Republicans in the United States House of Representatives have proposed a bill that would completely eliminate the Neotropical Migratory Bird Conservation Act. It would also “open areas around the Grand Canyon to uranium mining, cut State Wildlife Grants by 64%, cut the North American Wetlands Conservation Act by 40%, and eliminate any new funding on listing or protecting habitat for US endangered species, essentially making the Endangered Species Act (ESA) unworkable.”
If you love birds and the environment stop sending crazy right-wing nutters to Congress. Please?
Hat-tip to Mike McDowell.
AMEN!! I think it’s time to give “pink slips” to all of Congress and start fresh…with a “new rule” – you can’t elect a “right-wing nutjob” !!
And where are the hunters on all this, those who claim to be on our side on conservation issues?
*crickets*
Holy libertarianism batman!
Nate, the hook-and-bullet folks have actually been on this for a while. Here’s an excerpt from a great Field & Stream editorial from April 5:
“The situation goes far beyond political parties. It is about representatives who may be well-meaning, but are ignorant of the very basics of conservation and how it affects our economy, our quality of life, and our access to basic resources like clean water, not to mention fish to catch and wild game to hunt. There are times when those who know what is at stake must inform the decision makers. In this case, it is sportsmen who know the facts on the ground, and now is such a time.
Let’s look, again, at what is at stake. And please remember, the part of the federal budget that is devoted to conservation and land and water protection makes up about .5% of the entire budget. You could kill our entire legacy of conservation, ensure the loss of most of our wildlife and fisheries, allow the poisoning of our air and waters, and do nothing whatsoever to actually address the national debt. (And, although it is beyond my scope here, please apprise yourself, as a taxpayer, or just a citizen, of all that has NOT been targeted for cutting. According to these elected representatives, what we can do without as a nation, first, are mostly the things that we hunters and fishermen understand to have great value. WE are the low-hanging fruit.)”
This and related links here.
Also, for those who have glanced at H.R. 2584 and thought, gosh, it doesn’t look THAT bad — try googling “Legislative Riders on H.R.2584,” and take a look at this.
When I think of what the Pentagon spends in a week on the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan…
Thanks for the link, Louisa. I’m glad to see some action from leaders in that community.
Shooting themselves in the foot, as it were.
@Duncan: the entire world’s economy off the cliff… Scary people, and a very frightening political development way beyond nature conservation laws.
What can we do? Be ACTIVE in petioning local/state/Federal representatives to let them know what we feel is important! And VOTE the nutters out of a job too! The cost of being a PASSIVE bystander is just too great. Thanks everyone.
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Weep.
And, I assure you I’ve never voted to send a right-wing nutter to Congress. I only vote to send bleeding heart liberal nutjobs to Congress.