When an agency claims to discover a long-extant statute and unheralded power to regulate a significant portion of the American economy, we typically greet that announcement with a measure of skepticism.

it becomes almost a craps shoot; three judges who don't know much about any of our States.

As such, many power plants had already shuttered or retrofitted because of the rule's requirement.

When the States sue you, that is usually a pretty good indication they don't like the rule.

Recovering less than 2 percent of listed species is not good enough, and we must do better.

I think it just seems like a limitless approach to doing this.

So I think the law has flexibility.

I am in agreement with you on the issue of State involvement.

Anything you can do to provide more opportunity for the States to play a bigger role in this I would be for.

I think there could be room in the reform, whether it is Alaska or other States where you are the only State impacted with the Federal Government that you could have some kind of co-designation authority.

I think that is an incredibly arrogant way to look at the rule of law, to look at our oversight of this committee.

the law could allow that if we amended the law.

It is about Federal authority because Congress granted Federal agencies to make those decisions.

I am wondering if you have thoughts about that. You know, Director Ashe mentioned, well, that doesn't happen now.

I think our regulatory system is largely to blame. Seven years, $7 billion to try to drill one well in America.

I think it is outrageous.

We had an announcement in terms of offshore development where a large company, Shell, in terms of responsibly developing oil resources off the coast of Alaska, is pulling out, for now.

What about the endangered jobs act? What about making sure we take care of employment?

If this is a priority, we have to put resources in it. We have to think of conservation.

This is an important bipartisan reform: good for species, good for the economy, and good for the country.

If you find a species that is threatened or endangered, that should be good news.

That kind of Federal permitting delays doesn't help anyone in our country.

there seems like there is no limit to the number of species that you could list in an Arctic State like ours.

Too often, as my colleagues in the Senate have already mentioned, the ESA has been used and abused, more as a political weapon.

Does it disturb you that 31 States are suing on WOTUS, 32 are opposing the Clean Power plan?