Surprise Amendment in U.S. Senate Seeks to Legislate Wolves out of Oregon
June 23, 2000, with June 25 story added, plus info July 4
I'm never surprised anymore when the Congress uses some new method to avoid having to achieve an majority to pass legislation or to even know who's behind it, but an amendment has been added to the FY 2001 appropriations bill for the Department of Interior that would prohibit wolves in Oregon and require the removal of any wolves that have migrated there.
Below are the details in a Defenders of Wildlife urgent news release.
This is irritating in many ways. In recent year Congress has increasingly taken to writing complicated "catch all" bills full of things that everyone both hates and loves, and so any member can justify his or her vote against for it or against the bill.
They bring legislation to the floor that has not had a hearing.
They allow voting on numerous versions of a bill, only one of which is passed, even if several versions earn a majority. This is done so that members can say truly, but insincerely, say that they voted for or against something, even for contradictory things.
Major provisions appear in the bills in conference committee that were never even discussed when a bill passed the House or the Senate.
In the case of the Oregon wolf prohibition, they are blatantly legislating in an appropriations bill, which should be against Senate rules. In this case we don't we even know who is behind the amendment. Is this democracy?
Defenders Release:
OR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: June 22, 2000
Amendment To Interior Appropriations Bill Bad For Wolves:
WOLVES FORCED FROM OREGON IF AMENDMENT ENACTED
Responding to an amendment added to the FY 2001 Department of the Interior Appropriations funding bill, which was reported out of the Senate Appropriations Committee today, Defenders of Wildlife called the unexpected effort to keep wolves out of Oregon a "dangerous, precedent- setting attack on the Endangered Species Act's wolf recovery program." Wolves were first documented to be dispersing from Idaho into Oregon in 1999. The first wolf to do so, B-45 (named Freedom by Oregon school children), was captured and returned to Idaho by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS). The agency stated at that time that it would not interfere with future migrations of wolves into Oregon unless necessitated by wolf behavior. Since then, additional wolves have made the trek between the states. Currently, FWS estimates that there are at least two adult wolves in the Eagle Cap Wilderness Area in Oregon.
The Senate Appropriations committee approved the bill, which included the amendment, and sent it to the floor for consideration late today. The bill could be taken up by the full Senate as early as next week. If the amendment is enacted, any wolves that have already naturally migrated into Oregon - and any new immigrants - would have to be removed by either FWS or a local wildlife management agency. The animals would be returned to the experimental recovery area in Idaho from which they came.
The unprecedented amendment was unexpected by conservationists who therefore had no opportunity to fight against it. At this point, no one even knows who was behind this amendment.
"This violates the government's promises made to the people of Oregon who have asked that wolves be allowed to stay in their state," said Rodger Schlickeisen, president of Defenders of Wildlife. "Only the Oregon Cattlemen's Association has demanded that wolves that migrate into Oregon be removed. Congress is pandering to the wishes of a few over the desires of the many. We have long known that Oregon offers some of the best wolf habitat in the Pacific Northwest."
Citizens, agencies, tribal representatives and other organizations in Oregon have been working on the newly established Oregon Wolf Working Group for the return of wolves to their state. The Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla have made it clear they support the wolf's return and will oppose any attempts by the federal government to remove wolves from their native lands in Oregon. Polls show that the majority of Oregonians overwhelmingly support wolves within their borders and do not want them removed.
"This amendment is nothing short of an end run around the Endangered Species Act and it usurps the authority of the Fish and Wildlife Service to manage endangered species," said Schlickeisen. "In addition, it is a clear slap in the face for the citizens of Oregon who have been working together to ensure wolves are allowed to stay."
Upon learning that wolves were dispersing from their experimental population areas, Defenders of Wildlife expanded its Wolf Compensation Trust to include Oregon. The $200,000 Wolf Compensation Trust compensates ranchers, at fair market value, for livestock losses due to wolves. Initiated in 1987, the program has been instrumental in building trust and spirit of cooperation between wolf supporters and livestock producers in wolf recovery areas.
Defenders of Wildlife has worked in conjunction with FWS, the Umatilla Nation and others to develop the Oregon Wolf Working Group and to educate and inform Oregonians about wolves and living with these carnivores.
CONTACT: Ken Goldman 202.682.9400 x237 Carl Scheeler (Umatilla Nation) 541.379.426
Story in the Oregonian dated June 25, 2000. Smith wants stray wolves returned to Idaho
Added on July 4. Here is a list of all the anti-environmental riders in the FY2001 appropriations (plus those from past years). It is from Defenders of Wildlife.
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