ACTION ALERT: HOWL AGAINST Simpson’s Sneak Ax Attack on Wolves & the ESA

SAVE ME! Salmon River wolf

Copyright Lynne K Stone 2008

Dear Friends,

Wolves need our help once again. The U.S. House “Continuing Resolution” budget bill goes to the U.S. Senate on Monday, Feb 28th.

Please pick up the phone and call the Senators (list below) TODAY, THIS WEEKEND, MONDAY, TUESDAY, or whenever you can … . Please speak up for wolves.

Buried deep in the bill is Section 1713, that forever would strip wolves of any federal protection in Idaho, Montana and parts of Oregon, Utah and Washington. This sneaky maneuver put forth by Idaho Rep. Mike Simpson doesn’t even mention the word “wolf” or Endangered Species Act. Guess he thought no one would notice.

While there are dozens of terrible provisions in the House “Continuing Resolution” budget, this ALERT focuses on Section 1713 – Simpson’s ax attack on wolves and the Endangered Species Act. I urge you to call members of the Senate Committee on Environment & Public Works where the House budget will be debated starting March 1, Tuesday. Ask the Senators to remove Section 1713.

This committee is chaired by Barbara Boxer (D-CA). She is waffling on her support of wolves, apparently because she doesn’t want to upset Democratic Senators from Montana. Idaho’s Senator Mike Crapo is a minority member of this committee – he’s not a friend of wolves, either, but he still needs to hear from us.

Thank you,

Lynne

Lynne K Stone, Director

Boulder-White Clouds Council

Box 6313

Ketchum ID 83340

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TAKE ACTION

FOCUS ON CALLING MAJORITY SENATORS – AS MANY AS YOU CAN. YOU’LL HAVE ABOUT A MINUTE. IF YOU LIVE IN ANOTHER STATE, PLEASE CALL YOUR SENATORS, ESP IF ONE IS ON THIS COMMITTEE. If you would rather send an e-mail, go to the Senator’s website and write your comments.

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Suggestions on what to say:

– Calling regards to the House budget bill.

– Urge that the Senate remove Section 1713 – Rep Mike Simpson’s attack on wolves and the ESA. As an Idaho resident he does not speak for me.

– Section 1713 would strip wolves in Idaho & Montana of all their protection and hundreds of wolves will be killed.

– I like wolves and want them protected.

– The budget bill is no place to legislate the fate of wolves or any Endangered Species.

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Capital Switchboard Numbers – give the name of the Senator & you will be transfered to their office. You will then either speak to a staff member, or on the weekend – to voice mail.

1,866.220.0044

1.877.851.6437

1.800.833.6354

Senate Committee on Environment & Public Works

Majority Members (10)

*ESPECIALLY CALL THESE SENATORS

Chair Barbara Boxer, CA*

Max Baucus, MT

Thomas Carper, DE

Frank Lautenberg, NJ

Benjamin Cardin, MD*

Bernie Sanders, VT

Sheldon Whitehouse, RI

Tom Udall, NM*

Jeff Merkley, OR*

Kristen Gillibrand, NY

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Minority Members (8) (Republicans)

James Inhofe, OK

David Vitter, LA

John Barrasso, WY

Jeff Sessions, AL

Mike Crapo, ID*

Lamar Alexander, TN

Mike Johanns, NB

John Boozman, ARK

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House Republicans Move against Wolves

Friday, February 25, 2011

Buried inside a U.S. House budget bill to keep the federal government operating past March is a controversial provision that would remove the endangered species classification for wolves in the Rocky Mountains.

Pushed by Republicans, the plan would allow the wolf population to be reduced to only 300 in the Northern Rockies, an area covering Idaho, Montana and parts of Washington, Oregon and Utah. Currently, about 1,700 wolves roam the region, meaning the legislation would allow for the slaughter of 82% of the animals.

Andrew Wetzler at the Natural Resources Defense Council insists 300 wolves is not a sufficient number for the long-term survival of the species, which nearly went extinct in the 20th century.

Twice before, lawmakers tried to end the wolves’ endangered species designation, only to have a federal judge intervene. The new attempt includes language designed to prevent the courts from getting in the way, by stating the rule “shall not be subject to judicial review.”

Wolves would still be protected in Wyoming, the southwestern desert and the upper Great Lakes.

Representative Mike Simpson (R-Idaho), chair of the appropriations subcommittee overseeing the Interior Department, speaking on behalf of ranchers, justified the renewed killing of wolves. “Not only do wolf populations far exceed recovery goals, but without proper management those populations have grown to the point where they are adversely impacting other wildlife populations in the region and wreaking havoc for ranchers, hunters, and public land users in Idaho,” he said in a statement.

-Noel Brinkerhoff

CLICK HERE FOR LINK TO ARTICLE

Top Photo: Courtesy Lynne Stone Copyright 2008

Bottom Photo: Courtesy fanpop

Posted in: Wolf Wars, Endangered Species Act

Tags: Assault on the ESA, Assault on gray wolves, Mike Simpson, Section 1713, bad wolf delisting bill,