Andrew,



Sincere thanks to you and your staff (that you can count on one hand) for what you managed to accomplish with HR-2811…I’m absolutely certain that things could have been MUCH worse!



Having said the “kudo’s”, I believe that this is a pyrrhic victory though for the following reasons…



1. I spoke with my congressman’s staff and I know that HR-2811 was passed out of the “Crime, Terrorism and Homeland Security Sub-Committee” and then to the “Judiciary Committee” (not the Natural Resources Committee)…Meaning they found a “backdoor” to get this passed out of committee for an eventual vote on the floor! This is not exceptional move by the radical politicians (we’ve seen this “maneuver before in Texas-at the state level)…What IS notable is that they are hell-bent to get a bill passed into law, anyway they can.



2. If S.373 is also passed by the Senate, then when they “meet” to reconcile the differences, it is VERY LIKELY that they will “insert” items more favorable to their agenda and if not then, when it’s sent to USFWS for regulation, it’s likely to appear there as well…Even after public comment (which USFWS may discard)…



So in my opinion, the objective for this “round” was to get A bill passed (since previous rounds have failed) that they can “tinker with” for decades to come (you know the drill)…As they have done with the Lacey Act, and the Endangered Species Act…This is the Saul Alinsky “blueprint”…The death by a 1,000 cuts.



Regarding the python project at SREL, you are right on with your assessment regarding a “grant money pit”…Since the state of Georgia opted not to fund the majority of the SREL operation after the federal funding dried up, I’m certain that the grant money (whether it’s taxpayer or dot.org) will be “milked” for all it’s worth…After all, professor’s have mortgages too…



I’ll not hold my breath regarding the results…After all, there is that “agenda” to support here…If the specimens there perish this winter, then it’s only a regional problem and what ever regulation is derived from HR-2811 & S-373 will be rendered irrelevant…Which will not be good for the government’s “economy"…



Just my 10-cents worth…



Later,

Jim.



PS: I'm glad you're going to speak to the senator, what I'd say to him couldn't be posted here...
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CSRAJim

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