This summer, the Trump Administration proposed several small changes to the Endangered Species Act.  And while many in the Ag community call them minimal and common sense, Washington Attorney General Bob Ferguson filed suit against President Trump.

 

The 50th suit since Trump took office.

 

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Washington Farm Bureau CEO John Stuhlmiller said these revisions are something the ESA needs.

 

“And so, what the Trump Administration is doing now is what we’ve been asking for a long time.  It goes back to my mantra of ‘give us a fair shake and we’ll be fine’.  Just don’t stack the deck against us.”

 

Stuhlmiller said for decades, the ESA has been a one way street, adding thousands of species, where removal is very challenging.  When it comes to Ferguson’s suit, Stuhlmiller says it’s time to calm down.

 

“Yeah, that is exactly what I believe needs to happen, we need to say what’s really going on.  Instead of just looking for a media statement for election purposes or whatever it may be, whatever the intentions are.  But there is no risk to species by these adjustments to the Act.  Period.”

 

Stuhlmiller added the revisions are not an overhaul of the ESA and he’d like to see Congress enact them into law to keep future administrations from undoing them.

 

 

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