People have been asking since the campaigns for the 2004 elections, is there anything you do not support on, you neocon you? Usually in massively shrill voices. Yes, there are a few things, such as illegal immigration, spending policy, and Bush rarely defending his own policies. Here’s another one
Parts of the Endangered Species Act may soon be extinct.
The Bush administration wants federal agencies to decide for themselves whether highways, dams, mines and other construction projects might harm endangered animals and plants. New regulations, which don’t require the approval of Congress, would reduce the mandatory, independent reviews government scientists have been performing for 35 years, according to a draft first obtained by The Associated Press.
Interior Secretary Dirk Kempthorne said late Monday the changes were needed to ensure that the Endangered Species Act would not be used as a “back door” to regulate the gases blamed for global warming. In May, the polar bear became the first species declared as threatened because of climate change. Warming temperatures are expected to melt the sea ice the bear depends on for survival. Â
On one hand, notice that this is not necessarily news, as those parts may become extinct. On the other, I have written time and time again of my support for the environment, and rendering parts of the ESA toothless is, in my mind, bad. Certainly, those in the Bush admin who are involved can find another way to stop the use of the ESA as a back door to control silly climate change without harming the actual protection rules.
