More science manipulation by Fish and Wildlife official revealed

[depakid]

Source: The Oregonian

A disgraced Bush administration appointee known for twisting science and altering key endangered species decisions interfered with far more findings than earlier revealed, according to a new federal probe released today. The investigation, requested by Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Ore., showed that Julie MacDonald, former assistant secretary of Fish, Wildlife and Parks, manipulated decisions involving about a dozen additional species. In the Northwest, they included the northern spotted owl, marbled murrelet and bull trout.

"MacDonald's overreaching, and the actions of those who enabled and assisted her, have caused the unnecessary expenditure of hundreds of thousands of dollars to re-issue decisions and litigation costs to defend decisions" that turned out to be illegal, said the report from the Interior Department's Inspector General.

<snip>

The latest report describes how MacDonald created a "culture of fear" within the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, bullying biologists until they were afraid for their jobs and then weakening species protections. MacDonald refused to cooperate with the investigation by Interior Inspector General Earl Devaney.

Her intimidating tactics were so well-known within the agency, which has a regional office in Portland, that employees coined a new term to describe it: "Getting MacDonalded."

Read more: http://www.oregonlive.com/environment/index.ssf/2008/12/more_science_manipulation_by_f.html#preview

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Yet another Republican ideologue who needs to be held accountable- preferably through about 5 years in federal prison.

[DCKit]

1. Shouldn't we just be happy there's only one of her in Fish, Wildlife and Parks?

To my personal knowledge, the FDA, DHS, DOJ and EPA are fully staffed with * appointed Julie MacDonalds.

[appal_jack]

2. K&R

I'm too tired to adequately express my outrage... so read the article yourselves, and y'all will be outraged too.

-app

[PearliePoo2]

3. It's going to take a lot of rodent "pest control"

to rid government agencies of all the rat-bastards that have been burrowed away by this criminal administration.
All these anti-science bible freaks need to be ferreted out, removed and jailed.
After Jan. 20th, science will be "in" again. :thumbsup: