National News

Op-Ed | Chicago Zoos and Aquarium: Don’t Weaken Endangered Species Act. By Bridget Coughlin, Stuart Strahl and Kevin Bell, “Our gift of sharing this world with fascinating creatures, including pallid sturgeon, polar bears and whooping cranes, depends on their ability to flourish and thrive — something that has become impossible without their protection. The Endangered Species Act is recognized globally as a model for species preservation and has been credited with preventing the extinction of a vast majority of species it protects. In fact, the act has shown a 90 percent recovery rate in more than 100 species that are listed under its protections throughout the United States. This powerful tool is now at risk of becoming weakened if proposed administrative rule changes are implemented — rule changes that could put some of our most beloved animals at risk.” [Chicago Sun Times, 9/17/18 (+)]

Editorial | Our View: Trump Administration Rules Would Weaken Endangered Species Act. By Kennebec Journal & Morning Sentinel, “It says something about the politics of the time that in 1973 the Endangered Species Act passed Congress overwhelmingly — 355-4 in the House of Representatives! — before it was signed into law by Republican President Richard Nixon. And it says something about the politics of today that the landmark legislation could soon be cut back. The Trump administration and Republican lawmakers have put forward a series of proposals that would, when taken together, weaken how science is used to protect threatened and endangered species, and hand more oversight to states with serious conflicts of interest. Just 3 percent of the 2,000 or so species placed on the list have ever improved enough to be taken off, Republicans argue. How is that OK?” [Kennebec Journal & Morning Sentinel, 9/18/18 (+)]