Sen. Craig no friend to 'greens' in NW

[rodeodance]

http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/connelly/329774_joel31.html

Sen. Craig no friend to 'greens' in NW

By JOEL CONNELLY
P-I COLUMNIST

............
The Bonneville Power Administration, in 2005, mounted a sustained campaign to stop spring discharge of water over dam spillways -- nicknamed the "fish flush" -- to aid downstream migration of young salmon. The BPA wanted to generate kilowatts for sale to California.

Sen. Larry Craig, R-Idaho, entered the picture. He inserted "report language" in a Senate energy appropriations bill, directing Bonneville to cut off money to the Fish Passage Center and transfer its functions....

Federal land managers have learned of Craig's raw power in the past two decades: He has been a dangerous man to run into.

In 1989, U.S. Forest Service regional forester John Mumma warned agency superiors: Timber quotas in the Northern Rockies could not be met without violating environmental laws and trampling already-approved plans for various national forests.

Craig, a timber industry ally, stepped in with a sharply worded letter to the Forest Service's chief, Dale Robertson.

"It is my hope that you will move to assure that (logging) targets are met and line officers are held accountable," wrote Craig. He demanded quarterly reports on the timber cut.

Mumma was told to jack up the cut. He refused to bend or break environmental laws. The regional supervisor -- the first biologist to hold such a post -- said he was forced out. Offered a desk job in Washington, D.C., he quit the Forest Service. Several national forest supervisors in the region were subsequently purged.

Craig has been at it again recently, offering a little-noticed rider to this year's appropriations bill.............

[aquart]

1. Done in by his dick.

Not as good as a guillotine, but sufficient.

[tabasco]

2. Glad to see karma catch up with this criminal asshole.

I really want to believe in karma but too many Larry Craigs never see justice for their wrongs against the people and the planet.

[rodeodance]

3. guess Idaho will have to get someone else to do the corporate jig!