Daily Archives: 01/15/2013

~ Culture & History

Colville tribe: hunting wolves to protect deer, elk, chairman says


 by Lynda V. Mapes

 December 7,2012

After eight months of deliberation, the Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation decided earlier this month to open a hunt on wolves living within the boundaries of its reservation, John Sirois, chairman of the Colville Business Council said in a telephone interview Friday.

The tribe made the decision after surveying its membership, and discerning through the work of its biologists that the wolves on its reservation are denting the local population of deer and elk, which tribal members hunt for subsistence. The tribe elected to allow a wolf hunt in order protect the tribe’s food supply, Sirois said.

“Wolves are starting to have an impact,” Sirois said. “We decided it was much better to manage the population so we can keep the numbers down a little bit. We would rather do that than what the state Fish and Wildlife did and take a whole pack. We didn’t want a helicopter coming through.”

Sirois was referring to the decision by the state Department of Fish and Wildlife in September to kill an entire pack of wolves in the northeastern part of the state, called the Wedge pack, after a rancher complained of cattle killed by the pack.

wolf.JPG

One of the members of Wedge Pack. All of the wolves in the pack were killed by the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife.

Photo, courtesy Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife

Killing the seven members of the pack with a marksman shooting from a helicopter was highly controversial. Some, including UW wildlife biologist John Marzluff, say the state didn’t need to kill the Wedge pack. See his op ed in the Seattle Times.

The tribe’s decision to allow a hunt has also been hot.

“Oh man, it is blowing up,” Sirios said. “I have a lot of hateful messages from people, it’s ‘Why are you killing your brother.’ The decision wasn’t made easily, there was a lot of debate. But in terms of feeding our people, this is one we had to make.”

Sirois said he doubts many wolves will be taken. “It is not as easy as people think. We have authorized three areas, with threes wolves for each one. If they get one per zone, they will be lucky.”

No wolves have been taken yet, Sirois said.

The Colville’s reservation is a sprawling expanse of largely open country, in northcentral Washington. The tribe successfully trapped and collared several wolves last summer, Sirois said, part of its work to monitor the wolves within the tribe’s borders. At least two packs are believed to roam the rez. Collared animals may not be legally hunted.

Hunting with tribal permits on the Colville reservation is only open to tribal members.

Wolves are protected under the federal Endangered Species Act west of SR 97, but east of it, on the tribe’s reservation, they are not. The tribe also has authority to set its own hunting regulations for tribal members on its lands. The season runs until the end of February.

Sirois said the wolf is an important animal to the tribe culturally. “It is definitely one of the animals we hold sacred, and that is one of the major internal discussions we had. But we also weighed the fact that a lot of people are utilizing the deer and elk as subsistence foods. In order to have some balance, it was something we had to do.”

For more information on wolves in Washington, see the state WDFW website. and the website of Conservation Northwest.

~ politics petitions pollution and pop culture

Deadbeats …

1 Comment

By ThinkProgress War Room

It’s Time for Congress to Pay Its Bills

In their never-ending quest to destroy entitlements and slash the social safety net, Republicans are once again willing to risk the entire U.S. economy in order to advance their ideological agenda — an agenda overwhelmingly rejected by voters in last year’s elections.

Last time Republicans took the economy hostage, the summer of 2011, Speaker Boehner made clear that he understood the implications of a national default:

Boehner said it would mean “financial disaster” for the global economy if Congress were unable to come to a deal to raise the debt ceiling this spring.

“That would be a financial disaster, not only for us, but for the worldwide economy,” Boehner said on “Fox News Sunday” of the risk of default. “I don’t think it’s a question that’s even on the table.”

Still, rank-and-file Republicans and even a top member of the House Republican leadership are now talking openly about shutting down the government or defaulting on our obligations:

“I think it is possible that we would shut down the government to make sure President Obama understands that we’re serious,” House Republican Conference Chairwoman Cathy McMorris Rodgers of Washington state told us. “We always talk about whether or not we’re going to kick the can down the road. I think the mood is that we’ve come to the end of the road.”

Worse yet, Republicans may force a default or government shutdown just to placate the Tea Party extremists in the House:

GOP officials said more than half of their members are prepared to allow default unless Obama agrees to dramatic cuts he has repeatedly said he opposes. Many more members, including some party leaders, are prepared to shut down the government to make their point. House Speaker John Boehner “may need a shutdown just to get it out of their system,” said a top GOP leadership adviser. “We might need to do that for member-management purposes — so they have an endgame and can show their constituents they’re fighting.”

We know that the president is serious about spending cuts, having already signed $2.4 TRILLION of deficit reduction into law — three-quarters of which came from spending cuts. But it’s not merely spending cuts that Republicans are demanding. They want draconian cuts to Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid, and other programs. As President Obama said at a press conference today, Republicans have always had “suspicions” about these and other government programs and they see taking the economy hostage as their only opportunity to push through their unpopular ideological agenda.

Let’s review what happened last time Republicans took the economy hostage in this way:

If Republicans force a default in order let the Tea Party element of their party “get it out of their system,” the economic consequences could be catastrophic. The president today also outlined the more immediate consequences for many Americans:

If congressional Republicans refuse to pay America’s bills on time, Social Security checks and veterans’ benefits will be delayed. We might not be able to pay our troops, or honor our contracts with small business owners. Food inspectors, air traffic controllers, specialists who track down loose nuclear material wouldn’t get their paychecks. Investors around the world will ask if the United States of America is, in fact, a safe bet. Markets could go haywire. Interest rates would spike for anybody who borrows money — every homeowner with a mortgage, every student with a college loan, every small business owner who wants to grow and hire. It would be a self-inflicted wound on the economy. It would slow down our growth, might tip us into recession, and ironically, would probably increase our deficit.

What many people don’t understand is that raising the debt limit doesn’t increase government spending by one cent. It merely allows the president to pay for the spending that Congress already authorized by law. In fact, the president is legally obligated to spend the money Congress tells him to. This is why the president is refusing to negotiate on the debt ceiling. Congress racked up the bills (two wars and massive tax cuts all went on the national credit card), so now it’s time for Congress to pay those bills. And the only way they can do that is by raising the debt ceiling.

BOTTOM LINE: We don’t dine and dash and, as the president said today, “we are not a nation of deadbeats.” It’s time for Congress to do its job and pay the bills it racked up.

Evening Brief: Important Stories That You Might’ve Missed

NARAL Pro-Choice America ushers in a new generation of leadership with new president.

10 states take action to prevent gun violence.

Republicans: hammers and hatches are an excuse to do nothing to prevent gun violence.

NRA releases game app with coffin-shape targets.

13 common-sense policies to reduce gun violence.

Colin Powell calls out the GOP’s racism problem.

Why is NBC sports sponsoring America’s largest gun show?

New York state may pass new gun violence prevention measures as soon as this week.

The fight over marijuana between the U.S. and California.

Black History

CONGRESS: the House led by Republicans::Tell Congress to do the Peoples Business/NO more breaks::the Senate led by Democrats


mLKjrThe Senate stands in recess under the provisions of S.Con.Res.3. The Senate will meet at 11:30am on Monday, January 21, 2013 for the Joint Session for the Inaugural Ceremonies.

  • The Senate will recess upon conclusion of the Joint Session.
  • the Senate Convenes: 10:00amET January 22, 2013
    • Following any Leader remarks, the Senate will be in a period of morning business for debate only until 12:30pm with Senators permitted to speak therein for up to 10 minutes each.
    • The Senate will recess from 12:30pm until 2:15pm to allow for the weekly caucus meetings.

———————————————————–

House Hearings

11:30 am Hearing: Organizational Meeting for the 113th CongressCommittee on Armed Services: Full Committee
3:00 pm Hearing: Full Committee Organizational MeetingCommittee on Foreign Affairs: Full Committee

The next meeting in the House is scheduled for 10:00 a.m. on January 15, 2013.

Watch Most Recent House Floor Activity

10:00:00 A.M. The House convened, starting a new legislative day.
10:01:17 A.M. Today’s prayer was offered by the House Chaplain, Rev. Patrick J. Conroy.
10:02:39 A.M. The Speaker announced approval of the Journal. Pursuant to clause 1, rule I, the Journal stands approved.
10:02:44 A.M. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE – The Chair designated Mr. Walberg to lead the Members in reciting the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag.
10:03:15 A.M. READING OF THE CONSTITUTION – Pursuant to section 5(a) of H. Res. 5, the Chair recognized the gentleman from Virginia, Mr. Goodlatte, for the reading of the Constitution.
11:10:49 A.M. The Speaker announced that the House do now recess. The next meeting is scheduled for 12:00 P.M. today.
12:00:00 P.M. The House convened, returning from a recess continuing the legislative day of January 15.
12:01:16 P.M. ONE MINUTE SPEECHES – The House proceeded with one minute speeches.
12:31:00 P.M. Mr. Cole asked unanimous consent That, when the House adjourns on Tuesday, January 15, 2013, it adjourn to meet at 3 p.m. on Friday, January 18, 2013. Agreed to without objection.
12:32:18 P.M. H. Res. 23 Considered as privileged matter. H. Res. 23 — “Providing for consideration of the bill (H.R. 152) making supplemental appropriations for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2013, and for other purposes.”
12:32:41 P.M. H. Res. 23 DEBATE – The House proceeded with one hour of debate on H. Res. 23.
2:03:08 P.M. H. Res. 23 On ordering the previous question Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: 293 – 127 (Roll no. 11).
2:11:49 P.M. H. Res. 23 On agreeing to the resolution Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: 367 – 52 (Roll no. 12).
2:11:50 P.M. H. Res. 23 Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
2:11:57 P.M. Mr. Ellison moved that the House do now adjourn.
2:28:10 P.M. On motion to adjourn Failed by recorded vote: 0 – 419 (Roll no. 13).
2:28:31 P.M. H.R. 152 Considered under the provisions of rule H. Res. 23. H.R. 152 — “Making supplemental appropriations for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2013, and for other purposes.”
2:28:36 P.M. H.R. 152 Rule provides for consideration of H.R. 152 with 1 hour of general debate. Previous question shall be considered as ordered without intervening motions except motion to recommit with or without instructions. Measure will be considered read. Specified amendments are in order. The resolution waives all points of order against consideration of the bill. The resolution provides that the amendment in the nature of a substitute printed in part A of this report shall be considered as an original bill. The resolution waives all points of order against the amendment in the nature of a substitute. The resolution provides that if the amendment in the nature of a substitute printed in Part A is not adopted, the Committee of the Whole shall rise and report that it has come to no resolution on the bill. The resolution provides that each such amendment printed in part B and part C of this report shall not be subject to a demand for division of the question in the House or the Committee of the Whole. Finally, the resolution directs the Clerk to, in the engrossment of H.R. 152, add the text of H.R. 219, as passed by the House, as a new matter at the end of H.R. 152.
2:28:50 P.M. H.R. 152 House resolved itself into the Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union pursuant to H. Res. 23 and Rule XVIII.
2:28:51 P.M. H.R. 152 The Speaker designated the Honorable Shelley Moore Capito to act as Chairwoman of the Committee.
2:28:59 P.M. H.R. 152 GENERAL DEBATE – The Committee of the Whole proceeded with one hour of general debate on H.R. 152.
3:36:41 P.M. H.R. 152 Pursuant to the provisions of H. Res. 23, the Committee of the Whole proceeded to consider the Part A Rogers (KY) amendment in the nature of a substitute and the Part B Mulvaney (SC) perfecting amendment.
3:37:04 P.M. H.R. 152 <action_description>An amendment, offered by Mr. Mulvaney to the Rogers (KY) amendment, printed in Part B of House Report 113-1 to provide an offset of the $17 billion in emergency funding to address immediate needs for victims and communities affected by Hurricane Sandy. The offset is achieved by an across the board cut of 1.63 percent to all discretionary appropriations for fiscal year 2013.
3:37:05 P.M. H.R. 152 DEBATE – Pursuant to the provisions of H. Res. 23, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Part B Mulvaney (SC) amendment.
4:14:07 P.M. H.R. 152 On agreeing to the Mulvaney amendment; Failed by recorded vote: (Roll no. 14).
4:21:36 P.M. H.R. 152 On agreeing to the Rogers (KY) amendment; Agreed to by recorded vote: (Roll no. 15).
4:24:03 P.M. H.R. 152 An amendment, offered by Mr. Frelinghuysen, numbered 1 printed in Part C of House Report 113-1 to provide an additional $33.677 billion in total spending to cover current and anticipated needs in the wake of the devastating Hurricane Sandy. This funding is in addition to the amendment submitted by Chairman Rogers.
4:24:29 P.M. H.R. 152 DEBATE – Pursuant to the provisions of H. Res. 23, the Committee of the Whole proceeded 20 minutes of debate on the Frelinghuysen Part C amendment No. 1.