ESA reformist seeks return to congress

Author: Nicholas M. Gieseler

The San Francisco Chronicle reported yesterday that former U.S. Congressman Richard Pombo will run for a seat in the next Congressional election.  Those who remember Pombo most likely remember his 2005 attempt to reform the Endangered Species Act by eliminating some of its inefficiencies and creating a more balanced approach to property rights.  Those who don't remember Pombo most likely don't remember that the bill was killed by the Senate and Pombo was promptly voted out of office after an intense and expensive opposition campaign, funded heavily by environmental groups.