Immediate Action Needed~Help Block Animal Rightist Regulatory Czar
 

Urgent Action Needed

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 USSA's Legislative Action Center to contact your Senators.

More Information

Senator John Cornyn (R- TX) has blocked President Obama's choice for a powerful regulatory position in the White House because of the nominee's support for animal rights. He's done his part, now sportsmen need to do theirs. Your support is needed to make sure the block, known technically as a "hold," stays in place.

Cass Sunstein, the president's pick to head the powerful Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs (OIRA), has been an advocate for the animal rights movement and is an anti-hunter. As a part of the federal budget office, OIRA has extensive authority to block rules, including those that protect hunting and conservation.

Sunstein claims that, "we might ban hunting altogether, at least if it's sole purpose is human recreation." He also supports allowing lawsuits on behalf of animals, a right currently only extended to human beings.

That is why it is crucial that the block remains in place.

Take Action! Sportsmen nationwide should contact their U.S. senators and ask them to support Sen. Cornyn's hold on Sunstein. Let them know that you are deeply concerned by Sunstein's radical statements about hunting and animal rights. Ask your Senator to join Senator Cornyn by blocking this appointment.

Cass Sunstein Talking Points

1. Cass Sunstein is President Obama's nominee to head the powerful
federal agency, the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs
(OIRA). This agency has extensive authority over all federal regulations
including those coming from the Departments of the Interior (U.S.
Fish and Wildlife Service) and Agriculture.

2. Sunstein is a dedicated animal rights supporter and has indicated
support for giving animals the right to sue humans.

3. Sunstein has written specifically that, "we might ban hunting
altogether, at least if it's sole purpose is human recreation."

4. Sunstein could block pro-hunting, fishing, and trapping regulations in
this position at OIRA if confirmed.

5. There is talk in Washington DC that Sunstein could eventually be a
nominee for the U.S. Supreme Court

Rights At Risk

President Obama's choice for a powerful regulatory position in the White House is a rabid supporter of animal rights. Your support is needed to block him from being in a position to harm America's sportsmen.

Cass Sunstein, the president's pick to head the powerful Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs (OIRA), has been an advocate for the animal rights movement and is an anti-hunter. As a part of the federal budget office, OIRA has extensive authority to block rules, including those that protect hunting and conservation.

Sunstein claims that, "we might ban hunting altogether, at least if it's sole purpose is human recreation." He also supports allowing lawsuits on behalf of animals, a right currently only extended to human beings.

Views such as this raise serious concern about the agenda Sunstein will carry with him into this position if he is confirmed by the Senate. This is why it is crucial that your two US Senators vote NOT to confirm Cass Sunstein as the head of the OIRA.

QUOTES from Cass Sunstein

"In a sense, this would be a dramatic proposal, because it might well be understood to mean that animals should be allowed to sue in their own name-and whoever the nominal plaintiff, there would be no question that the suit was being brought to protect animals, not human beings. The very idea might seem absurd. But it is simpler and more conventional than it appears. Of course any animals would be represented by human beings, just like any other litigant who lacks ordinary (human) competence; for example, the interests of children are protected by prosecutors, and also by trustees and guardians in private litigation brought on children's behalf.

It would make sense to build on this idea by allowing suits on behalf of animals too."
(Page 6, The Rights of Animals: A Very Short Primer)

"But I think that we should go further. We should focus attention not only on the 'enforcement gap,' but on the areas where current law offers little or no protection. In short, the law should impose further regulation on hunting, scientific experiments, entertainment, and (above all) farming to ensure against unnecessary animal suffering. It is easy to imagine a set of initiatives that would do a great deal here, and indeed European nations have moved in just this direction."
(Page 6, The Rights of Animals: A Very Short Primer)

"We might ban hunting altogether, at least if its sole purpose is human recreation."
(Page 7, The Rights of Animals: A Very Short Primer)

"Do animals have standing? To many people, the very idea seems odd. But several cases suggest that the answer might be yes.

In a remarkably large number of cases in the federal courts, animals appear as named plaintiffs."
(Page 259, Animal Rights: Current Debates and New Directions)

"In 1886, the Supreme Court ruled that the Second Amendment is not incorporated in the Fourteenth Amendment and hence doesn't apply to the states at all. In the Court's plain words, this 'is one of the amendments that has no other effect than to restrict the powers of the National government.' The Court has never questioned this conclusion.
Those who are enthusiastic about the right to bear arms might want the Court to change its minds and to apply the Second Amendment to the states. But if they believe the Second Amendment is incorporated, they have a great deal of work to do to justify any such change."
(Page 221, Radicals in Robes)

USSA Legislative Action Center

For your Sentators' Phone Number Click Here

Write Your Legislators Click Here

Contact Information for Kay Bailey Hutchison

SENATOR KAY BAILEY HUTCHISON
284 Russell Senate Office Building
Washington, DC 20510-4304
202-224-5922
202-224-0776 (FAX)
202-224-5903 (TDD)

SENATOR KAY BAILEY HUTCHISON
961 Federal Building
300 East 8th Street
Austin, Texas 78701
512-916-5834
512-916-5839 (FAX)

SENATOR KAY BAILEY HUTCHISON
10440 N. Central Expressway
Suite 1160
Dallas, Texas 75231
214-361-3500
214-361-3502 (FAX)

SENATOR KAY BAILEY HUTCHISON
1919 Smith Street
Suite 800
Houston, Texas 77002
713-653-3456
713-209-3459 (FAX)

SENATOR KAY BAILEY HUTCHISON
145 Duncan Drive
Suite 120
San Antonio, Texas 78226
210-340-2885
210-349-6753 (FAX)

SENATOR KAY BAILEY HUTCHISON
500 Chestnut Street
Suite 1570
Abilene, Texas 79602
325-676-2839
325-676-2937 (FAX)

SENATOR KAY BAILEY HUTCHISON
1906 G East Tyler St
Harlingen, Texas 78550
956-425-2253
956-412-1468 (FAX)

Contact Information for Senator John Cornyn

SENATOR JOHN CORNYN
Washington DC
517 Hart Senate Office Bldg.
Washington, DC 20510
Main: 202-224-2934
Fax: 202-228-2856

SENATOR JOHN CORNYN
Southeast Texas
5300 Memorial Drive
Suite 980
Houston, TX 77007
Main: 713-572-3337
Fax: 713-572-3777

SENATOR JOHN CORNYN
South Texas
222 East Van Buren
Suite 404
Harlingen, TX 78550
Main: 956-423-0162
Fax: 956-423-0193

SENATOR JOHN CORNYN
West Texas
Wells Fargo Center
1500 Broadway, Suite 1230
Lubbock, TX 79401
Main: 806-472-7533
Fax: 806-472-7536

SENATOR JOHN CORNYN
South Central Texas
600 Navarro
Suite 210
San Antonio, TX 78205
Main: 210-224-7485
Fax: 210-224-8569

SENATOR JOHN CORNYN
Central Texas
Chase Tower
221 West Sixth Street
Suite 1530
Austin, TX 78701
Main: 512-469-6034
Fax: 512-469-6020

SENATOR JOHN CORNYN
East Texas
First Place
100 E. Ferguson Street, Suite 1004
Tyler, TX 75702
Main: 903-593-0902
Fax: 903-593-0920

SENATOR JOHN CORNYN
North Texas
5001 Spring Valley Road, Suite 1125 E
Dallas, TX 75244
Main: 972-239-1310
Fax: 972-239-2110



Leading Conservation Groups Call on U.S. Senate to Block "Regulatory Czar" Nomination

15 Groups Express Concerns over Cass Sunstein

(Columbus) - Fifteen of the nation's leading conservation and sportsmen organizations sent a letter today to all U.S. Senators requesting they oppose the nomination of Cass R. Sunstein to head the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs (OIRA).

In the letter, the organizations express deep reservations about Sunstein's views on animal rights and hunting. Sunstein has been quoted as saying, "we might ban hunting altogether, at least if it's sole purpose is human recreation" as well as his discussions about offering animals the rights to sue humans.

The letter makes clear that as the head of the OIRA, a powerful federal agency with extensive authority to block rules, such views, "raise serious concerns about the agenda Mr. Sunstein will carry with him into this position if he is confirmed by the U.S. Senate."

Sunstein's controversial views on animal rights, hunting, and agriculture caused two Senators, Saxby Chambliss (R- GA) and John Cornyn (R- TX) to temporarily place "holds" on his nomination. This prevented the nomination from moving forward prior to the August recess. Though those holds were subsequently removed, there remains much concern throughout the conservation community.

The groups signing the letter include: Conservation Force, Dallas Safari Club, Fur Takers of America, Houston Safari Club, Masters of Foxhounds Association of North America, Mule Deer Foundation, National Shooting Sports Foundation, National Trappers' Association, National Wild Turkey Federation, Pope and Young Club, Shikar Safari Club, Texas Wildlife Association, U.S. Sportsmen's Alliance, Whitetails Unlimited, Inc. and the Wild Sheep Foundation.


Please take action immediately! U.S. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nevada) has scheduled the vote for today.

Please forward this information to all sportsmen, outdoorsmen, gun owners, farmers, etc., and ask them to contact their Senators.

I have sent letters to both Senators on behalf of LSBA as well as phone calls, emails and letters from me personally.

Oh and I forgot. The LSBA voted at the last meeting to make a $1000 donation to the Bowhunter Rights Coalition which is a subsidiary organization to USSA.

I've sent out emails, hope they read them before tomorrow.

Unfortunately we lost this one. The good news is both of the Texas Senators voted against him. This is just step 1. Continue to join and support your state and national hunting organizations regardless of preferred method. This is going to be a long hard fight.