Badlands Journal

The attempted change should be seen for what it is: a final Bush administration gift to those who benefit when environmental laws are weakened.-– Concord Monitor

Below, we've included the Associated Press story by Dina Cappiello on Aug. 22 about more than 100 conservation groups throughout the nation (including three from Merced) that opposed the Bush administration's latest attempt to gut the Endangered Species Act. Three groups came from the Merced: San Joaquin Raptor Rescue Center, San Joaquin Valley Conservancy and San Joaquin Et Al. The story was widely distributed throughout the nation and even in the UK -- a partial list is also included. Finally, there is some information about a number of local business and political leaders, large Republican fundraisers, who stand to benefit from this last-minute attempt by the Bush administration to reward its contributors.

Badlands Journal editorial board

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Associated Press
Groups: Bush rushing to rewrite species rules...(AP) DINA CAPPIELLO...8-22-08
http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5hkF1lWZoKQaqIgrv4XHs4RAorcQgD92NHQMG6
WASHINGTON (AP) — The Bush administration is providing insufficient time for public comment as it seeks to loosen rules protecting endangered species, representatives of more than 100 conservation groups charged Friday.

The Interior Department set a 30-day public comment period last week on an administration proposal that would allow federal agencies approving or funding dams, highways and other projects to decide for themselves — without input from government experts — whether endangered species are likely to be harmed.

That's half the time that was originally scheduled in a draft obtained by The Associated Press.

A shorter timeframe would give the administration a better chance of imposing the rules before November's presidential election.

Representatives of 103 organizations urged Interior Secretary Dirk Kempthorne and Commerce Secretary Carlos Gutierrez in a letter Friday to quadruple the time for public comment from 30 to 120 days and to hold public hearings.

An Interior Department spokeswoman, who had yet to see the letter, said Friday that requests for more time are always considered, but that 30 days was not unusual.

Members of Congress have also requested extensions and public hearings.

Last week, House Natural Resources Chairman Nick Rahall, D-W.V., along with House Energy and Commerce Chairman John Dingell, D-Mich., and Interior Appropriations Subcommittee Chairman Norman Dicks, D-Wash., called for an additional 30 days.

Senate Environment Committee Chairwoman Barbara Boxer urged the secretaries to suspend further action on the rule altogether. If they chose not to, she asked that the public get six months to scrutinize the proposal, guaranteeing that a final decision would rest with a new president.

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The Guardian (UK)
Endangered species
Green groups plea for public comment on endangered species law changes· Administration ends input from independent scientists
· Government rule changes require public comment
· Letter signed from groups across the US...Elana Schor in Washington guardian.co.uk ...8-22-08
http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2008/aug/22/endangeredspecies.usa?gusrc=rss&feed=worldnews
A coalition of scientists and advocates from 105 environmental groups across the US is pressing the Bush administration to allow more public input before it restructures the country's endangered species law.

Environmentalists got a shock to the system 10 days ago when the Bush administration revealed it would end the 35-year-old requirement that government agencies consult with independent scientists before building roads, dams or mines that could harm threatened species.

The interior secretary who proposed the rule, Dirk Kempthorne, defended the move as necessary to make sure climate change is not used to justify more endangered species protections. Activists cried foul, accusing the Bush administration of launching a "sneak attack" on wildlife during its last days in office.

But what made the Bush administration's plans even more alarming to environmentalists was the limited outreach that Kempthorne's department plans to do before changing the endangered species law.

Every US government agency must seek public comment on a rules change before making it. Comments are generally accepted for several months -- but the species protections are scheduled to pass after only 30 days of discussion.

"It appears as if the [Bush] administration is doing whatever it can to discourage participation in the democratic process," National Wildlife Federation executive director John Kostyack said.

"I think we can expect more sneaky assaults like this on our public land and wildlife laws as this administration heads for the exits."

In addition, public comments will only be accepted by mail or through a government website that automatically shares one's personal information. The limited comments could prevent green groups from generating mass opposition to the new rule via fax and email.

While they battle to prevent the species law from being changed, environmental groups are also pushing for Kempthorne to open up the process and allow the public greater say over wildlife protections.

"The abbreviated timeline and restrictive commenting options raise serious concerns that the department of the interior is attempting to rewrite a bedrock environmental statute without allowing for adequate public involvement," 105 environmental groups wrote in a letter to Kempthorne yesterday.

The groups also urged Kempthorne to hold public hearings on the new rule where advocates from both sides of the endangered species debate could exchange views.

Signers of the letter hail from nearly every state in America and a cornucopia of scientific institutions, from the Gulf Restoration Network to the Missouri Botanical Garden to California Trout Incorporated.

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Nashua Telegraph (NH)
Editorials
Yet another threat to endangered law
KEY POINTS
BACKGROUND: The Bush administration is bypassing Congress as it tries to enact major changes to the Endangered Species Act. --8-23-08

CONCLUSION: This shameless act is nothing more than a sorry attempt to gut the law on the administration’s way out the door. 
 
 
George Bush's presidency trickles to an end in five months, and already some members of his administration are acting like tenants who know they are going to be evicted and doing as much damage as they can before they leave.

But no one has dared to go as far as Interior Secretary Dirk Kempthorne, who's trying to place the Endangered Species Act on the extinction list beside the dodo and the passenger pigeon.

Kempthorne, a former Idaho governor and senator, got a zero rating from the League of Conservation Voters in five of his six years in Congress. He is famously reluctant to add to the endangered and threatened species list.

Earlier this month, in an attempt to do an end-run around Congress, Kempthorne proposed drastic changes to the rules governing the Endangered Species Act.

No longer, if the secretary gets his way, will federal agencies like the Army Corp of Engineers, Department of Transportation, Bureau of Land Management and Office of Surface Mining have to submit proposals for projects to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, National Marine Fisheries Service and other environmental agencies for review.

Instead, each agency, using ostensible in-house expertise, would decide whether any harm would be done. Only if the answer is yes would the agency have to consult federal offices charged with protecting species.

To further weaken the law's protections, the Fish and Wildlife and other environmental agencies would be given a maximum of 120 days to study and to act. That's faster than the current timetable and too little time to do comprehensive environmental assessments.

The notion that agencies whose missions are building roads and leasing land and waters for mines and oil drilling have the objectivity, let alone the expertise, to honestly assess and effectively gauge environmental harms is laughable.

The independent environmental reviews that are mandated by the Endangered Species Act have helped scores of species' recovery and brought some, like the California condor and the Florida panther, back from the brink of doom.

The act has also forced changes to projects and led to curbs on development. That, however, is a tradeoff that must be made if humans are going to share the planet with other species.

Kempthorne's proposal was apparently made to head off any further attempts to use the Endangered Species Act to regulate greenhouse gases and the climate changes that are melting the polar ice caps.

In May, the impact of the vanishing sea ice on polar bear survival forced Kempthorne to add the bears to the threatened species list. The act is not the perfect tool for addressing the bears' plight, but it's one of the only tools in the box.

If, at the end of a 30-day public comment period that's already begun, the rule goes into effect, it will, like other Kempthorne attempts to weaken environmental laws enacted by Congress, probably be tossed out in court – if the next president and Congress don't act first.

The attempted change should be seen for what it is: a final Bush administration gift to those who benefit when environmental laws are weakened.

– Concord Monitor

-----------------------------------------

 Bush Rushing to Rewrite Species Rules
WKRG-TV, AL - Aug 23, 2008
By AP The Bush administration is providing insufficient time for public comment as it seeks to loosen rules protecting endangered species, ...
 
Groups Bush rushing to rewrite species rules
The Southern Ledger, TN - Aug 23, 2008
By (AP) The Bush administration is providing insufficient time for public comment as it seeks to loosen rules protecting endangered species, ...

Groups: Public needs more time to evaluate Bush revisions to ...
Sun-Sentinel.com, FL - Aug 23, 2008
By DINA CAPPIELLO | AP Writer WASHINGTON (AP) _ The Bush administration is providing insufficient time for public comment as it seeks to loosen rules ...
 

Groups: Bush rushing to rewrite species rules
Times, IN - Aug 23, 2008
By DINA CAPPIELLO | Saturday, August 23, 2008 | No comments posted. WASHINGTON - The Bush administration is providing insufficient time for public comment ...
 

Yet another threat to endangered law
Nashua Telegraph, NH - Aug 23, 2008
George Bush's presidency trickles to an end in five months, and already some members of his administration are acting like tenants who know they are going ...
 

Groups: Bush rushing to rewrite species rules
PhysOrg.com, VA - Aug 23, 2008
By DINA CAPPIELLO , AP Writer, General Science / Biology (AP) -- The Bush administration is providing insufficient time for public comment as it seeks to ...
 

Enviros ask more time for project comments
Arizona Daily Star, AZ - Aug 23, 2008
AP WASHINGTON — The Bush administration is providing insufficient time for public comment as it seeks to loosen rules protecting endangered species, ...
 

Groups charge Bush rushing to rewrite species rules
Barre Montpelier Times Argus, VT - Aug 23, 2008
By Dina Cappiello AP WASHINGTON — The Bush administration is providing insufficient time for public comment as it seeks to loosen rules protecting ...
 

Groups: Bush rushing to rewrite species rules
The Herald-Times (subscription), IN - Aug 22, 2008
AP WASHINGTON — The Bush administration is providing insufficient time for public comment as it seeks to loosen rules protecting endangered species, ...
 

Administration faulted for insufficient public comment time on ...
Kansas City Star, MO - Aug 22, 2008
By DINA CAPPIELLO AP WASHINGTON | The Bush administration is providing insufficient time for public comment as it seeks to loosen rules protecting ...
 

104 Citizens Groups Criticize Anti-Democratic Rulemaking
Common Dreams (press release), ME - Aug 22, 2008
WASHINGTON - August 22 - Today, representatives from 104 conservation and scientific organizations representing millions of American's submitted a letter to ...
 

Groups: Bush rushing to rewrite species rules
Jordan Falls News, Canada - Aug 22, 2008
By DINA CAPPIELLO, AP Writer Fri Aug 22, 4:07 PM ET WASHINGTON - The Bush administration is providing insufficient time for public comment as it seeks to ...
 

Groups: Bush rushing to rewrite species rules
Brocktown News,  USA - Aug 22, 2008
By DINA CAPPIELLO, AP Writer Fri Aug 22, 4:07 PM ET WASHINGTON - The Bush administration is providing insufficient time for public comment as it seeks to ...
 

Groups: Bush rushing to rewrite species rules
Herald News Daily, ND - Aug 22, 2008
By DINA CAPPIELLO, AP Writer Fri Aug 22, 4:07 PM ET WASHINGTON - The Bush administration is providing insufficient time for public comment as it seeks to ...
 

Groups: Bush rushing to rewrite species rules
Akron Farm Report, NE - Aug 22, 2008
By DINA CAPPIELLO, AP Writer Fri Aug 22, 4:07 PM ET WASHINGTON - The Bush administration is providing insufficient time for public comment as it seeks to ...
 

Groups: Bush rushing to rewrite species rules
The Kindred Times, UT - Aug 22, 2008
By DINA CAPPIELLO, AP Writer Fri Aug 22, 4:07 PM ET WASHINGTON - The Bush administration is providing insufficient time for public comment as it seeks to ...
 

Groups: Bush rushing to rewrite species rules
Sky Valley Journal,  USA - Aug 22, 2008
By DINA CAPPIELLO, AP Writer Fri Aug 22, 4:07 PM ET WASHINGTON - The Bush administration is providing insufficient time for public comment as it seeks to ...
 

Groups: Bush rushing to rewrite species rules
Chandler News-Dispatch, MN - Aug 22, 2008
By DINA CAPPIELLO, AP Writer Fri Aug 22, 4:07 PM ET WASHINGTON - The Bush administration is providing insufficient time for public comment as it seeks to ...
 

Groups: Bush rushing to rewrite species rules
White Rock Reviewer, SD - Aug 22, 2008
By DINA CAPPIELLO, AP Writer Fri Aug 22, 4:07 PM ET WASHINGTON - The Bush administration is providing insufficient time for public comment as it seeks to ...
 

Groups: Bush rushing to rewrite species rules
Hinesberg Journal, Canada - Aug 22, 2008
By DINA CAPPIELLO, AP Writer Fri Aug 22, 4:07 PM ET WASHINGTON - The Bush administration is providing insufficient time for public comment as it seeks to ...
 

Groups: Bush rushing to rewrite species rules
New Hope Courier, OK - Aug 22, 2008
By DINA CAPPIELLO, AP Writer Fri Aug 22, 4:07 PM ET WASHINGTON - The Bush administration is providing insufficient time for public comment as it seeks to ...
 

Groups: Bush rushing to rewrite species rules
Jackson News-Tribune, WY - Aug 22, 2008
By DINA CAPPIELLO, AP Writer Fri Aug 22, 4:07 PM ET WASHINGTON - The Bush administration is providing insufficient time for public comment as it seeks to ...
 

Groups: Bush rushing to rewrite species rules
Pioneer Times-Journal, NM - Aug 22, 2008
By DINA CAPPIELLO, AP Writer Fri Aug 22, 4:07 PM ET WASHINGTON - The Bush administration is providing insufficient time for public comment as it seeks to ...
 

Groups: Bush rushing to rewrite species rules
Westfall Weekly News, Canada - Aug 22, 2008
By DINA CAPPIELLO, AP Writer Fri Aug 22, 4:07 PM ET WASHINGTON - The Bush administration is providing insufficient time for public comment as it seeks to ...
 

Groups: Bush rushing to rewrite species rules
Ely Times,  USA - Aug 22, 2008
By DINA CAPPIELLO, AP Writer Fri Aug 22, 4:07 PM ET WASHINGTON - The Bush administration is providing insufficient time for public comment as it seeks to ...
 

Groups: Bush rushing to rewrite species rules
Olberlin, KS - Aug 22, 2008
By DINA CAPPIELLO, AP Writer Fri Aug 22, 4:07 PM ET WASHINGTON - The Bush administration is providing insufficient time for public comment as it seeks to ...
 

Groups: Bush rushing to rewrite species rules
Howell Times and Transcript, UT - Aug 22, 2008
By DINA CAPPIELLO, AP Writer Fri Aug 22, 4:07 PM ET WASHINGTON - The Bush administration is providing insufficient time for public comment as it seeks to ...
 

Groups: Bush rushing to rewrite species rules
Ottawa Recorder, Canada - Aug 22, 2008
By DINA CAPPIELLO, AP Writer Fri Aug 22, 4:07 PM ET WASHINGTON - The Bush administration is providing insufficient time for public comment as it seeks to ...
 

Groups: Bush rushing to rewrite species rules
The Benton Crier, IA - Aug 22, 2008
By DINA CAPPIELLO, AP Writer Fri Aug 22, 4:07 PM ET WASHINGTON - The Bush administration is providing insufficient time for public comment as it seeks to ...
 

Groups: Bush rushing to rewrite species rules
Prescott Herald, AZ - Aug 22, 2008
By DINA CAPPIELLO, AP Writer Fri Aug 22, 4:07 PM ET WASHINGTON - The Bush administration is providing insufficient time for public comment as it seeks to ...
 
Interior Dept.: Talk to the Hand
Truthdig, United States - Aug 22, 2008
Not only is George W. Bush’s Secretary of the Interior trying to rewrite endangered species protections, he also appears to be tuning out public input, ...
 
  

Interior Dept.: Talk to the Hand
Truthdig, United States - Aug 22, 2008
By James Blight By Warren I. Cohen By Wellford Wilms Not only is George W. Bush’s Secretary of the Interior trying to rewrite endangered species protections ...
 

Groups: Bush rushing to rewrite species rules
Munster Times, IN - Aug 22, 2008
By DINA CAPPIELLO | Friday, August 22, 2008 | No comments posted. WASHINGTON - The Bush administration is providing insufficient time for public comment as ...
 

Groups: Bush rushing to rewrite species rules
Myrtle Beach Sun News, SC - Aug 22, 2008
By DINA CAPPIELLO - AP Writer The Bush administration is providing insufficient time for public comment as it seeks to loosen rules protecting endangered ...
 

Groups: Bush rushing to rewrite species rules
MSNBC - Aug 22, 2008
WASHINGTON - The Bush administration provided insufficient time for public comment as it seeks to loosen rules protecting endangered species, ...
 

Groups: Bush rushing to rewrite species rules
Sky Valley Journal,  USA - Aug 22, 2008
By DINA CAPPIELLO, AP Writer 28 minutes ago WASHINGTON - The Bush administration is providing insufficient time for public comment as it seeks to loosen ...
 

Groups: Bush rushing to rewrite species rules
Jackson News-Tribune, WY - Aug 22, 2008
By DINA CAPPIELLO, AP Writer 28 minutes ago WASHINGTON - The Bush administration is providing insufficient time for public comment as it seeks to loosen ...
 

Groups: Bush rushing to rewrite species rules
Westfall Weekly News, Canada - Aug 22, 2008
By DINA CAPPIELLO, AP Writer 28 minutes ago WASHINGTON - The Bush administration is providing insufficient time for public comment as it seeks to loosen ...
 

Groups: Bush rushing to rewrite species rules
Central Florida News 13|, FL - Aug 22, 2008
The Bush administration is providing insufficient time for public comment as it seeks to loosen rules protecting endangered species, representatives of more ...
 

Groups: Bush rushing to rewrite species rules
Pioneer Times-Journal, NM - Aug 22, 2008
By DINA CAPPIELLO, AP Writer 28 minutes ago WASHINGTON - The Bush administration is providing insufficient time for public comment as it seeks to loosen ...
 

Groups: Bush rushing to rewrite species rules
Jordan Falls News, Canada - Aug 22, 2008
By DINA CAPPIELLO, AP Writer 28 minutes ago WASHINGTON - The Bush administration is providing insufficient time for public comment as it seeks to loosen ...
 

Groups: Bush rushing to rewrite species rules
New Hope Courier, OK - Aug 22, 2008
By DINA CAPPIELLO, AP Writer 28 minutes ago WASHINGTON - The Bush administration is providing insufficient time for public comment as it seeks to loosen ...
 

Groups: Bush rushing to rewrite species rules
Akron Farm Report, NE - Aug 22, 2008
By DINA CAPPIELLO, AP Writer 28 minutes ago WASHINGTON - The Bush administration is providing insufficient time for public comment as it seeks to loosen ...
 

Groups: Bush rushing to rewrite species rules
Brocktown News,  USA - Aug 22, 2008
By DINA CAPPIELLO, AP Writer 28 minutes ago WASHINGTON - The Bush administration is providing insufficient time for public comment as it seeks to loosen ...
 

Groups: Bush rushing to rewrite species rules
White Rock Reviewer, SD - Aug 22, 2008
By DINA CAPPIELLO, AP Writer 28 minutes ago WASHINGTON - The Bush administration is providing insufficient time for public comment as it seeks to loosen ...
 

Groups: Bush rushing to rewrite species rules
Prescott Herald, AZ - Aug 22, 2008
By DINA CAPPIELLO, AP Writer 28 minutes ago WASHINGTON - The Bush administration is providing insufficient time for public comment as it seeks to loosen ...
 

Groups: Bush rushing to rewrite species rules
Hinesberg Journal, Canada - Aug 22, 2008
By DINA CAPPIELLO, AP Writer 28 minutes ago WASHINGTON - The Bush administration is providing insufficient time for public comment as it seeks to loosen ...
 

Groups: Bush rushing to rewrite species rules
Chandler News-Dispatch, MN - Aug 22, 2008
By DINA CAPPIELLO, AP Writer 28 minutes ago WASHINGTON - The Bush administration is providing insufficient time for public comment as it seeks to loosen ...
 

Groups: Bush rushing to rewrite species rules
The Benton Crier, IA - Aug 22, 2008
By DINA CAPPIELLO, AP Writer 28 minutes ago WASHINGTON - The Bush administration is providing insufficient time for public comment as it seeks to loosen ...
 

Groups: Bush rushing to rewrite species rules
Las Vegas Sun, NV - Aug 22, 2008
AP The Bush administration is providing insufficient time for public comment as it seeks to loosen rules protecting endangered species, representatives of ...
 

Groups: Bush rushing to rewrite species rules
Howell Times and Transcript, UT - Aug 22, 2008
By DINA CAPPIELLO, AP Writer 28 minutes ago WASHINGTON - The Bush administration is providing insufficient time for public comment as it seeks to loosen ...
 

Groups: Bush rushing to rewrite species rules
The Kindred Times, UT - Aug 22, 2008
By DINA CAPPIELLO, AP Writer 28 minutes ago WASHINGTON - The Bush administration is providing insufficient time for public comment as it seeks to loosen ...
 

Groups: Bush rushing to rewrite species rules
Herald News Daily, ND - Aug 22, 2008
By DINA CAPPIELLO, AP Writer 28 minutes ago WASHINGTON - The Bush administration is providing insufficient time for public comment as it seeks to loosen ...
 

Groups: Bush rushing to rewrite species rules
Ottawa Recorder, Canada - Aug 22, 2008
By DINA CAPPIELLO, AP Writer 28 minutes ago WASHINGTON - The Bush administration is providing insufficient time for public comment as it seeks to loosen ...
 

Groups: Public needs more time to evaluate Bush revisions to ...
CanadianBusiness.com, Canada - Aug 22, 2008
WASHINGTON (AP) - The Bush administration is providing insufficient time for public comment as it seeks to loosen rules protecting endangered species, ...
 

Groups: Bush rushing to rewrite species rules
Ely Times,  USA - Aug 22, 2008
By DINA CAPPIELLO, AP Writer 28 minutes ago WASHINGTON - The Bush administration is providing insufficient time for public comment as it seeks to loosen ...
 

Groups: Bush rushing to rewrite species rules
Olberlin, KS - Aug 22, 2008
By DINA CAPPIELLO, AP Writer 28 minutes ago WASHINGTON - The Bush administration is providing insufficient time for public comment as it seeks to loosen ...
 

Groups: Bush rushing to rewrite species rules
The Plain Dealer - cleveland.com, OH - Aug 22, 2008
By DINA CAPPIELLO AP WASHINGTON (AP) — The Bush administration is providing insufficient time for public comment as it seeks to loosen rules protecting ...
 

Groups: Bush rushing to rewrite species rules
Forbes, NY - Aug 22, 2008
By DINA CAPPIELLO 08.22.08, 4:20 PM ET The Bush administration is providing insufficient time for public comment as it seeks to loosen rules protecting ...
 

Groups: Bush rushing to rewrite species rules
Fort Worth Star Telegram, TX - Aug 22, 2008
By DINA CAPPIELLO AP Writer WASHINGTON -- The Bush administration is providing insufficient time for public comment as it seeks to loosen rules protecting ...
 
Groups: Public needs more time to evaluate Bush revisions to ...
amNewYork, New York - Aug 22, 2008
By DINA CAPPIELLO | AP Writer WASHINGTON (AP) _ The Bush administration is providing insufficient time for public comment as it seeks to loosen rules ...
 
  

Groups: Public needs more time to evaluate Bush revisions to ...
Orlando Sentinel, FL - Aug 22, 2008
By DINA CAPPIELLO | AP Writer WASHINGTON (AP) _ The Bush administration is providing insufficient time for public comment as it seeks to loosen rules ...
 

Groups: Bush rushing to rewrite species rules
MSN Money - Aug 22, 2008
WASHINGTON (AP) - The Bush administration is providing insufficient time for public comment as it seeks to loosen rules protecting endangered species, ...
 

Groups: Bush rushing to rewrite species rules
Monterey County Herald, CA - Aug 22, 2008
By DINA CAPPIELLO AP Writer WASHINGTON—The Bush administration is providing insufficient time for public comment as it seeks to loosen rules protecting ...
 

Groups: Public needs more time to evaluate Bush revisions to ...
Allentown Morning Call, PA - Aug 22, 2008
By DINA CAPPIELLO | AP Writer WASHINGTON (AP) _ The Bush administration is providing insufficient time for public comment as it seeks to loosen rules ...
 

Groups: Bush rushing to rewrite species rules
FOXNews - Aug 22, 2008
By DINA CAPPIELLO, AP Writer WASHINGTON — The Bush administration is providing insufficient time for public comment as it seeks to loosen rules protecting ...
 

Groups: Bush rushing to rewrite species rules
Bakersfield Californian (subscription), CA - Aug 22, 2008
By DINA CAPPIELLO | Friday, Aug 22 2008 1:15 PM The Bush administration is providing insufficient time for public comment as it seeks to loosen rules ...
 

Groups: Bush rushing to rewrite species rules
Lebanon Daily News, PA - Aug 22, 2008
By DINA CAPPIELLO AP Writer WASHINGTON—The Bush administration is providing insufficient time for public comment as it seeks to loosen rules protecting ...
 

Groups: Bush rushing to rewrite species rules
Marin Independent-Journal, CA - Aug 22, 2008
By DINA CAPPIELLO AP Writer WASHINGTON—The Bush administration is providing insufficient time for public comment as it seeks to loosen rules protecting ...
 

US groups: Bush rushing to rewrite species rules
International Herald Tribune, France - Aug 22, 2008
AP WASHINGTON: The Bush administration is providing insufficient time for public comment as it seeks to loosen rules protecting endangered species, ...
 

Groups: Bush rushing to rewrite species rules
Danbury News Times, CT - Aug 22, 2008
By DINA CAPPIELLO AP Writer WASHINGTON—The Bush administration is providing insufficient time for public comment as it seeks to loosen rules protecting ...
 
Groups: Bush rushing to rewrite species rules
Modesto Bee, CA - Aug 22, 2008
By DINA CAPPIELLO , AP Writer The Bush administration is providing insufficient time for public comment as it seeks to loosen rules protecting endangered ...
 

Groups: Bush rushing to rewrite species rules
Durham Herald Sun, NC - Aug 22, 2008
By DINA CAPPIELLO : AP Writer AP WASHINGTON -- The Bush administration is providing insufficient time for public comment as it seeks to loosen rules ...
 

Groups: Bush rushing to rewrite species rules
MLive.com, MI - Aug 22, 2008
By DINA CAPPIELLO AP WASHINGTON (AP) — The Bush administration is providing insufficient time for public comment as it seeks to loosen rules protecting ...
 

Groups: Bush rushing to rewrite species rules
Bradenton Herald,  United States - Aug 22, 2008
By DINA CAPPIELLO - AP Writer The Bush administration is providing insufficient time for public comment as it seeks to loosen rules protecting endangered ...
 

Groups: Bush rushing to rewrite species rules
Philadelphia Inquirer, PA - Aug 22, 2008
AP WASHINGTON - The Bush administration is providing insufficient time for public comment as it seeks to loosen rules protecting endangered species, ...
 

Groups: Bush rushing to rewrite species rules
guardian.co.uk, UK - Aug 22, 2008
AP foreign By DINA CAPPIELLO AP Writer WASHINGTON (AP) - The Bush administration is providing insufficient time for public comment as it seeks to loosen ...
 

Groups: Bush rushing to rewrite species rules
San Luis Obispo Tribune, CA - Aug 22, 2008
By DINA CAPPIELLO AP Writer The Bush administration is providing insufficient time for public comment as it seeks to loosen rules protecting endangered ...
 

Groups: Bush rushing to rewrite species rules
Rock Hill Herald, SC - Aug 22, 2008
By DINA CAPPIELLO · AP The Bush administration is providing insufficient time for public comment as it seeks to loosen rules protecting endangered species, ...
 

Groups: Bush rushing to rewrite species rules
Centre Daily Times, PA - Aug 22, 2008
By DINA CAPPIELLO WASHINGTON — The Bush administration is providing insufficient time for public comment as it seeks to loosen rules protecting endangered ...
 

Groups: Bush rushing to rewrite species rules
San Jose Mercury News,  USA - Aug 22, 2008
By DINA CAPPIELLO AP Writer WASHINGTON—The Bush administration is providing insufficient time for public comment as it seeks to loosen rules protecting ...
 

Groups: Bush rushing to rewrite species rules
Contra Costa Times, CA - Aug 22, 2008
By DINA CAPPIELLO AP Writer WASHINGTON—The Bush administration is providing insufficient time for public comment as it seeks to loosen rules protecting ...
 

Groups: Bush rushing to rewrite species rules
MiamiHerald.com, FL - Aug 22, 2008
By DINA CAPPIELLO AP Writer WASHINGTON -- The Bush administration is providing insufficient time for public comment as it seeks to loosen rules protecting ...
 

Groups: Bush rushing to rewrite species rules
Mid Columbia Tri City Herald, WA - Aug 22, 2008
By DINA CAPPIELLO WASHINGTON The Bush administration is providing insufficient time for public comment as it seeks to loosen rules protecting endangered ...
 

Groups: Public needs more time to evaluate Bush revisions to ...
Newsday, NY - Aug 22, 2008
By DINA CAPPIELLO | AP Writer WASHINGTON (AP) _ The Bush administration is providing insufficient time for public comment as it seeks to loosen rules ...
 

Groups: Bush rushing to rewrite species rules
The Olympian, WA - Aug 22, 2008
By DINA CAPPIELLO | AP Writer • Published August 22, 2008 The Bush administration is providing insufficient time for public comment as it seeks to loosen ...
 

Groups: Public needs more time to evaluate Bush revisions to ...
Baltimore Sun, United States - Aug 22, 2008
By DINA CAPPIELLO | AP Writer WASHINGTON (AP) _ The Bush administration is providing insufficient time for public comment as it seeks to loosen rules ...
 

Groups: Public needs more time to evaluate Bush revisions to ...
Chicago Tribune, United States - Aug 22, 2008
By DINA CAPPIELLO | AP Writer WASHINGTON (AP) _ The Bush administration is providing insufficient time for public comment as it seeks to loosen rules ...
 

Groups: Bush rushing to rewrite species rules
TheNewsTribune.com, WA - Aug 22, 2008
By DINA CAPPIELLO ; AP Writer WASHINGTON -- The Bush administration is providing insufficient time for public comment as it seeks to loosen rules protecting ...
 

Groups: Bush rushing to rewrite
Washington Times, DC - Aug 22, 2008
DINA CAPPIELLO AP WASHINGTON (AP) - The Bush administration is providing insufficient time for public comment as it seeks to loosen rules protecting ...
 
Groups: Bush rushing to rewrite species rules
Columbus Ledger-Enquirer, GA - Aug 22, 2008
By DINA CAPPIELLO - AP Writer -- The Bush administration is providing insufficient time for public comment as it seeks to loosen rules protecting endangered ...
 
  

Groups: Bush rushing to rewrite species rules
San Francisco Chronicle,  USA - Aug 22, 2008
By DINA CAPPIELLO, AP Writer The Bush administration is providing insufficient time for public comment as it seeks to loosen rules protecting endangered ...
 

Groups: Bush rushing to rewrite species rules
Fort Wayne Journal Gazette, IN - Aug 22, 2008
By Dina Cappiello AP The Bush administration is providing insufficient time for public comment as it seeks to loosen rules protecting endangered species, ...
 

Groups: Bush rushing to rewrite species rules
News & Observer, NC - Aug 22, 2008
By DINA CAPPIELLO, AP WriterComment on this story WASHINGTON - The Bush administration is providing insufficient time for public comment as it seeks to ...
 

Groups: Bush rushing to rewrite species rules
Inside Bay Area, CA - Aug 22, 2008
By DINA CAPPIELLO AP Writer WASHINGTON—The Bush administration is providing insufficient time for public comment as it seeks to loosen rules protecting ...
 

Groups: Bush rushing to rewrite species rules
International Herald Tribune, France - Aug 22, 2008
AP WASHINGTON: The Bush administration is providing insufficient time for public comment as it seeks to loosen rules protecting endangered species, ...
 

Groups: Public needs more time to evaluate Bush revisions to ...
Minneapolis Star Tribune, MN - Aug 22, 2008
By DINA CAPPIELLO , AP WASHINGTON - The Bush administration is providing insufficient time for public comment as it seeks to loosen rules protecting ...
 

Groups: Bush rushing to rewrite species rules
Town Hall, DC - Aug 22, 2008
By DINA CAPPIELLO The Bush administration is providing insufficient time for public comment as it seeks to loosen rules protecting endangered species, ...
 

Groups: Bush rushing to rewrite species rules
The Associated Press - Aug 22, 2008
WASHINGTON (AP) — The Bush administration is providing insufficient time for public comment as it seeks to loosen rules protecting endangered species, ...
 

Groups: Bush rushing to rewrite species rules
Seattle Post Intelligencer - Aug 22, 2008
By DINA CAPPIELLO AP WRITER WASHINGTON -- The Bush administration is providing insufficient time for public comment as it seeks to loosen rules protecting ...
 

groups plea for public comment on endangered species law changes
guardian.co.uk, UK - Aug 22, 2008
A coalition of scientists and advocates from 105 environmental groups across the US is pressing the Bush administration to allow more public input before it ...
 

Green groups plea for public comment on endangered species law changes
guardian.co.uk, UK - Aug 22, 2008
A coalition of scientists and advocates from 105 environmental groups across the US is pressing the Bush administration to allow more public input before it ...
 

We think: Plan to weaken wildlife protections doesn't add up
Orlando Sentinel, FL - Aug 22, 2008
Department of Interior Secretary Dirk Kempthorne doesn't appreciate the meaning of "public comment period." Others know it's where ordinary citizens get to ...
 

'Sneaky' Bush Attack on Endangered Species Angers Conservationists
Environment News Service - Aug 21, 2008
WASHINGTON, DC, August 21, 2008 (ENS) - Saying the Bush administration's most recent Endangered Species Act rulemaking is "anti-democratic," 104 ...

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Reuters

RNC Announces 2008 Victory Finance Chars...4-25-08
http://www.reuters.com/article/pressRelease/idUS237732+25-Apr-2008+PRN20080425
 WASHINGTON, April 25 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Victory 2008 Chairman Carly Fiorina and Victory 2008 Finance Chairman Lew Eisenberg today announced the 2008 Victory Finance Chairs. The 2008 Victory Finance Chairs will lead the party's efforts in the states to ensure Senator John McCain and Republicans up-and-down the ticket have the necessary resources to communicate our message and mobilize the vote...

2008 VICTORY FINANCE CHAIRS...:

California
Honorary Chairman Jerry Perenchio
Co-Chairman George L. Argyros
Co-Chairman William E. Bloomfield
Co-Chairman Robert A. Day, Jr.
Co-Chairman Jeff Denham
Co-Chairman Ted Dutton
Co-Chairman Paul F. Folino
Co-Chairman John Hagestad
Co-Chairman John C. Harris
Co-Chairman Joe Harper
Co-Chairman John Heubusch
Co-Chairman John F. Hotchkis
Co-Chairman Gary Hunt
Co-Chairman William Jones
Co-Chairman Gerry Kamilos
Co-Chairman Howard H. Leach
Co-Chairman Howard Lester
Co-Chairman William H. Lyon
Co-Chairman Sean McAvoy
Co-Chairman Susan McCaw
Co-Chairman James McGovern
Co-Chairman Michael T. Moe
Co-Chairman Al Montna
Co-Chairman John Moran
Co-Chairman Peter Newman
Co-Chairman Gerry Parsky
Co-Chairman David S. Pottruck
Co-Chairman Richard Roeder
Co-Chairman J. Gary Shansby
Co-Chairman William E. Siart
Co-Chairman Harry Evans Sloan
Co-Chairman Alex G. Spanos
Co-Chairman Dean A. Spanos
Co-Chairman Marc I. Stern
Co-Chairmen Lisa and Greg Wendt

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Stockton Record
Hank Shaw's blog
Piques & Valleys: A journal of politics in the Sacramento and San Joaquin valleys
Spanos McCain Fundraiser Details...5-2-08
http://forums.recordnet.com/n/blogs/blog.aspx?webtag=sr-hshaw&entry=608
Apparently the John McCain campaign is casting a wide net for its buck-raking event at Stockton mega-zillionaire Alex Spanos' compound on May 22: Invites have reached my neighborhood outside of Sacramento even.

As I reported earlier, the Spanos clan is hosting its quadrennial wing-ding for whomever is the Republican Party's nominee for president; they've been doing this since at least Ronald Reagan, maybe longer. Alex Spanos is one of the nation's most generous GOP donors, giving to everything from Stockton City Council races to the presidency.

The new news is that Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger will be at the party, too, as will a who's who of local Reeps. Congressional candidate Dean Andal will be there, as will his employer Gerry Kamilos. Andal hopes to beat Rep. Jerry McNerney this year, and the man Jerry ousted -- former Rep. Richard Pombo of Tracy -- is supposed to appear at casa de Spanos, too.

Other luminaries:

Pat & John Quinn (supermaket moguls)
Bah-zillionire investor John Calamos
Shopping center tycoon and Scooter Libby fan Mel Sembler
Assemblyman Greg Aghazarian
State Sen. Jeff Denham
Assemblyman Alan Nakanishi
Local political consultant Don Parsons
Claudia and Greg Pruett of the tomato processing plant Vaquero Farms
Former California GOP chief Bob Naylor
...and a cast of thousands. The hootenany start at $1,000 a head, payable to "MaCain Victory California," which is presumably the Arizona senator's state fund. But it'll raise lots and lots more, because -- at least in theory -- 13 "co-chairs" have agreed to raise at least $25,000 for McCain (that's $325,000) plus 24 who have (again, in theory) promised to raise at least $10,000, adding another $240,000.

So will John McCain gets his half-million from this? I'll be watching...
 
McNerney competitor emerges
Lincoln board member to run for Congress...Hank Shaw...5-17-08
http://www.sanjoaquinmediagroup.com/webads/website
SACRAMENTO - Stockton Republican Dean Andal will challenge Rep. Jerry McNerney for the 11th Congressional District seat next year...Republican registration reality should make McNerney's re-election difficult. McNerney shocked the GOP last fall by ousting Tracy Republican Richard Pombo in one of the election's notable upsets. It was made even more so by the fact that registered Republicans solidly outnumber Democrats in the 11th District, which includes most of San Joaquin County and stretches into Contra Costa, Alameda and Santa Clara counties.
Andal said his campaign will focus on fiscal conservatism and national security.
He said congressional Democrats should leave President Bush's tax cuts alone but laid blame for the massive federal budget deficit squarely with his fellow Republicans, who controlled Congress until last year...
"The stench of Washington is getting to be more than I can stand as a citizen," Andal said. "And that goes for both sides"...He is a director of Service 1st Bancorp in Stockton and also works closely with developer Gerry Kamilos, the builder primarily responsible for the Mountain House community outside Tracy. Andal earned at least $210,000 from Kamilos' various businesses last year, according to financial records filed with the county...

Daily Kos
CA-11: Republican Dean Andal allegedly tied to major scandal...brownsox...6/25/08
http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2008/6/25/13502/9062
One of the GOP’s top House recruits for this cycle may be in grave trouble. Assemblyman Dean Andal, challenging freshman Rep. Jerry McNerney in California’s Republican-leaning 11th District, has been accused of ties to a leak from the Board of Trustees of San Joaquin Delta College, in violation of California’s open government laws.

In a nutshell, members of the Delta board of trustees met to discuss terminating the contract of a delinquent contractor. Information from that meeting was illegally leaked to the contractor, who was then able to use that information to maintain the contract with Delta College. This is a serious crime, and a major betrayal of the public trust.

And if Board of Trustees member Ted Simas is to be believed, Andal - a consultant to the aforementioned contractor, PCCP Mountain House, on the Delta project - was personally privy to that information.

Here’s the story. The Stockton, California-based Delta College, a public institution, desired a new campus, and hired developer Gerry Kamilos and his company to design and build one for them. Andal served as a consultant to Kamilos on this project.

Kamilos’ company, PCCP Mountain House, failed to meet critical deadlines on the project, prompting the Delta College board of trustees to meet behind closed doors to discuss pursuing a breach-of-contract suit against PCCP Mountain House.

Now here is where it gets interesting. Kamilos was secretly notified of this meeting and the matters discussed. This is in violation of California law:

A report issued last week by the San Joaquin County Civil Grand Jury charged Delta trustees with leaking closed-session information about a deal to build a satellite campus in Mountain House to developers — a violation of the Brown Act, a state law that in part governs how elected leaders must conduct themselves in both closed and public meetings.

Andal's complicity allegedly runs deeper than guilt-by-association with Kamilos. Delta College trustee Ted Simas claims that he had a phone conversation with Andal in which Andal revealed knowledge of details from the closed Board of Trustees meeting (which he did not attend) that were to have been kept confidential.

This is Simas' recollection of the call:

"Andal greeted me with, 'I thought you didn't like the 11th Street property,'" Simas read from his notes, which he said he took meticulously minutes after the conversation. "He then proceeded to say that (PCCP) didn't breach the agreement. I had to ask him to slow down. I was completely caught off guard (and) didn't know what he was talking about at first."

He said he was amazed Andal knew what was said behind closed doors.

"He knew what I said, he knew what the lawyers said," Simas recounted. "If I wasn't caught off guard, I'd have thought to ask who told him all that."

Andal, both himself and through a spokesperson, has denied any recollection of such a call or knowledge of the leak.

Though who specifically received the information at PCCP remains in question, Kamilos wound up with knowledge that compromised Delta's bargaining advantage, Simas, the grand jury and Delta lawyer Ornellas agreed.

Trustees who shared closed-session conversations with Kamilos' company "almost certainly compromised the interests of the district," wrote Ornellas in a letter to trustees after their flagrant breach of the Brown Act on Feb. 9, 2006.

Well. It is clear that Andal was a consultant to a government contractor which missed critical deadlines, wasted taxpayers' money, and made illegal contact with public officials so as to maintain their contract when they were in danger of losing it. Andal also personally profited from this consulting job. None of this is in question.

If Simas' allegations are true, however, Andal somehow learned this impermissibly leaked information himself. Whether he found it out from Kamilos or someone at PCCP, or whether he found out directly from the Delta board of trustees, or heard it from a third party, it's clear he cracked out of turn by talking to Simas, the trustee - and that PCCP screwed taxpayers in the process.

This is extremely serious business under any circumstances. It is double trouble for a candidate running on ethics reform and a Boy Scout image. If there's anything to these allegations, Andal's candidacy will be sunk, and that is the least of his problems.