DENVER—As President Trump prepares to sign the largest public lands bill in a decade into law today, the Center for Western Priorities released the following statement from Policy Director Jesse Prentice-Dunn:
“This bill is something every American can celebrate. But it’s ironic that President Trump is signing it the day after he and Acting Secretary Bernhardt once again proposed laying off hundreds of national park employees and eviscerating the Land and Water Conservation Fund—America’s most important parks program.
“Every member of Congress standing next to President Trump as he signs this bill should remind him that his anti-conservation budget is dead on arrival and promise to fully fund our parks and public lands in the coming year.”
The bill signed today, S.47, permanently reauthorizes the Land and Water Conservation Fund but does not guarantee any of the money that flows into the fund from offshore drilling royalties will actually go to parks. Congress must still appropriate funds for LWCF each year. The FY 2020 budget released by President Trump and Acting Secretary Bernhardt asks Congress to eliminate 95 percent of federal-level LWCF spending, leaving our national parks open to trophy home development and putting critical wildlife habitat at risk.
Trump administration’s Fiscal Year 2019 budget proposal made it clear that conservation is not a priority [Westwise]
Throughout the West, public land conservation is a winning campaign issue [Center for Western Priorities]
For more information, visit westernpriorities.org. To speak with an expert on public lands, contact Aaron Weiss at 720-279-0019 or aaron@westernpriorities.org. Sign up for Look West to get daily public lands and energy news sent to your inbox.
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Dear Dave,
I’m getting married this summer, and I’m on Baby Step 4 of your plan. My fiancé is getting onboard with your advice, too, and she’s currently in the process of paying down her student loan debt. Would it be a good idea to go ahead, and put most of my emergency fund savings toward helping pay off her debt now?
Aaron
Dear Aaron,
You’ve got a generous heart, and I know you love this lady, but I wouldn’t recommend being involved in paying any of her debt until after the wedding. At that point, you two are joined together as one, and the concepts of “mine” and “hers” and “his” disappear. It all becomes “ours,” and you can adjust your money situation to reflect your marriage and your financial makeover as a couple.
Make sure that “we” have an emergency fund of at least $1,000 in the bank at that point. Then, if you’re both in agreement on the issue, you can throw the rest of what you previously had in your emergency fund at the debt. Both of you can also pile up cash between now and the big day, so that when you’re “official” you’ll have even more cash on hand.
Congratulations, and may God bless your lives together!
—Dave
(Length of coverage?)
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Dear Dave,
My husband and I are 24, we’re debt-free, and we’re just a few weeks of saving away from having a fully-funded emergency fund. Each of us has a 401(k) plan at work, and right now we’re concentrating on life insurance purchases. You always recommend term insurance, but how long should the coverage last?
Jenny
Dear Jenny,
Congratulations on being super smart with your money! It sounds like you two are starting out on the right foot.
Generally, I recommend 15- or 20-year level term policies—unless you have children. Since you didn’t mention any kids, I can only assume they’re not in the picture at this point. However, if you two decide to grow your family in the future, I’d advise converting those to 30-year term policies. You’ll want the insurance there to protect everyone in the family, until the kids are grown and out on their own. In the years after, continued saving and wealth building will lead you to a point where you’re both self-insured.
You two have done an excellent job with your finances. Keep up the good work!
—Dave
* Dave Ramsey is CEO of Ramsey Solutions. He has authored seven best-selling books, including The Total Money Makeover. The Dave Ramsey Show is heard by more than 15 million listeners each week on 600 radio stations and multiple digital platforms. Follow Dave on the web at daveramsey.com and on Twitter at @DaveRamsey.
