Important Information

[larrymeyer]

U.S. Sportsmen’s Alliance
801 Kingsmill Parkway, Columbus, OH 43229
Ph. 614/888-4868 • Fax 614/888-0326
Website: www.ussportsmen.org • E-mail: info@ussportsmen.org

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Greg R. Lawson (614) 888-4868 x 214
September 8, 2009 Sharon Hayden (614) 888-4868 x 226

Vote on Regulatory Czar Scheduled for Wednesday
Senator moves to block controversial appointment
(Columbus, Ohio) – U.S. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nevada) has scheduled a vote for Wednesday, September 9 on a presidential nominee opposed by many American hunters, gun owners, and farmers.

The nominee, Cass Sunstein, has been tapped to lead the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs (OIRA) or “Regulatory Czar” as the position is known. The job functions as the “choke point” between the White House and regulations from government agencies including the Departments of Interior, Agriculture, the FBI and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms.

The vote will take place over the objection of Senator Johnny Isakson (R-Georgia), who is attempting to place a hold on the appointment. To force the confirmation vote, Senator Reid has scheduled a vote of cloture – a procedural move to force a vote on an appointment. Cloture requires 60 yes votes.

That is where the controversy begins. Sunstein has written and spoken extensively regarding his anti-hunting and anti-2nd amendment positions. He’s also advocated in favor of legal standing in a court of law for animals.

For example, he has written that the history of the 2nd amendment does not support the concept that it covers individual gun ownership rights, but rather that it was intended to cover state militia’s or today’s national guards. This in spite of the recent Supreme Court decision reaffirming an individual’s right to own firearms.

Sunstein has also written that if the sole purpose of hunting were recreation, perhaps it should be banned. Many American hunters pursue game species such as pheasant, ducks and rabbits not for any population control, but to provide recreation for those who prefer to hunt and eat game.

He has advocated that state animal cruelty laws should be applied to hunting and livestock, and further that organizations should be able to sue on behalf of animals in court.

“All of Mr. Sunstein’s views are far outside the mainstream of American opinion,” said Bud Pidgeon, USSA president and CEO. “If he was able to implement them, severe damage would be done to the sporting goods industry in general, cost hundreds of thousands of jobs, dry up funding for wildlife conservation and hurt the economies of rural towns all over the country.”

“When his views came to light during his confirmation hearing, Mr. Sunstein wrote off years of speeches, books, and academic papers he has authored by saying he would not seek to implement his views into this job,” said Pidgeon. “We remain unconvinced as his recantation of his extreme views did not come about until his nomination seemed in question.”

The Alliance has received a flood of calls, letters, and emails from sportsmen across the country who are deeply concerned about this nominee and who wanted to know their Senator’s position on the issue.

Pidgeon said that win or lose, the USSA will report to sportsmen and all citizens about how each Senator voted.

Take Action!!! It is imperative that sportsmen and all citizens who believe in American traditions contact their Senators TODAY and tell them to vote AGAINST the confirmation of Cass Sunstein to head the powerful Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs. Tell them he has been an advocate for the animal rights movement and is an anti-hunter, against gun ownership, and wishes to give animals the right to sue in court.

Please use the Legislative Action Center to contact your senator

[PocketProtector]

Bobby and Skeletor just received my emails.

[egent]

For what it is worth, I called both and left messages with staffers requesting no votes for Sunstein.

[larrymeyer]

U.S. Sportsmen’s Alliance
801 Kingsmill Parkway, Columbus, OH 43229
Ph. 614/888-4868 • Fax 614/888-0326
Website: www.ussportsmen.org • E-mail: info@ussportsmen.org

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Greg R. Lawson (614) 888-4868 x 214
September 9, 2009 Sharon Hayden (614) 888-4868 x 226

Debate on “Regulatory Czar” Ended By U.S. Senate
Vote Held Despite Senator’s Attempt to Put Hold on Nomination
(Columbus) – Tonight the U.S. Senate voted to end debate on the nomination of one of the most outspoken animal rights, anti-hunting, and anti- Second Amendment individuals to a high government position. By a 63-35 vote, cloture was invoked and debate stopped on the nomination of Cass Sunstein to serve as the head of the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs (OIRA).

Of the 63 senators that voted in favor of Sunstein, an anti-hunter, 22 were members of the Congressional Sportsmen’s Caucus, or 42 percent.

The vote was held despite the efforts of Senator Johnny Isakson (R- GA) to place a “hold” on the nomination of Sunstein.

The U.S. Sportsmen’s Alliance (USSA) and the National Wild Turkey Federation (NWTF) made this confirmation fight a top priority. These efforts were also aided by many conservation groups from around the nation such as: National Shooting Sports Foundation, Masters of Foxhounds Association of North America, Fur Takers of America, National Trappers’ Association, Conservation Force, Shikar Safari Club, Mule Deer Foundation, Delta Water Fowl Foundation, Pope and Young Club, Dallas Safari Club, Whitetails Unlimited, Inc., Houston Safari Club, Texas Wildlife Association, and the Wild Sheep Foundation.

The efforts of those groups and many others were instrumental in persuading Sen. Isakson to attempt placing a “hold” on Sunstein.

“We are disappointed with the outcome of tonight’s vote, especially that so many members of the Senate claiming to be pro-sportsman voted in favor of a nominee who has expressed that recreational hunting could be banned,” stated USSA President and CEO Bud Pidgeon. “Nonetheless, the USSA and our partners had an obligation to fight this appointment. Sportsmen all across America will clearly be able to see which senators, along with Sen. Isakson, were willing to stand up for them.”

The USSA and others argued for weeks that Sunstein’s views on giving animals standing in court and banning recreational hunting would pose an intolerable threat to sportsmen given the critical position the OIRA has in the implementation of all federal rules.

Click Here for a full list of how senators voted.

The U.S. Sportsmen’s Alliance is a national association of sportsmen and sportsmen’s organizations that protects the rights of hunters, anglers and trappers in the courts, legislatures, at the ballot, in Congress and through public education programs. For more information about the U.S. Sportsmen’s Alliance and its work, call (614) 888-4868 or visit its website, www.ussportsmen.org.