Democratic Senator Ben Cardin of Maryland blocked an effort by Western Republicans to remove gray wolves from the endangered species list.
From Politico’s Morning Energy Wednesday AM:
DANCES WITH WOLVES – Ben Cardin yesterday blocked an attempt by western senators to remove gray wolves from the endangered species list. Idaho’s Mike Crapo asked the Senate for unanimous consent to pass a measure that would amend the Endangered Species Act to take wolves off the list in Montana, Idaho and Utah. Cardin objected, saying endangered species status should be determined by science, not statute. The Bush and Obama administrations have also attempted to delist wolves, but both were thwarted by successful lawsuits from environmental groups.
Seems pretty interesting to me. Sen. Jon Tester (D-MT) has been actively pushing controversial new wilderness as part of a trillion dollar spending bill, helped force through a controversial vote supporting repeal of “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” in the military, all while the Democratic controlled Senate is also working to rush through a treaty with Russia during the last minute of the lame duck session. Yet, with an issue like de-listing wolves that has such broad, bipartisan support back here in Montana: nothing.
Meanwhile, environmental groups continue their lawsuits to force (or at least prevent a blockage) wolves on the rest of the country.
As AP Montana reports:
An environmental group filed notice Tuesday that it intends to sue the federal government to force adoption of a plan to recover gray wolves across the lower 48 states.
Biologists with the Arizona-based Center for Biological Diversity said Tuesday they want to expand that recovery nationwide.
You may recall a prior post on the Center for Biological Diversity, you can find that post and an archived interview with Haylie Shipp by clicking here