Federal Agencies: How wild horses triggered revival of archaic workforce rule
there was not a way to do so under House made by the new Congress in its busy rules. opening week. “That’s what sparked it,” Griffith told E&E The move underscores the changing News, recalling the origin of his legislative dynamics on Capitol Hill, where conservaodyssey that culminated with the resurrec- tives are eager to use their bicameral tion of the majority and over-100-year-old control of the White The unlikely trajectory cost-cutting rule as House for the first part of the House’s time in eight years for the rule started broader rules for the to slash the federal by George Cahlink, E&E News reporter 115th Congress (E&E budget. It also about four years ago, when t is not common for a century-old, parlia- Daily, Jan. 4). amplifies the fears mentary rule to leap from obscurity, but The provision of federal workers Rep. Morgan Griffith (R-Va.) and D emo crat s that’s exactly what happened recently would make it far when the House adopted the Holman Rule, easier to target who worry Presiwas reading through an thereby sparking a wave of concern about federal programs dent-elect Donald the GOP’s agenda regarding the federal and agencies by Trump and the GOP annual spending bill and workforce. cutting employees will use the rule to The unlikely trajectory for the rule or eliminating their target employees became alarmed to learn started about four years ago, when Rep. pay in the 12 annual carrying out work Morgan Griffith (R-Va.) was reading through appropriations bills. on policies they that the federal government an annual spending bill and became The practice had oppose — includalarmed to learn that the federal govern- been banned since ing climate change was spending $80 million ment was spending $80 million annually on President Reagan science, environwild horses. The fiscal conservative wanted was in the White mental protections annually on wild horses. to eliminate spending for the Bureau of House. an d re n ew ab l e Land Management program — which cares The return of the energy research. for about 50,000 equines to keep them Holman Rule, named for a 19th-century continued on page 60 >> from grazing on private land — but found lawmaker, was among the most bold moves
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Have a favorite photo that is just too good not to share? Have one that might be cover-quality? The New Mexico Stockman is instituting a monthly photo contest and will pay $100 for the best photo received each month. The winning photo will also be published in a future issue of the Stockman.
This Month’s Winner
Picture is taken on Spring Valley Ranch, NM, by photographer Stephanie Avent, 1179 Sowell Road, La Loma, NM 87724
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