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Author	Topic: Environmental groups collecting millions from federal agencies they sue	Post a Reply Back to Topics

CVA19 Champion Author Salem Posts:2,393 Points:607,825 Joined:Aug 2011	Message Posted: May 8, 2012 3:37:35 PM Ignore CVA19 Report Abuse Deep-pocketed environmental groups are collecting millions of dollars from the federal agencies they regularly sue under a little-known federal law, and the government is not even keeping track of the payouts, according to two new studies. Under the Equal Access to Justice Act, or EAJA — which was signed into law by President Carter in 1980 to help the little guy stand up to federal agencies — litigants with modest means who successfully show government agencies wronged them can get their legal fees back from the taxpayer. But the act also covers 501(c)(3) nonprofits, including environmental groups that aggressively sue the feds to enforce land-use laws, the Clean Water and Clean Air acts and laws protecting endangered species. Visit Fox News for full article

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Salem

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Message Posted: May 8, 2012 3:37:35 PM

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Deep-pocketed environmental groups are collecting millions of dollars from the federal agencies they regularly sue under a little-known federal law, and the government is not even keeping track of the payouts, according to two new studies.

Under the Equal Access to Justice Act, or EAJA — which was signed into law by President Carter in 1980 to help the little guy stand up to federal agencies — litigants with modest means who successfully show government agencies wronged them can get their legal fees back from the taxpayer.

But the act also covers 501(c)(3) nonprofits, including environmental groups that aggressively sue the feds to enforce land-use laws, the Clean Water and Clean Air acts and laws protecting endangered species.
Visit Fox News for full article

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A_NY_Outlaw Champion Author Albany Posts:1,364 Points:703,655 Joined:Mar 2011	Message Posted: May 9, 2012 5:50:10 PM Ignore A_NY_Outlaw Report Abuse Environmental Groups and the 'little guy' do not go hand-in-hand. As long as the Dems continue to support these lobbyist groups, this will happen.
kkimes Champion Author Illinois Posts:1,596 Points:1,504,735 Joined:Sep 2005	Message Posted: May 9, 2012 7:45:59 AM Ignore kkimes Report Abuse "Deep-pocketed environmental groups" That's an oxymoron if I every heard one. Most environmental groups operate on a shoestring, especially compared to big Oil and other special interest groups that spend Billions to see that things go their way.
apiergallini Veteran Author North Carolina Posts:389 Points:244,855 Joined:Mar 2011	Message Posted: May 9, 2012 1:18:36 AM Ignore apiergallini Report Abuse @Rich1430 That didn't even make sense.
Rich1430 All-Star Author Indiana Posts:761 Points:256,590 Joined:Mar 2012	Message Posted: May 9, 2012 12:09:25 AM Ignore Rich1430 Report Abuse It's called extortion of the highest magnitude. They dour to bankrupt persons and business. And they have no shame in doing it.
1momsunshine Champion Author Ottawa Posts:5,480 Points:998,630 Joined:Mar 2010	Message Posted: May 8, 2012 11:27:22 PM Ignore 1momsunshine Report Abuse ok
KAR120CSII Champion Author Oregon Posts:3,167 Points:618,645 Joined:Apr 2010	Message Posted: May 8, 2012 10:44:20 PM Ignore KAR120CSII Report Abuse What insights -- thank you GasBuddies -- especially still blaming Carter.
BJWI Champion Author Milwaukee Posts:6,400 Points:734,375 Joined:May 2011	Message Posted: May 8, 2012 9:55:21 PM Ignore BJWI Report Abuse I would rather have the environmental groups benefiting from loopholes and subsidies then the oil companies. However, I would prefer loopholes did not exist and no one received subsidies.
apiergallini Veteran Author North Carolina Posts:389 Points:244,855 Joined:Mar 2011	Message Posted: May 8, 2012 9:05:51 PM Ignore apiergallini Report Abuse @aquarinut I love your outrage. "Molvar, of the Biodiversity Conservation Alliance, told FoxNews.com that his organization, which has a $250,000 annual budget, received an average of $1,000 in Equal Access reimbursements in each of the past five years." $1,000/yr, yeah, that's going to make a difference, right? “And that was unusually high compared to previous years,” Molvar said. “We have spent far more litigating than we have gotten back." You know, you could just insist that the government follow and enforce the laws that have been legitimately passed, and this wouldn't be a problem. You shouldn't have to sue anyone, including the government, to get them to do what they already agreed to do. Like northeast2 said, loser pays legal expenses in many scenarios. As for this being used other than how it was intended, if they had wanted to limit it only to citizens, veterans, and small businesses, Congress would have and could have done that. That you don't like how it's being applied doesn't mean it's not being applied properly, just that it wasn't written how you would have liked it to be.
Dodge_Me Champion Author Atlanta Posts:2,214 Points:554,730 Joined:Mar 2006	Message Posted: May 8, 2012 8:54:03 PM Ignore Dodge_Me Report Abuse Scams suck
cheapchickKY Champion Author Lexington Posts:4,007 Points:794,340 Joined:Jan 2011	Message Posted: May 8, 2012 8:18:05 PM Ignore cheapchickKY Report Abuse If there is a loophole, it will be found.
el_fr Champion Author Massachusetts Posts:3,327 Points:742,750 Joined:Apr 2011	Message Posted: May 8, 2012 8:10:05 PM Ignore el_fr Report Abuse This scam needs to stop
doeslayersr Champion Author Illinois Posts:9,098 Points:869,305 Joined:Dec 2010	Message Posted: May 8, 2012 7:57:39 PM Ignore doeslayersr Report Abuse No surprise as these eco left terrorist groups have been working within the system for years like this. The biggest scam and scum of all is the Sierra Club.
SammyAdams Champion Author Tallahassee Posts:3,043 Points:790,775 Joined:Nov 2010	Message Posted: May 8, 2012 7:33:32 PM Ignore SammyAdams Report Abuse There's no need to have sympathy for these environmental groups, because they raise more money than the Democratic and Republican parties COMBINED.
TableTalk Champion Author Virginia Posts:1,184 Points:557,200 Joined:Nov 2008	Message Posted: May 8, 2012 7:24:24 PM Ignore TableTalk Report Abuse Classic case of a law designed to do one thing but morphed and abused into a feed trough for lawyer types. This is the kind of spending that needs to get cut and the law fixed/abolished.
davenles Champion Author Texas Posts:3,186 Points:716,710 Joined:May 2011	Message Posted: May 8, 2012 6:57:51 PM Ignore davenles Report Abuse Another liberal gift to lighten our wallets.
humblepie Champion Author Toledo Posts:34,122 Points:2,369,420 Joined:Mar 2006	Message Posted: May 8, 2012 6:37:05 PM Ignore humblepie Report Abuse good old jimmy still screwing taxpayer 40 years later
aquarinut Champion Author British Columbia Posts:1,628 Points:436,005 Joined:Jul 2011	Message Posted: May 8, 2012 6:18:00 PM Ignore aquarinut Report Abuse "But the act also covers 501(c)(3) nonprofits, including environmental groups that aggressively sue the feds to enforce land-use laws, the Clean Water and Clean Air acts and laws protecting endangered species. Their lawyers are getting reimbursed at rates as high as $750 an hour, sources tell FoxNews.com." "“It was intended for helping our nation's veterans, seniors and small business owners, but environmental groups have hijacked the so-called Equal Access to Justice Act and abused it to fund their own agenda,” Sen. John Barrasso, R-Wyo., told FoxNews.com. “Then you have small businesses and the American taxpayers left to foot the bill."" Looks like the bill needs to be revisited... these groups definitely do not fall under the original intention of the bill... "veterans, seniors and small business owners"!!!! "Environmental groups, however, argue that the act is an important tool in their efforts to protect the publics interest in conservation, fighting pollution and ensuring the federal government follows its own rules." You've got to be kidding!!! All on the back of the general public! If the greenie groups want to push the tiniest issues that hard with their high priced legal staff, (like saving the snail from urban development), then pay for it yourself! You are making a mockery of what the bill was initially brought in for!
northeast2 Champion Author New York Posts:3,849 Points:1,007,200 Joined:Mar 2008	Message Posted: May 8, 2012 5:59:27 PM Ignore northeast2 Report Abuse "Molvar said it’s important to remember that his organization — which he characterized as one of the more litigious conservation groups in the country — only receives funds if it wins. “You only get them when you win and prove that the federal government has broken the law,” he said." So, what's wrong with that? Any party that sues another has potential liability for its opponents legal fees if it loses a case. That's just the nature of civil law.
StArrow68 Champion Author Oakland Posts:3,247 Points:1,358,540 Joined:Apr 2003	Message Posted: May 8, 2012 5:21:19 PM Ignore StArrow68 Report Abuse Our system is getting so broke that even the Govt can't figure out where all the money is going, they just give it away and don't account for it.
car253 Champion Author Ohio Posts:6,288 Points:1,467,645 Joined:Oct 2008	Message Posted: May 8, 2012 5:06:43 PM Ignore car253 Report Abuse Just another environmental scam like man made global warming.