Extinctions Big Payoff-Richard Pombo: Tom Delay in Cowboy Boots

[callady]

Extinction's Big Pay Off

Richard Pombo: Tom DeLay in Cowboy Boots

By MICHAEL DONNELLY

Cattle rancher, dairy farmer and Chairman of the House Resources Committee, 42-year-old Rep. Richard Pombo (R-CA) recently accomplished one of the top priorities of the nation's resource extraction industries. On September 29, Pombo, along with co-sponsor Rep. Dennis Cardoza (D-CA) and considerable help from Rep. Greg Walden (R-OR), was able to push a gutting of the 1973 Endangered Species Act (ESA) called the Threatened and Endangered Species Recovery Act (TESRA) through the House on a 229-193 vote.

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Clearly the ESA has not been working. Out of almost 1300 species listed, only 10 have recovered and been de-listed. Obviously, with a less than 1% recovery rate, the protection provisions have not been tough enough! Yet, Pombo has achieved this extraction wet dream of lessening those meager protections, while selling it as protection for private property owners.

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These groups found that Pombo broke the law when he accepted overseas trips paid for by IFCNR. Pombo took at least two trips costing more than $23,000 paid for by IFNCR, in clear violation of tax laws. Neither Pombo nor IFNCR paid taxes on the trips. In fact, IFNCR even indicated on all of its 2000 ­ 2004 tax forms that it did not "provide a grant to an individual for travel, study, or other similar purposes."

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Other top contributors since 2000 are Monsanto ($115,000); the National Trappers Association ($143,890); the International Fur Trade Association ($120,000) Caspian Star Caviar ($25,000) and the Japan Whaling Association ($11,000). (Now there's a pack of "holistic and sustainable" industries.)

http://www.counterpunch.org/donnelly10212005.html

[blindpig]

1. Thanks callady.

What an odious character. Surprised there was no mention of his real estate interest in the article. It is my understanding that his family is seriously involved in turning ranchland into real estate schemes.

His hatred of Nature is so intense as to be pathological. This sob must go. DUer brainshrub turned me on to some folks trying to oust this pig here: http://www.actblue.com/list/saynotopombo

[callady]

2. Pombo Patrol- Corruption & Deceit

Pombo Patrol - Corruption & Deceit

Richard Pombo is a major player in a scheme by Bush and DeLay that has corrupted the Congress of the United States.  The scheme is unfolding with the indicts of Jack Abramoff and Tom DeLay.  Abramoff acted as a lobbyist for several Indian tribes taking a reported $80M from them and spending it on golf vacations for DeLay and the recently indicted head of the White House procurement office.  Abramoff was selling access to powerful people. Reportedly $25,000 bought a meeting with the President.  But, a more attractive item is access to House Resource Committee  Chairman Richard Pombo.  The House Resource Committee writes legislation that deals with Indian Casinos and Treaties. 

The nature of the scheme is to distribute large donations through Political Action Committees (PACs) to campaign funds of members of congress.  Richard Pombo through Abramoff his largest contributor funneled Indian Tribe contributions.  The Indian Tribes owning casinos contributed to lobby for legislation preventing other Indian tribes from building new casinos that compete with those built already.  Similarly, tribes that wanted to build new casinos contributed.  Abramoff took money from both groups.

One of the more notorious Abramoff/Pombo events was the Baseball All-Star Game in Detroit.  It was billed as Pombo-Palooza where lobbyist could join Richard Pombo at the game, for a price.   Pombo-Palooza was paid for by an Indian Tribe with legislation before the Resources Committee three days later. 

Compared to the Dirty Energy companies the Indian Gaming issue is small change.  Chevron has its own Representative in the US Congress arguing to prevent the Chinese from buying Unocal, Richard Pombo.

http://jerrymcnerney.org/PP-Corruption&Deceit.htm

[depakid]

3. If ever a man deserved a long prison term, it's Pombo

Which begs the question- what the hell is wrong with the people in his district? or maybe one should ask- why haven't the Dems put a MAJOR emphasis (and thrown major money) into targeting him?

Mr. "Mercury isn't poisonous" has got to be one of the most dispicable characters in an already dispicable Congress. It's about time he got sent packing- preferably to a federal institution, where he can think long and hard about his crimes.