Groups counter congressman's claims on lizard

[Judi Lynn]

Source: Associated Press

Groups counter congressman's claims on lizard
© 2011 The Associated Press
May 6, 2011, 1:55PM

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — Environmentalists are challenging a New Mexico congressman's claims that protections for a small lizard found only in parts of New Mexico and West Texas would lead to economic devastation.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has proposed listing the dunes sagebrush lizard as an endangered species. Public meetings on the proposal were held in New Mexico and Texas last month and the public has a few more weeks to submit comments.

U.S. Rep. Steve Pearce and others complain that a listing would result in oil and gas development being limited on thousands of acres in the Permian Basin, costing jobs, tax revenues and royalties.

Environmentalists accuse the New Mexico Republican of spreading "unwarranted fear."



Read more: http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/ap/tx/7553558.html

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http://www.kcet.org.nyud.net:8090/shows/socal_connected/undertheinfluence/assets/images/stevepeacecollage2.jpg

Rep. Steve Pearce, a former oil services company owner, drew in the most money from oil and gas
companies as a House candidate in the 2010 election cycle. (Oil well photo - Bureau of Land Management;
photo of Steve Pearce - Wikimedia Commons; gray wolf photo - U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service)

Western Congressman Rides Again with a Lobbyist in His Posse
by John Guenther
on February 28, 2011 4:06 PM

House Rep. Steve Pearce rode a wave of national resentment and money from oil and gas companies to regain an office he vacated in 2008.

Now he's back, and he brought with him a former Washington insider and lobbyist who sought to roll back environmental legislation well before it was the hot new thing to do.

Pearce (R-N.M.), endorsed by the anti-establishment Tea Party Express, hired Washington veteran Todd Willens to be his chief of staff. Willens is a former lobbyist for Vitello Consulting, which works on natural resource issues for businesses and consults for a Native American casino.

Willens was also legislative director for Richard Pombo, a former House member from California who sought to eliminate the Endangered Species Act. The Sierra Club placed Pombo, a 14-year House veteran, on its list of Dirty Dozen Congressional representatives in 2006 for receiving large amounts of oil company contributions. Opponents also attacked Pombo for a financial connection to convicted lobbyist Jack Abramoff and for placing family on his campaign payroll.

More:
http://www.kcet.org/shows/socal_connected/undertheinfluence/staff-profile/returning-western-congressman-brings-a-lobbyist-along-for-the-ride-126920110228.html

http://extras.mnginteractive.com.nyud.net:8090/live/media/site525/2011/0418/20110418_103738_0419-a1-lizard-c_300.jpg

[TheWraith]

1. That deserves a rec for the title alone. nt

[DavidDvorkin]

2. The lizard is the one between the wolf and the oil well, right?

[rhett o rick]

3. Poleeeez, that's a low- life-yellow-belly-republican. Have more respect for lizards. nm

[enuegii]

4. How long did he claim the lizard was? nt

[Tyrs WolfDaemon]

5. Lizards, Wolves, and Republicans

Which of these is different from the others?

Republicans - The animals of the world would be better off without them.


That guy needs to fed to Fenrir so that he can become the Sh*t he really is. May Odin's wolves haunt all of their dreams.

[Devil_Fish]

6. Fuck the oil wells, If the lizard is truly endangered, it should be on the list. What an ass hole.NT