01/26/07 Crapo tries again to reform ESA

Idaho Senator Mike Crapo has been trying for years to get changes made in the Endangered Species Act; changes he says will help species recovery without jeopardizing human needs. CRAPO "It is still the case here in Congress that a broad comprehensive reform bill is highly unlikely to make it through." No changes so far. If he couldn't get ESA changes under Republican control how will he do it with the Democrats now in charge in Congress? Crapo thinks he's found one area that has a legitimate chance of getting bipartisan congressional approval. CRAPO "Tax reform policies that will incentivize private land owners to take activities on their land to improve recovery opportunities and habitat for species. And they just really creates a partnership with private individuals where most of the species habitat issues are with regard to endangered species and helps to bring them into the process in such a way that helps to pay for the costs that private owners will incur if they participate in species recovery." Crapo says as they work on that legislation it could be dove tailed with the new Farm Bill and the conservation aspects that will be written into it. Then there's money, something always difficult to find in these tough budget times in Washington DC. Today's Idaho Ag News Bill Scott