David Neiwert: Next Up: Endangered Species

Monday, September 12, 2005

Sure, it's bad enough that in the wake of Hurricane Katrina, Republicans in Congress have set their sights on a permanent repeal of the estate tax. Just what we need: a permanent loss of revenue after a Category 5 storm and a bumbling Bush League response left taxpayers saddled with a disaster bill of $100 billion and counting. That should work wonders on that federal deficit.

But that's just the start of the march of the completion of the corporate-right agenda under Bush. Next in their sights: the Endangered Species Act, probably the most generally successful piece of environmental legislation ever enacted:

As Congress returns from its August recess, environmentalists and property-rights activists are focused on Rep. Richard Pombo, a California rancher who is chairman of the House Resources Committee. Later this month, Pombo is expected to introduce legislation to overhaul the 32-year-old Endangered Species Act, with House passage expected by year's end.