conservation is a nonpartisan issue, and it is a shame it is being politicized,” said Judy Adler, president of the Turner Foundation. The Environmental Policy Alliance, a pro-development organization, has said environmentalists finance sportsmens’ groups as a way to provide conservative cover for a liberal agenda - turning the outdoors groups into “green decoys.” The alliance, which says it aims to “uncover the funding and hidden agendas” of environmentalists, did not respond to requests for comment. Highlighting the odd-bedfellows nature of such collaborative lobbying, the Backcountry Hunters and Anglers counts the president’s son, Donald Trump Jr., as a lifetime member.  Officials at the Trump Organization, where Donald Trump Jr. is an executive, did not respond to requests for comment. A Trump administration official declined to comment. Trump has made previous statements opposing the transfer of federal land to states, but has strongly supported more energy development in such areas. The outdoor recreation industry is concentrated heavily in conservative western states and generates more than $640 billion annually, according to the Outdoor Industry Association, which represents hundreds of companies and organized the pressure campaign against Chaffetz. That figure would make the outdoors industry about 10 times bigger than the coal industry.  For a graphic comparing the outdoor industry's economic output to other sectors, see: tmsnrt.rs/2kHoU6U The cause of protecting public lands is among precious few issues that bind U.S. conservatives and liberals. Outdoors companies such as Patagonia and North Face are building lobbying strength quickly in response to rising threats to federal lands, said Jessica Wahl, government affairs manager for the Outdoor Industry Association. “We are a bipartisan industry,” Wahl said. “We are stronger when talking with a unified voice.” In one example of that clout, more than 30 companies this week - including Patagonia, REI, North Face, KUHL, and others – wrote an open letter to Utah’s Republican Governor Gary Herbert saying they will try to force an annual outdoor retailers’ convention out of the state unless he protects public lands. Patagonia had earlier announced it would boycott the convention - which brings Utah about $45 million each year - because Herbert had opposed a move by former Democratic President Barack Obama to protect 1.3 million acres near the iconic Bears Ears buttes. Tawney, of Backcountry Hunters and Anglers, said he supports partnerships with environmental groups to advocate for wilderness conservation. But he dismisses assertions that the outdoor enthusiast organizations have become pawns of the environmental left. “Everything we do is about hunting and fishing,” he said.   Some traditional environmental lobbying organizations such as the Sierra Club say they are happy to let outdoor sports advocates be the public face of the conservation movement. The arguments of sportsmen tend to resonate better with business-friendly Republicans and their constituents in rural communities, he said.  “They speak from more of an economic voice,” said Matt Kirby, who directs the Sierra Club’s public lands policy work for western states.  Elsewhere, local outdoor industry companies have had success engaging with the U.S. Bureau of Land Management (BLM) to have more input on local oil and gas leasing decisions.  Ashley Korenblat - owner of Utah-based mountain biking outfitter Western Spirit Cycling and a member of the Outdoor Industry Association - was instrumental in shaping the Moab Master Leasing Plan, which preserves bike trails near Moab, Utah while allowing some oil and gas drilling. Many hunters, fishermen and campers may not think of themselves as conservationists, Korenblat said, but “when you can no longer get to the river where you fish - when the trail you’ve been riding has been replaced by a 30-foot gravel road to a well - suddenly you really care.”  Some of the most passionate conservation advocates are in Utah, where two-thirds of the state is federally protected. “I’m just disgusted,” said Grant Bench, a fly-fishing guide who works with Sundance Mountain Resort. “Do we see oil pumps in Yellowstone next?” Last winter, Bench said, he took Donald Trump Jr. fishing on the Provo River. Bench told him he wants future generations of his family to enjoy the same pristine wilderness that currently sustains Bench’s livelihood. Trump Jr. agreed that preserving public lands is important, said Bench, who hopes Trump’s son will carry that message to his father.  Reuters could not reach Donald Trump Jr. for comment. Bench provided a photograph of himself with Trump Jr. standing outside in waders, waterproof pants used by fly fishermen to walk through streams. The conservation battles have made Bench start to question his traditionally conservative politics.  “I’m leaning further left every day that this stuff goes on,” he said. For a graphic on the U.S. outdoor economy's impact, click here politicsNews
sportsmen fight trump energy plans alongside environmental lake city utah reuters when republican congressman jason chaffetz utah introduced legislation last month transfer million acres public land state control bombarded thousands angry phone calls letters social media posts urging back the pressure came liberal environmentalists also often conservative outdoors enthusiasts central chaffetz political base both camps fear transferring federal lands state control could open drilling coal mining rather recreation preservation i hear chaffetz wrote post instagram account announcing withdrawal bill i proud gun owner hunter love public chaffetz office respond requests comment reversal outdoor sporting groups long associated conservatism support guns rights small government collaborating environmental left fight president donald trump push open public lands energy development such areas include national forests parks native american tribal territories account one fifth united states recent funding data foundation center database aggregates information tax filings shows groups backcountry hunters anglers outdoor alliance accepted grants big environmental liberal foundations including turner foundation william flora rowlett foundation the rowlett foundation gave backcountry conservation group created the money accounted foundation grants year backcountry told reuters annual gift conditions rowlett said supports backcountry critical work preserve america outdoor heritage hunting fishing protect wild the turner foundation gave unrestricted donation outdoor alliance group foundation grant year conservation nonpartisan issue shame politicized said judy aller president turner foundation the environmental policy alliance organization said environmentalists finance sportsmen groups way provide conservative cover liberal agenda turning outdoors groups green the alliance says aims uncover funding hidden agendas environmentalists respond requests comment highlighting nature collaborative lobbying backcountry hunters anglers counts president son donald trump lifetime member officials trump organization donald trump executive respond requests comment a trump administration official declined comment trump made previous statements opposing transfer federal land states strongly supported energy development areas the outdoor recreation industry concentrated heavily conservative western states generates billion annually according outdoor industry association represents hundreds companies organized pressure campaign chaffetz that figure would make outdoors industry times bigger coal industry for graphic comparing outdoor industry economic output sectors see the cause protecting public lands among precious issues bind conservatives liberals outdoors companies patagonia north face building lobbying strength quickly response rising threats federal lands said jessica wall government affairs manager outdoor industry association we bipartisan industry wall said we stronger talking unified in one example clout companies week including patagonia rei north face kul others wrote open letter utah republican governor gary herbert saying try force annual outdoor retailers convention state unless protects public lands patagonia earlier announced would boycott convention brings utah million year herbert opposed move former democratic president barack obama protect million acres near iconic bears ears butter tawny backcountry hunters anglers said supports partnerships environmental groups advocate wilderness conservation but dismisses assertions outdoor enthusiast organizations become pawns environmental left everything hunting fishing said some traditional environmental lobbying organizations sierra club say happy let outdoor sports advocates public face conservation movement the arguments sportsmen tend resonate better republicans constituents rural communities said they speak economic voice said matt kirby directs sierra club public lands policy work western states elsewhere local outdoor industry companies success engaging bureau land management blm input local oil gas leasing decisions ashley korenblat owner mountain biking outfitted western spirit cycling member outdoor industry association instrumental shaping mob master leasing plan preserves bike trails near mob utah allowing oil gas drilling many hunters fishermen campers may think conservationists korenblat said longer get river fish trail riding replaced gravel road well suddenly really some passionate conservation advocates utah state federally protected i disgusted said grant bench guide works sundance mountain resort do see oil pumps yellowstone next last winter bench said took donald trump fishing prove river bench told wants future generations family enjoy pristine wilderness currently sustain bench livelihood trump agreed preserving public lands important said bench hopes trump son carry message father reuters could reach donald trump comment bench provided photograph trump standing outside waters waterproof pants used fly fishermen walk streams the conservation battles made bench start question traditionally conservative politics i leaning left every day stuff goes said for graphic outdoor economy impact click politicsnews
Your task is to classify the provided input as real or fake news. Label 0 is meant for fake news, Label 1 is for real news. TEXT: Sportsmen fight Trump energy plans alongside environmental leftWASHINGTON/SALT LAKE CITY, Utah (Reuters) - When Republican Congressman Jason Chaffetz of Utah introduced legislation last month to transfer about 3 million acres of federally-held public land to state control, he was bombarded by thousands of angry phone calls, letters and social media posts urging him to back off. The pressure came not only from liberal environmentalists – but also from gun-toting, often conservative outdoors enthusiasts who are central to Chaffetz’ political base. Both camps fear that transferring federal lands to state control could open them up to drilling and coal mining rather than recreation and preservation. “I hear you,” Chaffetz wrote in a post on his Instagram account announcing the withdrawal of the bill. “I am a proud gun owner, hunter and love our public lands.” Chaffetz’s office did not respond to requests for comment on his reversal. Outdoor sporting groups - long associated with conservatism because of their support for guns rights and small government - are now collaborating with the environmental left to fight U.S. President Donald Trump’s push to open more public lands to energy development. Such areas include national forests, parks and Native American tribal territories and account for about one fifth of the United States. Recent funding data from the Foundation Center database, which aggregates information from tax filings, shows groups such as the Backcountry Hunters and Anglers and the Outdoor Alliance have accepted grants from big environmental and liberal foundations, including the Turner Foundation and the William and Flora Hewlett Foundation. The Hewlett Foundation gave $100,000 in 2015 to Backcountry, a conservation group created in 2004. The money accounted for more than two-thirds of its foundation grants that year, and Backcountry told Reuters it is an annual gift with no conditions. Hewlett said it supports Backcountry because of its “critical work to preserve America’s outdoor heritage of hunting and fishing and protect wild places.” The Turner Foundation gave an unrestricted donation of $100,000 to the Outdoor Alliance in 2015, the group’s only foundation grant that year. “Conservation is a nonpartisan issue, and it is a shame it is being politicized,” said Judy Adler, president of the Turner Foundation. The Environmental Policy Alliance, a pro-development organization, has said environmentalists finance sportsmens’ groups as a way to provide conservative cover for a liberal agenda - turning the outdoors groups into “green decoys.” The alliance, which says it aims to “uncover the funding and hidden agendas” of environmentalists, did not respond to requests for comment. Highlighting the odd-bedfellows nature of such collaborative lobbying, the Backcountry Hunters and Anglers counts the president’s son, Donald Trump Jr., as a lifetime member.  Officials at the Trump Organization, where Donald Trump Jr. is an executive, did not respond to requests for comment. A Trump administration official declined to comment. Trump has made previous statements opposing the transfer of federal land to states, but has strongly supported more energy development in such areas. The outdoor recreation industry is concentrated heavily in conservative western states and generates more than $640 billion annually, according to the Outdoor Industry Association, which represents hundreds of companies and organized the pressure campaign against Chaffetz. That figure would make the outdoors industry about 10 times bigger than the coal industry.  For a graphic comparing the outdoor industry's economic output to other sectors, see: tmsnrt.rs/2kHoU6U The cause of protecting public lands is among precious few issues that bind U.S. conservatives and liberals. Outdoors companies such as Patagonia and North Face are building lobbying strength quickly in response to rising threats to federal lands, said Jessica Wahl, government affairs manager for the Outdoor Industry Association. “We are a bipartisan industry,” Wahl said. “We are stronger when talking with a unified voice.” In one example of that clout, more than 30 companies this week - including Patagonia, REI, North Face, KUHL, and others – wrote an open letter to Utah’s Republican Governor Gary Herbert saying they will try to force an annual outdoor retailers’ convention out of the state unless he protects public lands. Patagonia had earlier announced it would boycott the convention - which brings Utah about $45 million each year - because Herbert had opposed a move by former Democratic President Barack Obama to protect 1.3 million acres near the iconic Bears Ears buttes. Tawney, of Backcountry Hunters and Anglers, said he supports partnerships with environmental groups to advocate for wilderness conservation. But he dismisses assertions that the outdoor enthusiast organizations have become pawns of the environmental left. “Everything we do is about hunting and fishing,” he said.   Some traditional environmental lobbying organizations such as the Sierra Club say they are happy to let outdoor sports advocates be the public face of the conservation movement. The arguments of sportsmen tend to resonate better with business-friendly Republicans and their constituents in rural communities, he said.  “They speak from more of an economic voice,” said Matt Kirby, who directs the Sierra Club’s public lands policy work for western states.  Elsewhere, local outdoor industry companies have had success engaging with the U.S. Bureau of Land Management (BLM) to have more input on local oil and gas leasing decisions.  Ashley Korenblat - owner of Utah-based mountain biking outfitter Western Spirit Cycling and a member of the Outdoor Industry Association - was instrumental in shaping the Moab Master Leasing Plan, which preserves bike trails near Moab, Utah while allowing some oil and gas drilling. Many hunters, fishermen and campers may not think of themselves as conservationists, Korenblat said, but “when you can no longer get to the river where you fish - when the trail you’ve been riding has been replaced by a 30-foot gravel road to a well - suddenly you really care.”  Some of the most passionate conservation advocates are in Utah, where two-thirds of the state is federally protected. “I’m just disgusted,” said Grant Bench, a fly-fishing guide who works with Sundance Mountain Resort. “Do we see oil pumps in Yellowstone next?” Last winter, Bench said, he took Donald Trump Jr. fishing on the Provo River. Bench told him he wants future generations of his family to enjoy the same pristine wilderness that currently sustains Bench’s livelihood. Trump Jr. agreed that preserving public lands is important, said Bench, who hopes Trump’s son will carry that message to his father.  Reuters could not reach Donald Trump Jr. for comment. Bench provided a photograph of himself with Trump Jr. standing outside in waders, waterproof pants used by fly fishermen to walk through streams. The conservation battles have made Bench start to question his traditionally conservative politics.  “I’m leaning further left every day that this stuff goes on,” he said. For a graphic on the U.S. outdoor economy's impact, click here politicsNews
Your task is to classify the provided input as real or fake news. Label 0 is meant for fake news, Label 1 is for real news. TEXT: sportsmen fight trump energy plans alongside environmental lake city utah reuters when republican congressman jason chaffetz utah introduced legislation last month transfer million acres public land state control bombarded thousands angry phone calls letters social media posts urging back the pressure came liberal environmentalists also often conservative outdoors enthusiasts central chaffetz political base both camps fear transferring federal lands state control could open drilling coal mining rather recreation preservation i hear chaffetz wrote post instagram account announcing withdrawal bill i proud gun owner hunter love public chaffetz office respond requests comment reversal outdoor sporting groups long associated conservatism support guns rights small government collaborating environmental left fight president donald trump push open public lands energy development such areas include national forests parks native american tribal territories account one fifth united states recent funding data foundation center database aggregates information tax filings shows groups backcountry hunters anglers outdoor alliance accepted grants big environmental liberal foundations including turner foundation william flora rowlett foundation the rowlett foundation gave backcountry conservation group created the money accounted foundation grants year backcountry told reuters annual gift conditions rowlett said supports backcountry critical work preserve america outdoor heritage hunting fishing protect wild the turner foundation gave unrestricted donation outdoor alliance group foundation grant year conservation nonpartisan issue shame politicized said judy aller president turner foundation the environmental policy alliance organization said environmentalists finance sportsmen groups way provide conservative cover liberal agenda turning outdoors groups green the alliance says aims uncover funding hidden agendas environmentalists respond requests comment highlighting nature collaborative lobbying backcountry hunters anglers counts president son donald trump lifetime member officials trump organization donald trump executive respond requests comment a trump administration official declined comment trump made previous statements opposing transfer federal land states strongly supported energy development areas the outdoor recreation industry concentrated heavily conservative western states generates billion annually according outdoor industry association represents hundreds companies organized pressure campaign chaffetz that figure would make outdoors industry times bigger coal industry for graphic comparing outdoor industry economic output sectors see the cause protecting public lands among precious issues bind conservatives liberals outdoors companies patagonia north face building lobbying strength quickly response rising threats federal lands said jessica wall government affairs manager outdoor industry association we bipartisan industry wall said we stronger talking unified in one example clout companies week including patagonia rei north face kul others wrote open letter utah republican governor gary herbert saying try force annual outdoor retailers convention state unless protects public lands patagonia earlier announced would boycott convention brings utah million year herbert opposed move former democratic president barack obama protect million acres near iconic bears ears butter tawny backcountry hunters anglers said supports partnerships environmental groups advocate wilderness conservation but dismisses assertions outdoor enthusiast organizations become pawns environmental left everything hunting fishing said some traditional environmental lobbying organizations sierra club say happy let outdoor sports advocates public face conservation movement the arguments sportsmen tend resonate better republicans constituents rural communities said they speak economic voice said matt kirby directs sierra club public lands policy work western states elsewhere local outdoor industry companies success engaging bureau land management blm input local oil gas leasing decisions ashley korenblat owner mountain biking outfitted western spirit cycling member outdoor industry association instrumental shaping mob master leasing plan preserves bike trails near mob utah allowing oil gas drilling many hunters fishermen campers may think conservationists korenblat said longer get river fish trail riding replaced gravel road well suddenly really some passionate conservation advocates utah state federally protected i disgusted said grant bench guide works sundance mountain resort do see oil pumps yellowstone next last winter bench said took donald trump fishing prove river bench told wants future generations family enjoy pristine wilderness currently sustain bench livelihood trump agreed preserving public lands important said bench hopes trump son carry message father reuters could reach donald trump comment bench provided photograph trump standing outside waters waterproof pants used fly fishermen walk streams the conservation battles made bench start question traditionally conservative politics i leaning left every day stuff goes said for graphic outdoor economy impact click politicsnews