LA Times reports initiated probe into Klamath water decisions

[DJcairo]

SACRAMENTO — Hit with allegations that the Bush administration is playing politics in the drought-plagued Klamath River Basin, the U.S. Department of the Interior will investigate whether White House political strategist Karl Rove helped shape a decision to provide more water to farmers at the expense of endangered fish.

The probe by the department's inspector general comes at the request of Sen. John F. Kerry (D-Mass.), who is a presidential candidate.

Kerry accused the president and his top aides of acting as if federal agencies "are a division of the Republican National Committee and at their disposal to give out political favors." He said Klamath water-allocation decisions — pitting farmers against environmentalists, tribes and commercial anglers who want to protect the fish — should have been based on law and science, "not a political operative's agenda, polls and campaign priorities."

http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-klamath6sep06,1,717427.story

[asjr]

1. river

Right. Gail Norton herself will investigate. So we know how it will all come out.

[DJcairo]

2. No the inspector general will

[blm]

5. The inspector is a Clinton appointee.

And all they have to do is get Rove under oath.

[sandnsea]

3. Fishing charters, guides & tourism

It's not just protecting fish for the fun of it. I wish they would bring the fact that these fish provide livelihoods for thousands of people in Northern California as well. We're protecting 1400 farms at the expense of a similar number of guides, rv park owners, restaraunts etc down river. It's stupid. Give the farmers enough disaster relief funds to offset their losses through the drought. I can't understand all the fuss. It isn't that complicated in my mind.

Of course, the only Republican House member of Oregon is probably not helping at all. Fight over a short-term problem instead of providing long term solutions.

[The Backlash Cometh]

4. I'm rooting for the salmon!

Go Salmon, Go Salmon...