Wolves still protected under the Endangered Species Act
Both of the budget bills which contained language which would have delisted wolves were defeated in the Senate this afternoon. It appears that another short term continuing resolution will be brought up to fund the government once the current CR expires on March 18th.
Senate rejects rival GOP, Democratic budgets.
By ANDREW TAYLOR – The Associated Press
Comments
Yahoo!
Round and round we go………..
Fight postponed; more time to get more people involved in the fight to save the ESA from this kind of chicanery.
I have no doubt that this will come up again but I doubt that the bills introduced in the House and Senate are likely to pass on their own. I may be wrong though.
Hopefully it will be like Governor Walker in Wisconsin with more and more people getting involved when they realize what is going on. I am speaking moire generally than about the wolf (e.g., I care about where there is money to inspect our food supply or whether Koch Brother and friends get to add or put out what ever they want).
This budget battle is only slightly a battle over the size of the budget. So far it is mostly been over policy — it all taking place under the camouflage of “vital” budget reductions. In the case of the wolf, no one even pretends it is a budget matter.
If a representative or senator were to be rational about wolves, and having them removed from the ESL, what would be the proper path to follow. It’s just a matter of time, and I would hope that the extremes from either side of the issue are blocked out, so that this issue can be dealt with fairly, rather than sliding in the “backdoor”.
Ralph: I was thinking the same thing in that it will be individuals like Governor Walker that will open people’s eyes to see exactly what is going on. The problem is that these anti-wolf senators will continue to bring about these delisting bills and attach the to other bills. Sadly, the fate of wolves it seems like will always be in danger until they are delisted.
Tonight on the news Ed Schultz reported that oil supply is at an eighteen year high, with stable demand. The Hannity’s of the world are slamming Obama about oil drilling when the facts are clear- domestic oil drilling is producing more oil in total since 2003. Commodities trading is having an effect on the prices.
Every time there is a short term spike in gasoline prices, people like Hannity, the oil company members of Congress, and the oil companies, propose measures that would reduce oil prices only in the long run, and often not even then because they are more profit-making devices than anything else.
It’s too bad the media doesn’t have a sense of history and write that the same thing was proposed in 2008, 2002, 199-. and so on.
Immer Treue, I think that the “rational” path would be to put pressure (if even possible) on Wyoming to come up with a responsible management plan; or, better yet, to devise a single post-listing management plan for the entire Northern Rockies. A plan that insures that wolves survive in more than just token, bare minimum numbers. A plan written by scientists, not politicians, not the livestock industry, not by outfitters; but still a realistic and fair plan that looks at and protects everyone’s interests.
Theoretically (IMO) if a Senator or Congressperson were able to broker such a deal, he (she) could be a hero to all sides (except the most radical, but when the radicals on both sides are pissed, you know you did something right!).
In any case, the arguement should go back to where it belongs: Wyoming. It’s like you have three little kids (Wyoming, Montana and Idaho) and their mom (the feds).
Mom says, “Everybody has to clean their rooms, then we can have icecream.” Little Montana and Idaho reluctantly start to clean their rooms, while little Wyoming kicks and scream and throws a tissy fit; so daddy (Congress) says, “Ok, nobody has to clean their room, you can all have icecream”.
This is a small victory I guess you can say, but sooner or later, one of these bills is going to pass. I don’t like it at all, but I admit one of them is going to eventually pass. The wolves in Idaho are going to be in deep trouble. Idaho wants 150 wolves I believe it is in their state. If they really want only 150, you are looking at over 1100 wolves being shot and killed.
Don’t be so sure Jon.
I’m not sure if Harry Reid kept the rider in the bill for the vote because he knew it wouldn’t pass or if he is really planning on selling out the gray wolf and the ESA. If this happens there will be a backlash from environmental groups
Reid doesn’t give a shit about environmental issues.
We have at least a few weeks to barrage his office with calls- I plan to call every day
Keep up the pressure. I feel that since the Greatly Offensive Political party has a plan to keep writing CRs and getting them passed with these sneaky, bad legislation riders and keep nickel and diming until they get enough egregious legislation passed that they can hold up a copy of the federal register and say, “See, this stuff is the law now and you can’t do anything about it now.” It’s classic shock doctrine. They keep us busy with so many horrible new developments that the really bad stuff gets inserted as riders that nobody reads until after the fact, the Bills get passed and then we’re screwed, just like has been done all over the planet for the last thirty-five years or so. Read/watch the Naomi Klein piece I posted a link to on the “news” thread… it’s the shock doctrine American style right before our very eyes and this is but one tiny loop in the noose. And the actions in WI last night is but one small example of what’s coming.
I had a long conversation with Boxer’s staff this morning concerning the vote yesterday. It seems to alot of us that care about the environment that Boxer, Kerry, Reid, Cardin, Tom Udall are complicit in helping a rancher from Montana pass this backdoor plan to circumvent the ESA and 40 years of environmental protection. I asked her office to put out a clarification letter where she and other Democratic senators stand on this issue. The not subject to further judicial review portion really gets to me the more and more you think about it. These two states can kill hundreds and hundreds of wolves and noone can question it- it is outrageous
That is one of the major points I made and found that Gillibrand and Al Franken seem to object to this particular tactic and for the reasons I pointed out. I focused on the legislative precedent of this and the circumvention of the ESA mandate that judicial review is the remedial action for any questions regarding the Act and it’s premises. I think that really strikes a chord with some of these senators… Could be wrong but I hope that it serves to notify them that many of us are paying attention.
Looks like the midwestern states are about to enact a general strike today after the gubernatorial antics of yesterday and last night. I think this is going to spread nationwide eventually. Folks better wise up and pay attention to who’s lying and who isn’t Glad I live out in the sticks…
It’s right to get irritated and keep the troops stirred and active, but also remember 1) that engagement, holding your opponent in check and using up the time he has to push his agenda, is a valuable tactic; 2) that much of this is theatre designed to do jsut that; and 3) that Boxer, Kerry, Reid, Cardin, Tom Udall, Gillibrand, Al Franken, et al are “our” team and the best we’re going to get at this time and in any position of power. Given the situation and what they’re dealing with on the other side, I give them credit …and, for a member of his religion trying to hold on to a seat in Nevada, Reid isn’t as hostile to the environment as he certainly could be and would be better off politically if he was. The people in Nevada who actually bother to vote are not strong environmentalists; it’s a state essentially founded, in its modern form, by Bugsy Segal, and built on gambling, sex, alcohol, and nurtured by nuclear weapons testing money.
Mikarooni
I agree with you. I have called Sen Reid’s office every day, and it is a challenge to stay calm and to the point to not frustrate the person you are trying to convey your message to. Reid may not be anti- environment but he is known as a deal maker- and that is one of the issues that people have with our political system- one group gets what they want and one group doesn’t. Just once I would like the democrats to stand for their principles. There is very little that republicans stand for that I agree with, but you have to give them credit they stand behind their principles as misguided as they are sometimes
75 Copies of “Lords of Nature” headed to U.S. Senate
http://howlingforjustice.wordpress.com/2011/03/09/lords-of-nature-us-senate-project/