Lee Rogers, M.D.

Congressman Buck McKeon’s introduction of this bill (H.R. 6469, the Soledad Canyon Mine Mitigation and Relocation Act) on the last day of the session before the election is nothing more than a political ploy since there is no time to work on the bill as Congress is will be out campaigning.  This is a desperate attempt by a Congressman who is losing favorability and now sees his own vulnerability from years of inaction on local issues.

Furthermore, if this bill did become law, it wouldn’t accomplish anything.  It calls for a study on how to introduce a bill into the House, already introduced by Senator Barbara Boxer in the Senate, S.759.  People in Santa Clarita don’t need a study to know the mine will be bad for our home values, our health, and quality of life.  Even McKeon doesn’t need a study because he’s introduced previous legislation to stop the mine; he just hasn’t acted on it.

McKeon has had plenty of chances to stop the mine with legislation he’s introduced but failed to act on.  In several sessions of Congress he had a Republican majority in both houses, a Republican president, and no self-imposed ban on earmarks, yet no action.  It’s clear that stopping Cemex is something McKeon only cares to talk about at election time.  It’s time for action.  I’ll introduce real legislation to stop the mine.

Dr. Lee Rogers, a Simi Valley Democrat, is running against Rep. Buck McKeon for Congress in the Nov. 6 election.