USARK & Reptile Nation Save 5 of 9 species from FWS Constrictor Rule!

USARK & Reptile Nation Save 5 of 9 species from FWS Constrictor Rule!
This morning a joint press conference was held by Senator Bill Nelson of Florida, Interior Dept Director, Ken Salazar; and US Fish & Wildlife Service Director Dan Ashe at Everglades National Park (ENP) to make an Everglades conservation and preservation announcement. It was made public that a final rule would be enacted by FWS potentially restricting trade in 9 constricting snakes. Although there had been no word from FWS or White House oversight officials prior to the press conference, Andrew Wyatt CEO USARK, learned of a “rumor” on the “HILL” that there would be an announcement regarding the Constrictor Listing; a listing of 9 constricting snakes to the Injurious Wildlife list of the Lacey Act. This is an action that could destroy $104 million per year in small business while potentially making more than 1 million Americans into Lacey Act felons. This action has now come to pass; albeit in a more limited fashion than was pushed by FWS and the powerful environmental and animal rights lobby.

As of now the Constrictor Rule, when enacted, will BAN the IMPORT and INTERSTATE TRANSPORT of the following 4 species: Burmese python, Northern African python, Southern African python and yellow anaconda.

USARK will be making further announcements regarding potential legal remedy to the flagrant disregard for “science”, due process, or information quality standards by FWS and the Obama Administration. This is a clear example of policy being based on staff preference combined with political considerations, rather than clear science and due process. The FWS failed at every level to make a solid case for justifying a Lacey Act listing. How the White House can justify this train wreck of a rule to pass is a mystery. In the opinion of USARK the actions of FWS are arbitrary, capricious and unlawful. That is not a charge that is unfamiliar to FWS. In 2010 FWS scientists were found guilty of falsifying information to manufacture science to support a rule on the Delta Smelt in the Central Valley of California. FWS was found guilty of being “arbitrary, capricious and unlawful" in their effort to add the controversial fish to the Endangered Species Act. USARK will pursue available legal remedy to this travesty of justice and blatant misuse of the Lacey Act. The Lacey Act was the wrong tool for the wrong reason.

Well that is good news. Great job USARK and Reptile Nation!

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Originally Posted by adamsky27

Well that is good news. Great job USARK and Reptile Nation!

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It's a turd in the punch bowl..we need to work on an appeal.

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Originally Posted by adamsky27

Well that is good news.

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Why is it great news? Because you don't own a Burm?

I got news for you, this is only where it starts. Now all it will take is a simple amendment to add whatever other snake species they want to the list.

It doesn't make any scientific sense to enforce such rules nation wide. Will you still consider it good news when they add YOUR favorite species to the list? Don't think it will happen? That is the same thing everyone thought about this.

It sucks that they managed to ban any, but YAY USARK! Thank you for saving the others! :gj: Now I don't have to go get a BCI this week. But I will be getting them sooner rather than later now.

Regardless, the fight isn't over. We are entitled to the pursuit of happiness in this country, and if your happiness includes a burm, well, you're out of luck as it stands now. As stated earlier, we need to work to repeal and stop it in its tracks.

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Originally Posted by Freakie_frog

It's a turd in the punch bowl..we need to work on an appeal.

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Yeap. It will most lilikey be a long legal battle but all of need to continue to support USARK and fight this.

I will do whatever I can in my power to back USARK. We own about 10 burms and this puts a serious hurting on our future business dealings.

Hi,

What do we need to do for the next phase in fighting this idiotic ban?


dr del

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Originally Posted by dr del

Hi,

What do we need to do for the next phase in fighting this idiotic ban?


dr del

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x 2

Burms are an impossibility for me right now. I know this because I rent a room, still have to finish school to support myself having my own house, and other plans that are going to take many years before I can complete them. It was my decision that once I had myself settled somewhere that I'd pick up a burm, and I still want to be able to do that without being worried about getting arrested

Well, I'm glad the govt is at least SORT OF paying attention and listening to USARK. If we got this far, maybe we have a shot at getting our voices heard and getting the whole damn thing thrown out.


I'm really disappointed in FWS right now. :/ I tend to think of myself as a raging liberal and I generally support government entities protecting the environment and wildlife. This is the first time I've come down on the "smaller government" side of an issue and it's disconcerting for me! But, I'm a scientist at heart and it is extremely infuriating to see what I thought of as a community of scientists blatantly skew the research to suit a political agenda. I guess I'm still a bit naive about political process in this country...I'm not used to seeing fear-mongering on my own side of the fence, and it stings!

Its to early in the morning... are Retics on that list..? And no this is not a comprise.. this is how it will start, within a year the other 5 an Maybe more will probably be up there. All they need is ground to start on an That's will gain them motivation in Congress to continue.
This entire thing is BS.. an now I'm stuck here if I want to keep.my Burmese..... which means if I got high class culinary job I have to.pick between my two loves... culinary and my reptiles.
What Is our next step? Do we appeal?

the rest of the announcement states that the rest of the species are still being considered. this is still a loss the fight keeps going and we still need to send letters to fight it off

Retics are not on the list. YET.

I don't imagine they are going to have police at the state borders searching vehicles for snakes being transported. So realistically, if you moved you could probably still manage to take your snakes with you. BUT, don't move to Florida. If your neighbor found out you had a Burm, heaven forbid! lol. I understand the concern, but really? I have family in Miami and have driven through the Everglades many time. I have never, NOT ONCE, seen a Burm anywhere. I know they are there, but the problem is not quite as bad as the politicians are making it out to be. Yes, it may be hurting the natural ecosystem to some extent, but it's not like these snakes are everywhere and are a danger to humans. This whole thing is ridiculous.

I know sending the emails to my state Senators probably did nothing (stinkin' Florida), but I will now probably be sending hand written letters as well. I think the best thing we can do at this point is keep supporting USARK. :salute:

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Originally Posted by Mike Cavanaugh

Why is it great news? Because you don't own a Burm?

I got news for you, this is only where it starts. Now all it will take is a simple amendment to add whatever other snake species they want to the list.

It doesn't make any scientific sense to enforce such rules nation wide. Will you still consider it good news when they add YOUR favorite species to the list? Don't think it will happen? That is the same thing everyone thought about this.

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It is great news because they saved 5 of the 9. It is better than nothing. Be happy that they were able to save the ones that they saved. What if they did ban all 9? Are you saying that the efforts of USARK are useless? That's what I get from your posts. These people work so hard for us, and when they get something done it is never good enough.

Personally, I am thankful for what they do. Even if they were only to save 1 of the 9 I'd still be happy.

This totally stinks! I will be waiting on further direction from USARK to see what more I can do to help fight these endless battles. Thank you USARK for what you have done so far!

Darn Congress... My dad said that I could get a burm once we got a rental house and had the money. Now it looks like that will never happen.:mad::taz::tears::rage:

I'm glad that they saved my SD Retic project.
I'm sad that I won't be adding a dwarf Burm project.

I'm still game to keep fighting.

Folks, PLEASE UNDERSTAND THIS RULE. This ban prohibits importation and interstate transport, and that is all. You will still be able to keep, breed, and sell these animals inside your own State (provided it's legal to do so now).
That's part of the reason why adding these animals to the Lacey Act doesn't accomplish any of the things they claimed that it would. It's why this is such a stupid rule. It doesn't even do what they wanted it to do, it's bad no matter which side you were on.

If you were planning to get a pet Burm next year, you still can, provided you're not planning on moving to another State in the future.

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While others heaped praise on Interior Secretary Ken Salazar’s ban on Burmese pythons and other invasive snakes, South Florida Congressman Tom Rooney called it a half-measure that “will not do nearly enough to protect the Everglades and the surrounding ecosystems.”

Salazar’s rules, unveiled on Tuesday, will halt the importation and interstate transport of four constrictor snakes. But Rooney notes that the U.S. Geological Service found that nine species threaten Florida’s environment.

Rooney, a Republican from Tequesta, touted his proposed bill that would ban all nine.

“There are nine species of invasive predators that pose a severe threat to our native wildlife," he said, "and all nine need to be eradicated.”

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http://weblogs.sun-sentinel.com/news...an_as_hal.html

Oh, yay. Sort of. Sigh.

This is going to happen again. I don't want to hear in the next few years "At least we stopped MOST of it" again..and again..and again. Until they are all gone, and more and more snakes are added to the list.

It sucks to try so hard and come so close and fail. We did fail--it's like a piece of cloth. We feel strong as the reptile nation, no one can break us. But once that cloth has been cut--a ban like this one..It's far to easy for all of those against us to take hold and rip our fragile world apart. This is just the beginning. We can't get soft here. Prepare for statewide bans and more push from the government.

We are going to have to fight harder, and work harder to bring others into this fight. Purplemuffin is correct, now they know that we can't defeat them, and they will not stop.

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Originally Posted by adamsky27

Are you saying that the efforts of USARK are useless? That's what I get from your posts. These people work so hard for us, and when they get something done it is never good enough.

Personally, I am thankful for what they do. Even if they were only to save 1 of the 9 I'd still be happy.

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Please don't put words in my mouth. I never suggested anything like that.

I am sorry, but this in no way should be considered a victory. All removing the 5 did was postpone the inevitable for now.

Is there any way to find out who voted to pass this?

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Originally Posted by WingedWolfPsion

I'm glad that they saved my SD Retic project.
I'm sad that I won't be adding a dwarf Burm project.

I'm still game to keep fighting.

Folks, PLEASE UNDERSTAND THIS RULE. This ban prohibits importation and interstate transport, and that is all. You will still be able to keep, breed, and sell these animals inside your own State (provided it's legal to do so now).
That's part of the reason why adding these animals to the Lacey Act doesn't accomplish any of the things they claimed that it would. It's why this is such a stupid rule. It doesn't even do what they wanted it to do, it's bad no matter which side you were on.

If you were planning to get a pet Burm next year, you still can, provided you're not planning on moving to another State in the future.

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I'm sorry but this post is BS. I am so tired of people trying to be optimistic about this. What if one of the species listed was ball pythons?? I bet your post would have a little different ring to it! It will destroy the breeders of these animals, as well limit your options if you ever choose to get one as a pet! The fact of the matter is that this is just a "segue bill" that they will use to eventually ban whatever snakes they see fit...its how the government works these days!

Anyone else notice it does not specifically say "African Rock Pythons"

"Northern and Southern African pythons" is what it says in the press and media, it does NOT list species name.

If anyone has seen the actual legislation or has a link with the species name, please post it so we can see that this does not actually include Ball Pythons in a slick attempt to get more than what it says. May not look like much now, but if it's not written properly, this could be a big deal later.

I'm glad USARK managed to get five species taken off the list, but I'm still pissed that Burms and Yellow Anacondas are still on it. :mad: I still won't give up my Dwarf Burm.

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Originally Posted by Ben_Renick

Anyone else notice it does not specifically say "African Rock Pythons"

"Northern and Southern African pythons" is what it says in the press and media, it does NOT list species name.

If anyone has seen the actual legislation or has a link with the species name, please post it so we can see that this does not actually include Ball Pythons in a slick attempt to get more than what it says. May not look like much now, but if it's not written properly, this could be a big deal later.

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I had noticed that too and it has me worried how it is actually worded in the legislation. :(

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Originally Posted by Kinra

Is there any way to find out who voted to pass this?

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Hi Rebecca-

In a word, no. This was not a bill in the legislature that most of us are more familiar with. This was a federal rule change proposed by USFWS and Department of the Interior (DOI) Secretary Ken Salazar.

This has been the last straw for me; the Obama administration needs to be dismantled and a new candidate to take office.

Ron Paul 2012

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Originally Posted by Kinra

Is there any way to find out who voted to pass this?

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I believe Public Records law requires a record of who voted how. Where you would find those records...I'm not sure. You could public records request it, but they may try to scare you off by charging you. Government is a PITA. :taz:

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Originally Posted by Ben_Renick

Anyone else notice it does not specifically say "African Rock Pythons"

"Northern and Southern African pythons" is what it says in the press and media, it does NOT list species name.

If anyone has seen the actual legislation or has a link with the species name, please post it so we can see that this does not actually include Ball Pythons in a slick attempt to get more than what it says. May not look like much now, but if it's not written properly, this could be a big deal later.

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This is a huge loop hole that they may or may not be aware of at the moment. But let me tell you, they will use it to their advantage at the first possible opportunity. Grrr.

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Originally Posted by WarriorPrincess90

This is a huge loop hole that they may or may not be aware of at the moment. But let me tell you, they will use it to their advantage at the first possible opportunity. Grrr.

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Here's the "proposed rule" from FWS. It does list species. I cannot find the "revised rule" that was approved today.

http://www.fws.gov/fisheries/ANS/fr_2010-4956.pdf

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Originally Posted by KingObeat

I'm glad USARK managed to get five species taken off the list, but I'm still pissed that Burms and Yellow Anacondas are still on it. :mad: I still won't give up my Dwarf Burm.

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They only temporarily off the list they're still considering the other species on the original bill

taken from the press release

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U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Director Dan Ashe said the Service will continue to consider listing as injurious the five other species of nonnative snakes that the agency also proposed in 2010 – the reticulated python, boa constrictor, DeSchauensee’s anaconda, green anaconda and Beni anaconda.

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thats why the fighting isnt done yet for the reptile community

The DOI press release gives two contacts. We should flood their phones. Has Adam Fetcher as the DOI contact at 202-208-6416 and Valerie Fellows as the FWS contact at 703-358-2285


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

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Originally Posted by Gomojoe

The DOI press release gives two contacts. We should flood their phones. Has Adam Fetcher as the DOI contact at 202-208-6416 and Valerie Fellows as the FWS contact at 703-358-2285


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

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I'll be calling. Blow up the phone! Ad people... STOP FIGHTING AMONGST OURSELVES

WE NEED TO STAND TOGETHER. the only thing we need are laws ob importing, we can't fight each other or else nothing will get done...

Anyone else getting a slow feeling retics and green Annie's are about to be banned outright?

Just seems strange the largest 2 are not listed.

Sent from my phone, to the Internet, to your screen.

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Originally Posted by ball-nut

Anyone else getting a slow feeling retics and green Annie's are about to be banned outright?

Just seems strange the largest 2 are not listed.

Sent from my phone, to the Internet, to your screen.

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I wouldn't doubt it. But with annys they have no leverage. I mean who says "mommy! There's a 25 foot anaconda in the backyard!" Like I said, this law all together is BS. It's Florida trying to rule us. Why they care so much is beyond me, its probably Because they. Can't do anything about all those feral cats out there destroying the glades. :rolleyes:

thats somewhat good news i guess, but why are they banning yellow anacondas instead of greens when greens get bigger? that doesnt make sense to me

So, what do we do now? I feel like I should still be calling and emailing. What do I say? Do we know who voted what? Is that something I can ask my senator?


Yellow anaconda---I believe it was mentioned they can survive colder climates? Maybe it's because they are smaller and can hide in better places in the cold? I'm not 100% for sure.

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Originally Posted by cmack91

thats somewhat good news i guess, but why are they banning yellow anacondas instead of greens when greens get bigger? that doesnt make sense to me

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I thought the same thing, but we are dealing with Washington, things like that just make sense there.

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Originally Posted by zeion97

Why they care so much is beyond me,

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Funding.

They know that if they can get this shoved through, they would be able to get all this extra money in fighting those "injurious" snakes.

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Originally Posted by OhhWatALoser

I thought the same thing, but we are dealing with Washington, things like that just make sense there.

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haha, that is true, sadly.

plus, what is the point of even banning any snakes from being transported over state lines, if your still going to let people own those snakes in the states that theyre not already outlawed in? its not going to help anything whatsoever, i would think the politicians in florida would WANT all the burms to be moved out of state, instead of trapping them in with nowhere else to go

I am beyond pissed.

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Originally Posted by BigJ

I'm sorry but this post is BS. I am so tired of people trying to be optimistic about this. What if one of the species listed was ball pythons?? I bet your post would have a little different ring to it! It will destroy the breeders of these animals, as well limit your options if you ever choose to get one as a pet! The fact of the matter is that this is just a "segue bill" that they will use to eventually ban whatever snakes they see fit...its how the government works these days!

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I'm sorry, but I don't think anything I said involves 'trying to be optimistic about this", and I was clarifying what this addition to the Lacey Act ACTUALLY DOES, because if people don't understand it, they can't intelligently fight it. Please re-read what I said, instead of freaking out because I said I was glad that I'll get to keep my SD retics when I move back to Wyoming. I am a business, and I'm glad that, at the moment, that project is still fine.
I don't accept what's going on, and I will keep fighting...as I said.

If this were about ball pythons, I wouldn't have said one thing different, other than the part about being happy about not losing a project.

Again, people need to UNDERSTAND WHAT THE BAN IS. It is a ban on transportation, NOT a ban on the animals themselves. People do NOT need to lose their minds and start believing the government is about to break down their door and take away their Burms. That's not what this is about, and I see TOO MANY people who think than Burmese pythons are now BANNED, and they will not be able to own them any longer.

I said it, because apparently everyone else was just happy to let people keep believing that the government was going to take away their snakes.

That doesn't IN ANY WAY imply that I think the transportation ban is A-OK. I think it's a disaster, but people need to understand it so they can fight it effectively.

This sucks...there's nothing positive about this......Woo-Hoo..5 didn't make it...don't pat yourselves on the back.......THEY'RE NOT DONE! I get that this is a banning on transportation......but this is just a foot in the doorway.......and to say..."you still get to keep your snake and breed it and sell it in your own state" is mucked up!!
This country is really starting to mucking suck.....from the rediculous health insurance benefits/costs to gas price gouging to the pathetic justice system......i guess this is just one more thing to be proud to be an american..........:puke2:

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Originally Posted by WingedWolfPsion

I'm sorry, but I don't think anything I said involves 'trying to be optimistic about this", and I was clarifying what this addition to the Lacey Act ACTUALLY DOES, because if people don't understand it, they can't intelligently fight it. Please re-read what I said, instead of freaking out because I said I was glad that I'll get to keep my SD retics when I move back to Wyoming. I am a business, and I'm glad that, at the moment, that project is still fine.
I don't accept what's going on, and I will keep fighting...as I said.

If this were about ball pythons, I wouldn't have said one thing different, other than the part about being happy about not losing a project.

Again, people need to UNDERSTAND WHAT THE BAN IS. It is a ban on transportation, NOT a ban on the animals themselves. People do NOT need to lose their minds and start believing the government is about to break down their door and take away their Burms. That's not what this is about, and I see TOO MANY people who think than Burmese pythons are now BANNED, and they will not be able to own them any longer.

I said it, because apparently everyone else was just happy to let people keep believing that the government was going to take away their snakes.

That doesn't IN ANY WAY imply that I think the transportation ban is A-OK. I think it's a disaster, but people need to understand it so they can fight it effectively.

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My apologies, I miss-understood the tone of your original post. I read into it the wrong way and from my perspective it sounded like you were brushing it off as something worth fighting but not a big deal. Again I apologize for coming at you in such a way, this kind of stuff really gets at me as I am sure it does most everyone in this hobby/business.

Yes there are many people out there who are not informed on what the new law actually states, and I appreciate your clarification on that. I agree with you 100% that people need to understand the bill so we can intelligently fight back, and I now see that is what you were trying to say in your first post.

I do understand what it is, I'm just saying that it's going to be much harder if not impossible to get morphs legally except albino. I really hope this bill doesn't pass; it will put people out of business.

From what I understand, it's already DONE. Those 4 species HAVE BEEN ADDED TO THE LACEY ACT'S INJURIOUS SPECIES LIST.

This is no longer a potential, it's come to pass. Getting them removed is going to be dramatically more difficult than preventing it from happening in the first place, and we're going to have to fight tooth and nail to keep it from happening to the remaining 5.

For those who claim this was not a victory...I'm sorry, but it was. We could have lost all 9, and we did not. We could have done more, if we had been able to generate the kind of response that we did the first time this came up. It's hard to say to say whether that would have prevented the 4 from being added, because powerful interests pushed this through. They may have done so regardless of what kind of numbers we had. It's impossible to speculate on that.

We still could lose the remaining species, and we need to step up our efforts now, not relax and sit back.

If they wanted to get rid of the wild population wouldn't it be better to extend the hunting season for them all year and not make people buy licenses to do so.

Sad to see where this country is really going. . . to the swine

Crap, I couldn't find if they had been added or not. Our government stinks :mad: What happened to the "land of the free"?

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Originally Posted by ER12

Hi Rebecca-

In a word, no. This was not a bill in the legislature that most of us are more familiar with. This was a federal rule change proposed by USFWS and Department of the Interior (DOI) Secretary Ken Salazar.

This has been the last straw for me; the Obama administration needs to be dismantled and a new candidate to take office.

Ron Paul 2012

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This is precisely what's wrong with this country now. If something can't get through Congress, then they go around them. Wasn't that the whole purpose of having three branches of government?!?!?! This is yet one more example of blatant abuse of power.