[Schroder]

This could be a game changer Republicans Plan to Roll Back Parts of the Landmark Endangered Species Act

[NacMacFeegle]

Nothing but a bunch of lousy crooks; kleptocrats bought and payed for by corporations to do their dirty work. Nothing we can do now but write to our representatives, hope the GOP loses big time at the mid terms, and that there's a country left to salvage by the time we have a chance at getting a decent president in 2020. The next 2-4 years are going to be difficult and potentially tragic for our public lands and environment.

[drm]

Republicans had the White House and Congress from 2000 to 2006 and failed to change the ESA. Unless they are willing to get rid of the 60 vote requirement in the Senate, they will probably again satisfy themselves with just defunding it.

[Malachai Constant]

There were still R's that cared for the enviornment then they mostly all got purged by the tea party after 2008. A hard rains gonna fall

[Klapton]

[Humptulips]

Well, it's not going away but I certainly hope that some changes happen. It has turned into a cash cow for groups of lawyers who's sole purpose seems to be to get paid by the courts. Right in these forums I see animals listed that are not now or never have been endangered, wolves and polar bears being what I am talking about. Other examples come to mind. The act has lost it's way from the original conception.

[Gregory]

I would even go so far as to say that it has become a driving force in the demise of our fisheries.Our politicians and the tribes have figured out there is more money in ESA than there is managing fisheries.When your lively hood depends on the fisheries being in jeopardy, where is the incentive to solve the problems and bring the fisheries back to healthy populations?.Add to this the complete lack of accountability we have allowed our government to operate with and they do more harm than good.Without accountability, it is just a money sucking leech, thriving on the emotionally driven.

[drm]

There are many ways in which environmentalists would like to see the ESA reformed. It focuses more on individual species and not enough on habitat. Compromises that would increase protection for endangered species and reduce the burden on individual landowners where these species live have been suggested. But these usually also result in greater limits on resource extraction on Federal lands, so they have never gone far. Politicians do mostly represent donors and special interests, but it is possible for voters to overwhelm this. But it requires a level of organization and intensity that is hard to develop, so it is by far the exception to the rule.

[grannyhiker]

A number of articles I read about the quick reversal of the House doing away with their independent Ethics Commission stated that an influx of angry phone calls from constituents had more to do with it than the Trumptweets. If that's true, we are still not without influence! Of course those of you who have "R" representatives have a better chance for influence, if there are enough of you! Many of us with D reps are, for the most part, preaching to the choir. On the other hand, not all R politicians want to throw everything out, and they need encouragement!

[drm]

[Ski]

[treeswarper]