Up North Progressive

Michigan State Senator Tom Casperson recently pushed through a resolution meant to take wolves off of the endangered species list. Again. Wolves were returned to that list in December, 2014, after Michigan voters soundly defeated two ballot initiatives to stop wolf hunting in the state. As is the norm for Republicans in the 21st century, the will of the people comes second to special interests. Casperson has always been a strong supporter of wolf hunting, since he first rallied for it in 2011, even lying to the United States Congress about a wolf attack that didn’t happen. It’s taken three years to undo the damage he’s done, and continues to do working to make it legal once more to trophy hunt these protected animals.

Wolves are a vital part of every healthy ecosystem. Ten years of research at Yellowstone National Park where wolves were reintroduced shows significant improvement to not only the wildlife that shares the park, but with the health of the river system too. Healthy forests and wetlands don’t mean much to the senator however. Tom Casperson recently let the state know he holds no love for state or national forests – places where wildlife live – either. He’s currently promoting the sale of over 10,000 acres of state forest land in the Upper Peninsula to a company from British Columbia called Graymont. They want to turn state land in three counties into a limestone quarry for 30 cents a ton. Wetlands, forests, and wildlife currently living there will all be affected. Once the mining destroys the soil, air, and water quality it will affect people too.

While Dan Benishek, Bill Huizenga, and Tim Walberg stump for Casperson in Washington DC, Public Act 21, and the Michigan Natural Resource Commission Initiative, the laws passed to undermine the will of the people of the state goes into effect in March. This law will have little effect with Michigan wolves currently protected. That’s why Casperson is working so hard now to get wolves off the list, so by March of 2015 when the Michigan Natural Resources Commission has authority to sanction wolf hunts, they will have something to do. The seven member commission, all appointed by the governor, are made up of four Republicans, two Democrats and one Independent.

Michigan citizens need to let Tom Casperson know they don’t appreciate him helping foreign companies buy up land that belongs to the taxpayers of the state so they can mine it, and he really needs to leave the wolves alone. If you haven’t done so yet, you still have time to let the DNR know your opinion about the Graymont land deal by email or by writing to: Customer Service Center, ATTN: Kerry Wieber, 8717 N. Roscommon Road, Roscommon, MI 48653. Make sure to contact them by March 19.

You can also contact Tom Casperson and let him know what you think about his efforts to allow trophy hunting of wolves and the destruction of land that belongs to the people of Michigan. By mail: Senator Tom Casperson P.O. Box 30036 Lansing, MI 48909-7536. By phone: (517) 373-7840. By fax: (517) 373-3932 and of course by email. Remind him he’s elected by people, not by corporations and special interests.