Rob Bishop: “I am pleased that both sides of the aisle have recognized the need of some modifications in the Endangered Species Act.…”

“I am pleased that both sides of the aisle have recognized the need of some modifications in the Endangered Species Act. I would like to, Mr. Speaker, introduce you to a man by the name of John Gochnauer. John Gochnauer was the shortstop for the Cleveland Indians in 1902 and 1903. In 1902, playing full-time at shortstop for the Indians, he hit a paltry .185 and committed a whopping 48 errors in that position. Nonetheless, he came back the next year to play for them in 1903, where he once again, full-time player, hit .185, and this time set a major league record, which has yet to be broken, of committing 98 errors as shortstop, which means out of every five times, he touched the ball, he booted or threw it away once. The Endangered Species Act has established 1,300 species for preservation and has been able to preserve 12 of them, giving that act a batting average of .010, if you round up. Whereas John Gochnauer hit .185, the Endangered Species Act is hitting .009, which means the Endangered Species Act is the most inept program we have in the Federal Government. The Endangered Species Act is the John Gochnauer of Federal programs. The reason is quite simple. The Endangered Species Act creates more harm than it does good. Because if you are a good steward of the land, your practices which create and preserve habitat make you then open to government control and government regulations and produce an attitude of distrust and hatred.…”