April 18, 2003

By Jim Beers

jimbeers7@earthlink.net

As I prepare my testimony for the House Oversight Hearing on Invasive Species it is like Endangered Species de ja vu (pardon the French) all over again. Where are our "friends" and the organizations we pay to defend us? Thirty years ago they were either absent or telling us not to worry. Today they are all AWOL.

Those scheduled to testify at the Hearing in favor of Federal authority expansion over a few (to start with but all eventually) Invasive Species consist of the Dept. of the Interior, the Dept. of Agriculture, the US Army Corps of Engineers, the National Oceanographic and Aerospace Administration, the Smithsonian, the National Environmental Council, Williams College, Bishop Museum, the National Cattlemen, and the International Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies. The first six are Federal entities who stand to gain money, staff, and an incredible chunk of growing power when Invasive Species are declared to be responsibilities of the Federal government. The next two are representing the Universities and Museums who have benefited from Endangered Species grants and prestige such that they quickly understand what a similar Federalizing of Invasive Species will mean to them. The Cattlemen see weed control on public and private land getting a big financial boost as weeds are some of the first species to be named. They, like the elk hunters who supported Endangered Species thirty years ago, have not the slightest inkling of what Invasive Species legislation has in store for them.

Finally, we come to the International Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies. Yes, you read that correctly, the lobbying group for the state fish and wildlife agencies - the representatives of the 50 governors who are charged by the Constitution with the jurisdiction over all wild and domestic plants and animals - they support Invasive Species legislation. This lobby group that collects license money from state license funds paid by people who hunt pheasants and chukars. This lobby group also receives fishing license money from people who fish for brown trout, salmon in the Great Lakes, largemouth bass in western reservoirs and bass in Lake Erie where the water was clarified by zebra mussels. Thirty years ago they supported Endangered Species legislation and for the past decade they have used hunting and fishing license money to campaign and lead national lobbying efforts to get Federal taxes for non-game wildlife, The last three years have seen them lead repeated but failed campaigns for the infamous CARA, a $40 Billion raid on offshore oil revenues to funds state fish and game agencies and for the Federal government to buy more land. Setting aside the legality of the states using license money or the International using Pittman Robertson or Dingell Johnson excise taxes to lobby the Federal government, their support of Federalizing the jurisdiction over Invasive Species only points up the corrupting effect of Federal money to even the state agencies who will gladly give up Constitutional authority for job security, political support, and the status of working "with" those who relieve them of their authority.

There are only four of us questioning this Invasive Species juggernaut. A former Assistant Secretary of the Interior under President Reagan, Mr. Ray Arnett is standing tall (and not for the first time in his long career.) The Farm Bureau sees where this will lead and is taking a stand both for its members and their future. A Mr. Grau of Pennsylvania, who grows and markets roadside groundcover plants, is likewise concerned both about the immediate future but also the long term and national implications of what is sure to develop. Finally, there is yours truly, a retired wildlife biologist, refuge manager, and special agent from the US Fish & Wildlife Service.

But where are you? Where are the fishing organizations that represent the folks fishing for trout, bass, and walleyes on Lake Erie or the lake trout fishermen in Yellowstone Lake, or western bass fishermen, or Great Lakes trout and salmon fishermen, or brown trout fishermen? These and many more will eventually be put out of business by Federal/anti-fishing Invasive Species jurisdiction. Where are the hunting organizations and gun organizations that represent Invasive pheasant hunters, Invasive chukar hunters, and supposedly all the native and introduced game birds and mammals that feed on and get critical and winter cover from Invasive Species? Has anyone ever mentioned to them that while we have supposedly endured "Billions of dollars of damage per year from Invasive Species" game populations have soared? Where are the hikers and trappers and public land users who have seen how Endangered Species has restricted both their activities and public land access and who ignore the Invasive Species sequel at their own risk? Where are the taxpayer groups who are busy arguing about tax cuts and capital gains when the Mother of all tax pits for the foreseeable future is looming on the horizon.

The property owners in the American Land Rights Association have asked me to represent their interests at the Hearing. They are an organization of small, generally rural property owners with members in all 50 states. When you meet a member, thank them and then ask your organization why they either support or are hiding when this very important legislation is being discussed.