Reptile & Amphibian Forums

USARK has received letters from Senator Bill Nelson (D-FL) and Democratic majority Environment & Public Works (EPW) Committee Staff indicating that they will not honor commitments to work with us in regards to S373 aka ‘The Python Ban’. USARK has offered up a number of amendments to mitigate the effects of S373 on the captive bred reptile industry, including a moratorium on import until more definitive science can determine weather a Lacey Act listing is actually necessary. This would have amounted to what is known as a “sunset clause”. Apparently Democrats on the Committee feel they have the political momentum to ignore science in favor of political expediency. Justification for these draconian measures is predicated on the discredited USGS report on 9 large constricting snakes.

Democrat Staff are working on an amendment for tomorrows ‘Mark Up’ hearing that would “amend S373 to include the 9 snakes addressed in the USGS report”. It will be offered tomorrow. What is unclear is whether that means the bill will be ‘limited’ to the 9, or ‘include’ the 9. If it is ‘limited’ to the 9 it would target the large snakes including Boa Constrictor. If it ‘includes’ the 9, that could mean all of the large snakes, but also ALL the other pythons. As of yet there has been no language shared to clarify what they will actually attempt.

This utter disregard for good science in favor of political expediency continues to be pushed by the Humane Society of the United States. They see this as an opportunity to destroy the Reptile Nation. They have had unfettered access to Senator Nelson’s (D-FL) and Senator Cardin’s (D-MD) offices through sympathetic staff members.

EPW Committee Ranking Member Jim Inhofe (R-OK) is working hard with USARK to build a coalition Opposing S373 for a fight on the Senate Floor. He is concerned with the obvious “railroading” that is being attempted with a viable sector of the economy to satisfy powerful special interests invested in destroying the captive bred reptile industry. He is also concerned with the lack of evidence to support such drastic and damaging measures. The USGS report has many problems which have been pointed out by scientists with far more acclaim than the authors, but one of the most glaring flaws is the aggressive climate model that the entire report is based on. In addition there have been no provisions made to account for more than 4 million snakes already in captivity that will become valueless overnight if S373 becomes law. S373 is an economic and ecologic disaster in the making.

USARK is doing everything possible to protect the Reptile Nation. Andrew Wyatt has been in Las Vegas raising money and awareness across the country. Todd Willens will be representing USARK in Florida at the Florida Fish & Wildlife Commissioners meeting. Frank Vitello continues his vigilance on ‘The Hill’ and will attend the Senate Mark Up Hearing tomorrow in Washington, DC. We have the back of the Reptile Nation and will continue to do everything in our power to protect our members.

ACTION STEPS:

1. Contact The Media; Pythons Politics & Destruction of the American Dream Campaign. Click on this link to send a hard hitting email to all the big media outlets:

usark.org/campaign.php?id=9

2. Contact President Obama. Click on this link to let the President know you oppose S373 and the destruction of American jobs:

www.whitehouse.gov/contact

3. Call & Fax the Senate EPW Committee Today!

Obama Sample Letter: cut and paste in whitehouse contact portal above

President Obama,
S373 aka the Python Ban is being considered in the Senate right now. It will destroy thousands of jobs and bankrupt thousands of American families. The bill has been sensationalized and politicized and has no basis in real science. In fact a report generated by USGS to justify this bill has been called unscientific by an independent panel of scientists. It is being pushed by powerful special interest groups and it will hurt me financially. It is a confiscation of my personal property rights and will not solve the problems proponents claim it addresses. This is clearly a situation that has become politically driven and ignores science that does not support S373. Please do not allow politics to trump good science and sound policy. This is wrong and you promised in your election campaign not to allow situations like this to occur. Please stop S373.

***Join the Reptile Nation!

Forward this Alert to everyone you know... your friends, email lists, forums, social networking sites... everyone! This will only work if EVERYONE participates!! We must generate 10's of thousands of responses. Do it now! Go, GO, GO!!!!!

CALL IN DAY:

Sample:

My name is _____. I oppose S373. Although I support and appreciate efforts to preserve the Everglades, there is NO evidence to show this bill will have any conservation effect on the Everglades. This bill will hurt American families in our state. It would Ban the captive bred trade in 40 species of pythons and destroy thousands of jobs in our state and across the country. Scientists have questioned the USGS report being used to justify this extreme proposal. Science should trump political expediency. Please oppose S373.

Contact: Full Senate EPW Committee

Sen. Bill Nelson (D-FL), (Sponsor S373)
Phone: 202-224-5274
Fax: 202-228-2183

Sen. Barbara Boxer (D-CA), (Chair EPW)
Phone: 202-224-3553
Fax: 202-224-0454

Sen. James Inhofe (R-OK), (Ranking Member EPW)
Phone: 202-224-4721
Fax: 202-228-0380

Sen. Ben Cardin (D-MD), (Chair Water & Wildlife)
Phone: 202-224-4524
Fax: 202-224-1651

Sen. Mike Crapo (R-ID), (Ranking Member Water & Wildlife)
Phone: 202-224-6142
Fax: 202-228-1375

Sen. Lamar Alexander (R-TN)
Phone: 202-224-4944
Fax: 202-228-3398

Sen. John Barrasso (R-WY)
Phone: 202-224-6441
Fax: 202-224-1724

Sen. Max Baucus [D-MT]
Phone: 202-224-2651
Fax: 202-224-9412

Sen. Christopher (Kit) Bond [R-MO]
Phone: 202-224-5721

Sen. Thomas Carper [D-DE]
Phone: 202-224-2441
Fax: 202-228-2190

Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand [D-NY]
Phone: 202-224-4451
Fax: 202-228-0282

Sen. Amy Klobuchar [D-MN]
Phone: 202-224-3244
Fax: 202-228-2186

Sen. Frank Lautenberg [D-NJ]
Phone: 202-224-3224
Fax: 202-228-4054

Sen. Jeff Merkley [D-OR]
Phone: 202-224-3753
Fax: 202-228-3997

Sen. Bernard (Bernie) Sanders [I-VT]
Phone: 202-224-5141
Fax: 202-228-0776

Sen. Arlen Specter [D-PA]
Phone: 202-224-4254
Fax: 202-228-1229

Sen. Tom Udall [D-NM]
Phone: 202-224-6621

Sen. David Vitter [R-LA]
Phone: 202-224-4623
Fax: 202-228-5061

Sen. George Voinovich [R-OH]
Phone: 202-224-3353

Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse [D-RI]
Phone: 202-224-2921
Fax: 202-228-6362

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Andrew Wyatt
President USARK

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Chris & Alliey
www.bloodyleopard.com
E-mail Us

He's a politician who can't be trusted. He's already been laying the BS on very thick for quite sometime now. He could care less about the Burmese...it's his own agenda he's looking out for. People have to realize this has nothing to do with the Burmese...if it did they would be targeting the Burmese only, not the large 9 or the Scapegoat 45.

If Senator Larry Craig was caught in compromising circumstances in an airport bathroom...does that mean that all male Senators are the same way? Do they all pose a potential threat to us in the public bathrooms? Maybe they should all get arrested since they are all males and they are all Senators...
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Matt Lerer
Ghi Reptiles

"USARK is doing everything possible to protect the Reptile nation. Andrew Wyatt has been in Las Vegas raising money and awareness across the country."

With this important a vote upcoming wouldn't it have made more sense for Andrew Wyatt to have been in Washington DC working on this problem instead of fundraising at a reptile show in Las Vegas??? That seems like a huge mistake and misplaced priorities there. Pijac is there fighting this why isnt usark?

Also, isnt it true that ONLY Senator Nelson can ammend his bill at this time in the process?

United we stand, divided we fall...............................
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Chris & Alliey
www.bloodyleopard.com
E-mail Us

Yeah propaganda helps. So you do not think that at this point in time the president of usark should have been in dc working on this issue? You think instead he was better served fund raising at a 25 vendor reptile show in Las Vegas? Is that really what you believe?

Pretty sure the show was on a weekend when most DC offices were closed anyway.

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Tosha
JET Pythons

nihil facimus sed id bene facimus

I agree with you 100%, he should be in Washington at a crucial time like this. Going to Vegas for a show with 25 vendors seems like a poor choice. I`ve spoken with several staffers you have never heard of Andrew Wyatt. And you are correct, Only Senator Nelson can amend this bill. The bill is going to be passed. We should be concerned with brokering the best deal possible. I don`t know any good arguments that justify keeping 20 foot pet pythons.
I LIKE Burms and the other big snakes, but I don`t see a rational way to justify keeping them to the general public. This all or nothing, no compromise attitude is just plain wrong. And offering not to have Burms and Rocks imported isn`t really an offer of compromise.
Lets at least be able to keep all of the other pythons that represent a zero % chance of causing mortality.
And PLEASE remove that "send a snake to congress 4 x-mas "
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Mark Petros Reptiles
BallPython777.com

I agree Mark-100%...

But I'm afraid this one is already lost-frankly it will be a miracle if we come out of this with the right to keep ANY pythons or Boa constrictors. I think our only real hope is that the health care debate will take so much time that most of these other bills will be shoved off the calendar and started over next year.
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Brad Chambers
WWW.HCU-TX.ORG

"Some things are flat impossible-until they're done."
Robert A. Heinlein

this session tomorrow is the last step prior to a vote on the floor by full membership which will happen fast likely with a pile of other bills. As it stands right now it is split down party lines and it will go through if nothing happens to change things.

hOW MUCH TIME HAVE YOU PUT IN, AND BETTER YET ARE YOU A MEMBER ?

The show was on the weekend. How many politicians do you think were on the hill to be influenced?

Mack

questions like that prove why this is such a problem. all the staffers are there on the weekend, all the lobbiests are there on the weekends. HSUS and PIJAC were there all weekeend. And if you guys didn't realize, it is WEDNESDAY. Friday through WEDNESDAY nobody is in DC? Really? Then why is it that PIJAC has been fighting for us on this non stop through this week and weekend? Only usark was absent. The usark lobbiest was there but had nothing to say or do as he is not a snake guy and knows nothing about snakes. SOmebody from usark is supposed to be with him for that info.

How did you come across this info? If that is true it would be very disappointing. Why make phone calls today if only Nelson can ammend the bill, I feel it was somewhat pointless to waste my time if it is not going to have an impact. Maybe the director can set things straight so I understand what we're doing.
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It is procedure. That is just how it works. At this point the language in the bill is final to go in front of the senate for a vote with only Nelson being able to change or amend anything and he has clearly stated he has no interest in doing so.

You probably found your info from USARK

man you are just pathetic. where is usark right now? why is usark not telling people the truth. I will give you the info that usark is not:

Fact #1: the bill will be sent tomorrow from the commitee to the full senate. there is nothing else that is going to be done or to be negotiated, it is finished

Fact #2: only nelson can amend the bill and he does not show any interest in doing so in our favor or even against us

Fact #3: the bills next stop in the process is on the floor of the senate for a full member vote. It is being sponsored and bnacked by senior democrats so unless something amazing happens in the next few days, it will go through both houses and be signed into law as the democrats have the majority and the presidency.

this is how the process works and by not being honest and telling people what very well is likely to happen usark is not doing us any favors. people need to know what reality is. the last possible chance to affect change in this will be if a select group of people who are large players in our industry can convince politicians that passing this will cost them votes and or money as those are the only two currencies they deal in.

You told me nothing that USARK did not already state. Why does USARK need to be in Washington when all of this is a done deal already. You speak with forked tongue. We need USARK and PIJAC>

STAFFERS ? I have made calls to these staffers. They get to keep their jobs, because they dont bother the congressman on Monday. They are yes men and gatekeepers. Staffers are waste of time. This is why USARK knows what they are doing , and it is the reason that I am putting my faith and dollars. I also contribute to PIJAC. Thanks

the staffers have the direct ear of the politician. by saying what you are you are showing your ignorance. pijac is doing everything they can with a full team of attorneys and lobbiests but it is going against them

What congress member is in DC on the weekends ? He is raising $$ for our fight. USARK does have people in DC. Wake Up !!

Are you kidding ? He was there Friday. You are totally uninformed. These comments make you look completely out of touch. WOW !!!

Dave and I reaffirmed our support by renewing our Gold membership for 2010.USARK is working 24/7 on our behalf. They are where they need to be when they need to be there. I hope that everyone will join and continue to support this organization.

Stay positive. Remember nothing is over until President Obama signs it into law. Tomorrow is going to be a big day. We will go from there. Tracy

there is nothing to wait for tomorrow. Tomorrow the commitee sends the bill to the floor. When the senate conveigns to have an open vote on this and many other bills on the floor. There is nothing that can be done now until after tomorrows session and then there is some small time and small chance to talk to select senators if you can arrange appointments and if they will see you, to try to convince them to vote against this bill. Right now they have a clear majority and if nothing changes it is done.

I want to know what you have done to stop this from happening. EVERY one has faults, and you seem to like to point those out. I want you to come up with solutions. I have no time for weak cheap shots on USARK. Without USARK , this is already DOA.

You are just sad. What I have done is calmy and quietly talked to the people in government who make the descisions and the people around them that can influence them for many years now. I have fought anti reptile laws in court many times in several areas and states. I have worked with representativs from the states of IL, MI and others to prevent stupid laws and help to bring our point of view to the people who regulate our industry. I went to speak to judges and prosecutors in OH on the black ratsnake issue and in fact helped to reduce penalties for those that were convicted in that mess. On this most recent problem I have spent an insane amount of time at shows and pet shops as well as on the phone and in person making people in this industry aware that this was even going on and getting people who have influence to use it in our favor.

What have you done?

This hobby and business existed long before usark. It will be around in some form after usark is gone. It is great that usark wants to help but they have made many serious, amateur mistakes, some illustrated right in this very thread, that are part of the reason nothing is going to happen out of the process tomorrow.

Think what you want but other than being brainwashed to back somebody up you do not seem to have knowledge of the courts, government or the process as a whole. Maybe you should do some homework before you talk about it?

It seems obvious to myself and probably other readers that you have a personal issue with the higher ups at USARK. Im sorry that you cant get past it. All we need is love......

I don't think it is just Evan that feels that way, and it may not have anything to do with ranking USARK members. I have stated a few concerns about the way that organization has handled a few things myself. I beleive even though they did things I don't agree with, they have more influence on the house side and that is going to be a small help to many keepers of pythons. They also have a link to the White House to write the president which is something we all should do, especially if this goes to the man himself.

I received an email from Jeff Ronne Sr awhile back concerning a post that I made, and I responded with those concerns and never even received a reply back from him. Unfortunately communication was the main reason of the correspondence, and this again showed me they have poor communication skills.

We are all on the same side, fighting for the same things, who we pledge allegiance to is our choice.
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When you had posted that USARK and Jeff Ronne in a video I posted, were misleading you that ALL Pythons including Ball Pythons were in danger of being lost, I had made a mistake in assuming that you might do a followup post when it was proven to be correct. At least that is what I would have done if I would have accused someone of something and I was the one mistaken.
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Jeff Ronne Sr
The Boaphile
Director USARK

Originator of Boaphile Plastics
The Boaphile Boa Site

I believe for a bill to become a law, both the house and the senate have to pass identical versions. With that being said, I believe the senate will amend 373 to include only the 9 in the usgs report. It will be much easier for them to push that version through both houses. So, now is not a time for panic but a time to regroup and prepare for what lies ahead. Regardless of what happens tomorrow,its only a matter of time before 669 or some other bill pops up again.

How true. Dont ever give up

So is the way that this works is that after the senate passes a bill and the House passes a bill they go back and ammend the bill and agree on one identical bill which they both vote on again? I am hoping that the House may have a little more sense and hold with only banning the 9 on the list. Sad as it may be, they are going to pass something, and I think it is getting to the time (perhaps past the time) where we need to work on at least making sure they only ban the 9 from the ridiculous "scientific" report.
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John Vandegrift