Lee Calls to Extend Comment Period for Gunnison Sage-grouse Endangered Species Listing
Mar 5, 2013
WASHINGTON - Senator Mike Lee (R-UT) recently joined six of his House and Senate colleagues to request a 60-day extension of the comment period of the proposed rules for the Gunnison sage-grouse in order to give local communities more time to participate in this complex ruling that could result in serious property use restrictions.
The letter sent to the Colorado Fish and Wildlife Service field director, Noreen Walsh, expressed concern about the impact this listing and proposed critical habitat will have on the local communities. Along with Senator Lee, Senators Orrin Hatch (R-UT), Michael Bennet (D-CO), and Mark Udall (D-CO), and Representatives Jason Chaffetz (R-UT), Jim Matheson (D-UT), and Scott Tipton (R-CO) signed the letter.
The proposed listing of the Gunnison Sage grouse was the result of a settlement agreement between an environmental group and the Fish and Wildlife Service.
“This practice, referred to as ‘sue and settle,’ is very problematic,” says Lee. “In cases like this, an agreement is reached between Fish and Wildlife and environmental groups with very little opportunity for the communities most impacted by the decisions to have their voices heard. By excluding local officials from these decisions, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service obstruct the ability of local officials to create conservation plans for threatened species even though local officials might have a better approach to protecting the species. ”
In order to counter the abusive “sue and settle” practice that is restricting property rights, stifling democratic processes, and draining the resources of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Senator Lee has co-sponsored the ESA Settlement Reform Act. This legislation would protect the rights of local communities to weigh in, as well as improve transparency and reduce the cost of abusive regulations on hardworking taxpayers. It would amend the Endangered Species Act (“ESA”) to give states, counties and other affected parties a say in the settlement of certain ESA “citizen suits” and would prevent U.S. taxpayer dollars from being used to fund these lawsuits.
The letter sent to the Colorado Fish and Wildlife Service field director, Noreen Walsh, expressed concern about the impact this listing and proposed critical habitat will have on the local communities. Along with Senator Lee, Senators Orrin Hatch (R-UT), Michael Bennet (D-CO), and Mark Udall (D-CO), and Representatives Jason Chaffetz (R-UT), Jim Matheson (D-UT), and Scott Tipton (R-CO) signed the letter.
The proposed listing of the Gunnison Sage grouse was the result of a settlement agreement between an environmental group and the Fish and Wildlife Service.
“This practice, referred to as ‘sue and settle,’ is very problematic,” says Lee. “In cases like this, an agreement is reached between Fish and Wildlife and environmental groups with very little opportunity for the communities most impacted by the decisions to have their voices heard. By excluding local officials from these decisions, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service obstruct the ability of local officials to create conservation plans for threatened species even though local officials might have a better approach to protecting the species. ”
In order to counter the abusive “sue and settle” practice that is restricting property rights, stifling democratic processes, and draining the resources of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Senator Lee has co-sponsored the ESA Settlement Reform Act. This legislation would protect the rights of local communities to weigh in, as well as improve transparency and reduce the cost of abusive regulations on hardworking taxpayers. It would amend the Endangered Species Act (“ESA”) to give states, counties and other affected parties a say in the settlement of certain ESA “citizen suits” and would prevent U.S. taxpayer dollars from being used to fund these lawsuits.
ICYMI (VIDEO) LEE: CUT THIS, NOT THAT!
Mar 1, 2013
LEE: We are of the opinion the President shouldn’t be scaring the American people, especially when it is completely unnecessary. We can find ways to cut in areas where ordinary people won’t get hurt the way the president is threatening to hurt them…
VAN SUSTEREN: I would like to see someone go through the budget and see exactly where our money is going!
LEE: That’s exactly right, Greta, and why it’s so important to have a budget. That’s why it’s so bad that we’ve gone the last four years without passing a budget…To pass a budget you have to have a prolonged debate, discussion, and dialogue about what our national priorities are.
Lee Launches "Cut This, Not That"
Feb 28, 2013
The vast majority of Americans recognize that Washington's spending is excessively wasteful. In response to the president's efforts to misinform Americans that the sequester will require dramatic cuts to essential government services, I have launched "Cut This, Not That." This is a campaign to remind Americans and the president that with a budget that exceeds $3 trillion dollars there is plenty of room for cutting. Please feel free to use the following images to spread this message.
For more graphics, click here.
Lee Joins 14 Senators In Call for Hagel Withdrawal
Feb 21, 2013
oday, Senator Mike Lee (R-UT) joined 14 of his colleagues in calling on President Obama to withdraw Chuck Hagel’s nomination to be Secretary of Defense.
Representative Cosgrove Asks Senator Lee about Immigration Reform
Feb 20, 2013
“Because there is so much room for agreement here, there is a lot that we can do; especially, if we will undertake this a step at a time. We have learned as a country over the last few years that it’s not always ideal to have to swallow the entire elephant as a whole. Sometimes its better if you take it a bite at a time or a step at a time. We had a bill that came through a couple of years ago that was a couple of thousand pages long that some people were told that you had to vote for it and pass it before you find out what is in it…that has become infamous now.
“But I think that serves a warning for us for not biting off too much. My old line on this is that Washington D.C. is one of those towns that you’re going into the grocery store and you want to buy bread, milk, and eggs and you are told that you can’t buy bread, milk, and eggs unless you buy a bucket of nails, a half ton of iron, and a book about cowboy poetry, and a Barry Manilow album. You ought to be able to do that step at a time.
“That is what I have been urging my colleagues on the Judiciary [Committee] to do, is to take this one step at a time. The most important thing that we can do right away, I think, is to protect the border and, perhaps more importantly, fix the legal immigration system. We have made it so difficult for so many people to immigrate legally and we’ve made it relatively easy for a lot of them to immigrate illegally, and we need to turn that around. And if we turn it around we could start making a serious dent in the problem. I think if we start there, rather than jumping head first into the pathway to citizenship, I think we’re going to see more progress faster.”
Lee Hosts Constitution Bowl Winners in Washington, DC
Feb 15, 2013
Mike Lee hosted the winners of the 2012 Constitution Bowl in Washington, DCthis week. The Cottonwood Heights teens won the opportunity to visit and tour our nation’s capitol when they proved their firm understanding of the U.S. Constitution in a competition with three other Utah teams in September.
Lee Statement on US Airways, American Airlines Merger
Feb 14, 2013
Today, Senator Lee, ranking member on the Antitrust Subcommittee of the Senate Judiciary Committee, released the following statement on the proposed merger between US Airways and American Airlines:
“Mergers are an essential element of our rapidly changing economy, often creating significant efficiencies and helping ensure that resources are put to their most productive use,” said Senator Lee. “In a competitive market, consumers benefit from these efficiencies in the form of high quality products and services at low prices. Absent evidence that a transaction will substantially reduce competition and thereby harm consumers, I believe government intervention is usually unjustified.
“The proposed merger between US Airways and American Airlines has potential to benefit the air travel industry as well as consumers. At the same time, a transaction of this size, which will result in the nation’s largest carrier, poses potential risks for the market. In recent years, the airline industry has become increasingly consolidated and this merger would reduce the number of major carriers to four.
“Antitrust officials must ensure that an additional merger of this magnitude would not lead to higher passenger fares, result in diminished service to regional markets, or allow for coordinated conduct among rivals. I look forward to joining Senator Klobuchar in a thorough review of this transaction and providing oversight of antitrust regulators as they do the same.”
“Mergers are an essential element of our rapidly changing economy, often creating significant efficiencies and helping ensure that resources are put to their most productive use,” said Senator Lee. “In a competitive market, consumers benefit from these efficiencies in the form of high quality products and services at low prices. Absent evidence that a transaction will substantially reduce competition and thereby harm consumers, I believe government intervention is usually unjustified.
“The proposed merger between US Airways and American Airlines has potential to benefit the air travel industry as well as consumers. At the same time, a transaction of this size, which will result in the nation’s largest carrier, poses potential risks for the market. In recent years, the airline industry has become increasingly consolidated and this merger would reduce the number of major carriers to four.
“Antitrust officials must ensure that an additional merger of this magnitude would not lead to higher passenger fares, result in diminished service to regional markets, or allow for coordinated conduct among rivals. I look forward to joining Senator Klobuchar in a thorough review of this transaction and providing oversight of antitrust regulators as they do the same.”
Washington needs a Balanced Budget Amendment
Feb 14, 2013
The last time Congress was close to passing legislation that required the federal government to balance its budget the national debt stood at $5.3 trillion. Since then, the national debt has nearly tripled to $16.4 trillion.
Lee Introduces Immigration Reform Bills
Feb 13, 2013
Senator Mike Lee introduced two pieces of legislation that seek to reform America’s immigration system.
