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<br />I <br /> <br />I <br /> <br />to terminate two more projects." The article in the Rocky Mountain <br />News, it is much like a comic opera. The Assistant Secretary under <br />Secretary Andrus said that he thought the Colorado Senator misspoke <br />and he said he knew of no decision to eliminate the Narrows and Dallas <br />Creek. He said he thought it was inconceivable that such a decision <br />could have been made by the White House. Well, we thought that way too. <br />We don't really know what the situation is on the Narrows and Dallas <br />Creek. <br /> <br />After I had attended two meetings in Washington on these projects and <br />one with the White House spokesman, Miss Fletcher, I was convinced that <br />it was utterly hopeless to change the President's mind. The Governor <br />is very strongly of this opinion and so are the members of our congres- <br />sional delegation that have met with him. <br /> <br />While I was on my way back to Washington to meet with the White House <br />spokesman and other water interests around the country, I bought two <br />Denver newspapers before I boarded the plane. These newspapers reported <br />that the President had already announced the day before that "These <br />projects are ill-conceived and unnecessary and I have no use for any <br />of them." So what the hell are we going through hearings for if he has <br />already made up his mind? The Governor has stated through the con- <br />gressional delegation that we would not attend any hearings in Washington <br />because they appeared merely to be a charade. The Governor did say, if <br />you want to hold them in Colorado so the Colorado people can see what is <br />going on, then we will honor the hearings. So that is how we happended <br />to be in Grand Junction. But, if, in fact, these other projects are <br />going to be cut out, I see no point whatsoever in going through this <br />window dressing again. <br /> <br />MR. SHERMAN: If I may, Mr. Chairman, just make one or two brief remarks <br />to underscore what Larry has said. The Governor received a letter, <br />March lOth, which was just a week and a half ago, from the President's <br />office, particularly from a Mr. Jack Watson, who is one of the senior <br />advisors, in which he said, and I just want to quote this, "As the <br />President said at the meeting on Monday afternoon," this is where the <br />GovernOrs' national conference had an opportunity to meet with the <br />President, "our success depends in large measure to the' extent to which <br />we can establish a genuine partnership between federal government and <br />state and local governments. We will need continuing help to achieve <br />that goal and we will work with you in every possible way to do so." <br />Attached to that letter was a memorandum which the President sent under <br />his signature to the heads of his executive departments and agencies. <br />I think it will be helpful if I just quickly read to you a few of these <br />paragraphs because there is a double standard of massive proportions <br />being applied here. And I quote, "Throughout the campaign period, I <br />made a firm commitment to state and local officials that they would be <br />involved in the development of my administration's policies and budget <br />priorities and programs. I pledged that such consultation would occur <br /> <br />-17- <br />