Rep. Pearce Named Chair of Western Caucus

The House Western Caucus – a group of Republican awmakers concerned about public land use, environment, energy, agriculture, and recreation – has unanimously named Rep. Steve Pearce as its chairman.

Pearce, a Republican, represented New Mexico’s 2nd Congressional District from 2003-2009 and was re-elected in 2010 after sitting out a term. According to a statement issued by his office, “Pearce is committed to building upon the rich tradition of the Caucus while increasing its influence on and off Capitol Hill.”

“I thank my colleagues for the honor of leading this caucus,” Pearce stated in a press release. “For too long, many Members of Congress, the Executive Branch, and other groups and organizations have chosen to ignore the fundamental principles that are so important to our constitutional liberties. Nothing is more western than private property rights and the ability to work for a living, and these very freedoms have come under fierce attack. As chairman, I will defend the values that are the building blocks of the Republic.”

The appointment may come as a disappointment to environmentalists who object to Pearce’s penchant for favoring job creation over rigorous protections for land, water and species. In an interview with me this week, Pearce suggested he would try to “find a balance” between endangered species protections and economic interests in the West. He used the example of the endangered spotted owl as an example.

“I think it’s time to take on the entire endangered species question,” Pearce said. “We ought to keep the spotted owl alive, and we don’t need to clear cut the forests, but let’s start the jobs back.”

According to the Caucus’ website:

“The mission of the Western Caucus is to enhance, sustain, and preserve
the West’s dynamic and unique culture, and to find innovative solutions
that address the distinctive concerns facing western and rural
communities. We believe economic growth and conservation are not
mutually exclusive goals and can be accomplished by promoting balanced,
common-sense reforms.

To accomplish this mission, the Western Caucus is committed to advancing
the following key principles: protecting private property,
strengthening local control, promoting economic growth, and increasing
energy independence. As part of our advocacy of these principles we
will focus on an agenda which will increase energy independence and
security, protect and promote multiple use access to federal lands, help
educate the public and eventually bring about common-sense reforms to
outdated environmental statutes such as the National Environmental
Policy Act and the Endangered Species Act, and to reevaluate and
reorient current views and policies on federal land ownership”