The environmental community said it would go along with my challenge if all states could vote on the Utah wilderness bill. I think that is acceptable. If they will produce a resolution from those states indicating that we can vote on issues which are applicable only to their states.

Hinchey is out of line to attempt to tell the people of Utah what is right for us. And I cannot see what the environmental community has done to help the environment of the state. It appears to me all they do is raise money and file lawsuits. Many of the environmentalists support draining Lake Powell, are against the Legacy Highway and oppose almost every proposal for energy development.

Regarding the Legacy Highway, the lawsuit brought by the environmental community and former Mayor Rocky Anderson cost the state of Utah more than $200 million. If they were really stand-up individuals, they'd spend the rest of their lives repaying the debt they created.

I continue to stand by the unwritten law that congressmen and senators should sponsor and carry legislation affecting their own states.

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Jim Hansen is a former Utah congressman.