Related: Wolf Kills 2 Goats And A Lamb Northeast Of Ashland When DeFazio opposed the legislation early in the session, Brownscombe sent an email to supporters of the measure – including a lobbyist for the Oregon Cattlemen’s Association – dismissing the congressman’s concerns. But DeFazio said the emails uncovered by Oregon Wild showed that one of her natural resource aides, Brett Brownscombe, worked closely early on with eastern Oregon legislators who were drafting the bill. In his letter, DeFazio said Brown told him she was not advocating for the bill either publicly or privately. She signed the measure on March 14, saying she was confident the state had adequate protections for wolves even if they're removed from the endangered species list. ![]() In a session-ending news conference, she said her office was not involved in drafting the measure and would review it “very carefully” before she decided whether to sign it. The legislation, approved in the February session, blocks court review of the state’s decision to remove the gray wolf from the state’s endangered species list.īrown has said she was neutral during legislative deliberations over the bill. The Oregon Court of Appeals will reconsider a lawsuit against the state over its decision to remove the gray wolf from the state's endangered species list. Pedery charged that the governor and her staff tended to see environmental bills as “trading stock” they could use with Republican lawmakers to gain support on other issues. Separately, the group also was given the DeFazio letter. His organization obtained more than 100 pages of emails and other documents Brown's office through a public records request. Brown,” said Steve Pedery, conservation director of the advocacy group Oregon Wild. “Congressman DeFazio’s comments fit into a larger frustration that folks in the congressional delegation, folks in the conservation community, have with Gov. While the statement sought to smooth over any hard feelings, the governor’s actions on the wolf bill continue to trouble many environmentalists. "And we don’t have anything further to say about it."īryan Hockaday, a spokesman for the governor, said in a statement that Brown spoke to DeFazio after receiving the letter and the two had a “positive discussion” about the issue. “It was a private letter," Schoenbach said. “I do not appreciate your staffs’ misrepresentation of my district and my advocacy on behalf of my constituents,” he wrote.Ī DeFazio spokeswoman, Beth Schoenbach, said the congressman wouldn't comment on the letter, which OPB obtained from an environmental group that has been critical of Brown. ![]() DeFazio told Brown that a batch of newly disclosed emails from her aides “contradicts statements you made to me about your involvement with this legislation.”ĭeFazio also fumed that a Brown staffer had belittled his opposition to the bill by saying the congressman was focused on the “non-farm, ranch” portions of his district.
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