Roskam, GOP, no friend to Cecil; future Cecils

My congressman Peter Roskam, is nothing if not loyal to GOP tenants opposing every government program to help the species of man here in the US. By extension, they also oppose any efforts to help endangered species of animals around the world.

Take the case of Cecil, the majestic African lion wantonly killed by Walter Palmer. The GOP, with Roskam's lockstep support, opposes all efforts to strengthen the Endangered Species Act (ES...A) by including African lions as 'threatened', making the importation of their trophy heads or pelts virtually impossible. African elephants are protected which is why Palmer was tracking Cecil and not Dumbo. Since 2011, the Humane Society and other animal rights groups have been petitioning the Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) to include Cecil and Friends under the ESA. Had they been successful, Palmer would still be off the radar, planning his next kill of something less cherished. But Roskam, mindful of Republican fealty to special interests and science deniers, participates in the GOP's six fold increase, since 2011 (compared to the previous 15 years) to gut the EDA and hamper the FWS' ability to apply its protections (according to a Center for Biological Diversity study released Tuesday). Last month Roskam's GOP House buddies submitted an appropriation bill that would cut more than 50 percent of the requested budget for the FWS’ overworked, undermanned foreign conservation division. Don't look for Roskam to support Raul Grijalva's (Dem. AZ) bill Rare Cats and Candids Act, which would fund big-cat conservation projects. That money is reserved for endless military interventions, the only government program Roskam supports 100%.

Maybe it's time for Roskam and his GOP to change their party symbol. Friends to no endangered species, they might consider swapping out the beleaguered elephant for a filthy rich shotgun totin' dentist.