The associations representing the nation's jewelers and miners found themselves on opposite sides of the political aisle concerning 1872 Mining Law amendments tucked into the Congressional federal budget reconciliation bill. Matthew Runci, the President and CEO of the Jewelers of America, wrote a letter to House Speaker Dennis Hastert declaring the group's "strong opposition to a provision within the House Budget Reconciliation bill that would result in a massive public land giveaway to corporations and private interests."... The jewelers declared that... "...Our 11,000-member stores...firmly believe that mining reforms should include strict environmental regulations that adequately protect our nation's watersheds, forest and wildlife..." [refers to Tiffany]