More feeding at the trough from the biggest government welfare recipients of all- the wealthy. This time they want to kill endangered species to do so.
WASHINGTON — The House yesterday approved a top-to-bottom overhaul of the landmark 1973 Endangered Species Act, perhaps the nation's most powerful environmental law.
By a vote of 229-193, lawmakers passed legislation that could greatly expand private-property rights under the environmental law that is credited with helping keep the bald eagle from extinction, but that has led to battles over species such as the spotted owl, the snail darter and the red-legged frog.
The White House supports the legislation, although it wants some changes. The Senate has not taken up companion legislation and is unlikely to accept such drastic revisions in the law, so compromises are likely if the bill is ever to become law.
The bill that passed would require the government to compensate property owners if steps needed to protect species thwarted development plans. It also would make political appointees responsible for some scientific determinations and would stop the government from designating areas as "critical habitat."
The changes were pushed through by the chairman of the House Resources Committee, Rep. Richard Pombo, R-Calif. The rancher contends the current rules unduly burden landowners and lead to costly lawsuits while doing too little to save plants and animals.
Many Democrats and moderate Republicans said Pombo's bill would eliminate important protections for species and clear the way for large government handouts to property owners.
The article goes on to say that, although the White House is for the destruction of endangered animals habitats, they don't feel comfortable paying out the money. Budget concerns, you see.
Yeah, buddy. Let's hope the Senate can make some sense of this.
And kudos to my (gulp) Republican rep, Vern Ehlers. He voted against this travesty.
There. I said something nice about a Republican. See? I can be reasonable when they are.