From Statesman Journal today (1/20/16). Note how much the State of Or is
spending per week.
Gov. Kate Brown again called for an end to the armed occupation of a wildlife
refuge in rural Harney County and criticized federal officials Wednesday for
their tactics. The occupation of the Malheur Wildlife Refuge, now in its third
week, has no clear end in sight. State and federal law enforcement stationed in
nearby Burns have not used force to end the occupation.
"The situation is absolutely intolerable and it must be resolved immediately.
The very fabric of this community is being ripped apart," Brown said.Since Jan.
2, several dozen armed anti-government protesters have occupied federal
buildings at the refuge. The group, led by Arizona businessman Ammon Bundy,
wants a pair of jailed ranchers to be given clemency for their federal arson
convictions, and aim to jump start the slumped Harney County economy by finding
a way to return federally managed range land to local or private hands. The
situation drew national attention to land management issues and how law
enforcement responds to domestic armed conflicts. Law enforcement has drawn
criticism for allowing the occupiers to freely come and go from the refuge,
often to replenish their supplies.
The state is spending about $100,000 per week on the occupation. Brown said she
will ask federal authorities to reimburse the state for the costs.At community
meetings, the townspeople in Burns overwhelmingly rejected the occupiers'
motives and have repeatedly asked them to leave peacefully.
Brown said federal authorities asked her and other state officials to "limit
our public comments" to avoid escalating the situation. Although she has heeded
that request, Brown chastised federal officials Wednesday for allowing the
standoff to continue as long as it has."The residents of Harney County have
been overlooked and undeserved by federal official's response thus far," she
said. "I have conveyed these very grave concerns directly to our leaders at the
highest levels of our government: the U.S. Department of Justice and the White
House."Brown said federal authorities must quickly end the occupation and hold
the occupiers accountable."This spectacle of lawlessness must end," she
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