Congressman C.L. “Butch” Otter, R-Idaho, may be a new kid on Capitol Hill, but he’s already got the attitude.
He was busted in 1999 for illegally filling in wetlands on his ranch near the Boise River and fined $80,000 by the Environmental Protection Agency. Otter had been constructing a huge bass lake lined with waterfalls and flowerbeds on his property without securing the proper permits. This was the third instance in which Otter had been cited for altering wetlands without a permit. For months, he refused to pay the fine — even after it was reduced to $50,000. He gave in last week.
Just another story of an arrogant, hypocritical lawmaker who believes himself to be above the law? Worse: Otter sits on the Water Resources and Environment subcommittee of the House Transportation Committee, which oversees federal water projects, water-pollution controls, and… wetlands protection.
But what’s especially curious about Otter’s case was his argument that he should be able to dictate how the fine is spent. Otter says he intends to introduce legislation that would give those paying environmental fines a choice on what the money should be used for.
What a great idea. Why not design the bill so that any payment to the feds is spent at the payer’s discretion? I, for one, would like to ensure that all my taxes go to social programs and not a penny to the Pentagon or George W. Bush’s salary.
Well, maybe we can’t tell the government how to spend our money, but since this year most of us are getting a tax rebate courtesy of W., we can choose to spend those dollars wisely. In fact, a movement is afoot to persuade lefties to put their rebate where they wish their government’s priorities were. The Gen-X-focused non-profit Third Millennium has created a Web site called DonateRebate.org to make donating one’s tax-rebate check easy and painless. The folks at Working Assets are going one better: they’ll match your donation to a selected list of nonprofits.
Bits and Pieces
CLOWNING AROUND WITH THE FIRST AMENDMENT
A street clown in Provincetown on Cape Cod has enlisted the help of the ACLU after local business leaders lobbied police to reject his request for a public performance permit. Numerous complaints were lodged against the street performer for allegedly hooting at girls, making homophobic remarks, and performing while drunk. ACLU staff attorney Sarah Wunsch says simply not liking someone isn’t enough reason to obstruct a person’s livelihood.
LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR TAKES ON ABERCROMBIE & FITCH
Lt. Gov. Corrine Wood of Illinois is on a mission to make Abercrombie & Fitch stop being so naughty. The governor started a campaign to boycott A&F after her daughter received a catalog for the clothing company which contained what Wood felt was inappropriately suggestive imagery involving minors. “After discussing this discovery with my husband, I decided that I simply could not sit silently by while this catalog infiltrated thousands of unsuspecting households across Illinois. Working with many of the same support organizations listed on this website, we launched a campaign to alert the public of this catalog and we called for a boycott.” Although Abercrombie & Fitch restricts the catalog to subscriptions only, mails it in a plain wrapper, and even requests proof that subscribers are 18 or older, Wood is not satisfied. She calls A&F’s actions “a series of gimmicks that parents and concerned citizens see right through.”
NO HUBBY, NO BABY
Single women in Slovenia have lost the right to in-vitro fertilization, thanks to a referendum in the predominantly Roman Catholic country. Married women will continue to enjoy access to the service, which had been briefly available. Approximately 70 percent of Slovenian voters opposed access for single women.
