Compensation for depredation of livestock by wolves

A bill authored by Montana Senator Jon Tester and Wyoming Senator John Barrasso that would reimburse ranchers whose animals are killed by wolves cleared a hurdle in Congress Thursday. The Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee approved the Gray Wolf Livestock Loss Mitigation Act which will authorize federal money for state trust funds to reimburse livestock owners and prevent livestock losses. Washington's decision to reintroduce the wolf has led to lost livestock, and is a direct threat to ranchers' livelihoods, Barrasso said. He said Washington forced the wolf on Wyoming and Washington has the responsibility to pay for the damage. The bill would provide $5 million to ranchers during the five-year program....[link]

An AP article has this: The Bush administration has objected to the bill, saying the payments should be a state responsibility.

The bill referred to in the article is S. 2875. What Senator Barrasso says about the gray wolf is also true of the mexican gray wolf, so let's take a look at some of the language in the bill.

SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS.

(3) PREDATORY SPECIES- The term `predatory species' means gray wolves, grizzly bear, and other predatory species, as determined by the Secretary...

SEC. 3. GRANT PROGRAM.

(a) In General- The Secretary may provide grants to States and Indian tribes described in subsection (b) to pay the Federal share of carrying out programs to compensate livestock producers for--

(1) activities undertaken to reduce the risk of livestock loss due to predation by predatory species; or

(2) livestock losses due to such predation.

(b) Requirements-

(1) IN GENERAL- The Secretary shall designate as eligible to receive grants under this section--

(A) the States of Montana, Wyoming, and Idaho; and

(B) such other States and Indian tribes as the Secretary determines from among States and Indian tribes that have populations of predatory species...

(3) ALLOCATION OF FUNDING- The Secretary shall allocate funding made available to carry out this section among States and Indian tribes based on--

(A) the level of livestock predation in the State or on the land owned by, or held in trust for the benefit of, the Indian tribe;

(B) whether the State or Indian tribe is located in a geographical area that is at high risk for livestock predation; or

(C) such other factors as the Secretary determines...

(2) COMPENSATORY PROGRAMS- A program funded by a grant under subsection (a)(2) shall compensate livestock producers for losses due to predation of the livestock of the livestock producers.

(3) ELIGIBLE LAND- Activities described in paragraph (1) and losses described in paragraph (2) may occur on Federal, State, or private land, or land owned by, or held in trust for the benefit of, an Indian tribe.

(4) FEDERAL COST SHARE- The Federal share of the cost of carrying out a program described in paragraph (1) or (2) for any fiscal year shall not exceed 50 percent of the total annual cost of the program...

This language is from S. 2875 as introduced and is the only version currently available at the Library of Congress website. I do not know if the committee amended the bill.

Let's keep in mind Bingaman and Domenici are chairman and ranking on this committee, meaning the two most powerful members of the committee are from New Mexico.

As I read the bill, the Secretary of Interior is DIRECTED to include gray wolves in the program, but has DISCRETION on whether to include the mexican gray wolf. Furthermore, the Secretary is DIRECTED to include Montana, Wyoming and Idaho in the program, but has DISCRETION on whether to include New Mexico.

Perhaps the bill was amended in committee to give New Mexico equal standing with the other three states. If not, was an attempt made to amend the bill? If not, why not? Would this have been a "deal breaker"?

When S. 2875, as reported by the committee with accompanying report language becomes available, all our questions may be answered. We'll see.

Finally, shame on the Bushies. It's a program started, run and funded by the feds that is doing damage to livestock and livelihoods. They spent millions to introduce the wolf but don't want to spend a dime to compensate the ranchers. Let's hope the wolves migrate to the Crawford, Texas area.