Could our next Secretary of the Interior be a supporter of Bush's deceptive "Healthy Forests Initative"?
Yes! Unless we speak up now...
Let's take Obama up on his request to give feedback on Cabinet choices. There's little time left. (For roll-over types, you might read this.) Chances are, Obama will name pivotal domestic appointments this week, including Secretary of Interior.
Over the past 8 years, our public lands have been used and abused by Bush's Interior Department. (Heck, Interior employees even had sexual escapades with Oil Industry lobbyists!) We need to bring conservation, science, and even-handedness back to management of our public lands!
That's why it is so dispiriting to learn that one of Obama's top picks is possible blue dog Democrat Mike Thompson, who voted FOR Bush's "Healthy Forests Initiative" (that, uh, meant lots more logging and clearcutting).
Mike Thompson's voting history:
Mike Thompson voted against reducing logging in Alaska's Tongass rainforest (House 5).
Thompson repeatedly voted against limiting "predator control" which results in 100,000 dead coyotes, black bears, and cougars annually (House 6).
Thompson voted against limiting road building in Alaska's Tongass Rainforest (House 6).
Thompson voted for the Forest Emergency Recovery and Research Act, a BS giveaway to the timber industry to increase logging (House 11).
Thompson voted against safeguarding 3 million acres of grasslands (House 20).
Thompson voted to deny transfer of $23 million from US Forest timber sales to wildlife habitat management and watershed restoration (Senate vote 5).
Thompson voted to restrict public input on logging projects (Senate Bill 1283).
Thompson voted to exempt pit mines built during road construction from all environmental provisions (Senate Bill 273).
Thompson voted to resume sport hunting of mountain lions (despite twice being rejected by voters) (Senate Bill 28).
Thompson voted to allow local governments to ignore environmental laws (Senate Bill 19).
Thompson voted to repeal law that set clear standards for what is "recycled", "biodegradable", etc. (Senate Bill 426).
Thompson voted to eliminate inter-city rail funds (Senate Bill 160).
Thompson voted against protection of California's native oaks (Assembly Bill 54).
Thompson voted against prohibiting use of 27 toxic pesticides (Senate Bill 520).
What others have to say about Mike Thompson
From the Humane Society:
[Mike Thompson] sided with the National Rifle Association and other extreme hunting groups when it came to the trophy hunting of threatened polar bears and the use of pizza and jelly doughnuts as bait to lure bears to hunters on federal lands.
From Grist:
[Mike Thompson] was also one of only 30 Democrats in 2006 to vote against an amendment to the Forest Emergency Recovery and Research Act that would maintain areas of the national forests protected under the Roadless Rule. He also voted against another amendment that would have required the Forest Service to comply with environmental protection, endangered species, and historic preservation laws when conducting "salvage logging" operations in national forests.
Mike Thompson receives thousands from the oil industry and from Safari Club International (these folks hunt rhinos and lions and voted Mike Thompson their "Legislator of the Year").
What you can do
Please go to change.gov and click on "contact us". Tell Obama's transition team: NO TO MIKE THOMPSON! (And then please consider recommending this diary and telling other folks about it!)