Thanks to a lawsuit by the Earth Island Institute you may not be seeing a Capitol Christmas Tree this year. A ruling by Judge James K. Singleton, of the Eastern District Court of California (what were the odds?) is causing the Forest Service to suspend 1,500+ permits for activities from Boy Scout meetings to family reunions. The left must be ecstatic, they get to screw Christmas, families and the Boy Scouts with one ruling.
This year New Mexico is to supply the nation's Christmas Tree. Here's a quote by Senator Domenici as given in The Washington Times:
"We need these reindeer games to stop so New Mexico can stay on schedule with its national holiday tree plans," said Sen. Pete V. Domenici, New Mexico Republican.
"This ruling and the Forest Service response to it would be like the Grinch who stole Christmas for the many New Mexicans who have worked well over a year to prepare for the tree's state tour and eventual trip to the nation's capital, and for school kids and groups who are already creating ornaments to festoon the tree," he said.
Mr. Domenici noted the seriousness of the court ruling's implication on the far-reaching impacts and "consequences of some environmental lawsuits," but he and Sen. Jeff Bingaman, New Mexico Democrat, are asking Attorney General Alberto R. Gonzales and Agriculture Secretary Mike Johanns to intervene so the holiday conifer can be delivered on schedule.
"We are troubled that the interpretation of a decision made by a Federal District Court in California may adversely affect these plans. We urge you to redouble your efforts to address concerns regarding the procurement of this year's Capitol Holiday Tree in order to resolve this situation in time for the tree's tour around New Mexico," the senators said last week in a letter to the federal officials.
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