GOP ready to rewrite endangered species act

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- Sen. Dirk Kempthorne, R-Idaho, touted bi-partisanship in Congress Saturday, while applauding Republican initiatives in environmental law. (242K/22 sec. AIFF or WAV sound)

"There are so many issues where consensus is possible," Kempthorne said during the GOP's weekly radio address. "We can finally balance the budget, make Medicare able to meet the health care needs of our seniors, and continue to improve the educational opportunities for our young people."

A Kempthorne-authored clean water bill was the first major new environmental legislation since 1990, he said, and the effort showed that Democrats and Republicans could work together on environmental issues.

"We're all environmentalists," he said. "Who could possible be against our own life support system?"

Kempthorne pledged to consult with local and state leaders to rewrite the endangered species act so that people were not economically disadvantaged by the efforts to save species endangered by the progress of mankind. (154K/14 sec. AIFF or WAV sound)

Scientific study must be balanced by "honest financial projections," he said.

Kempthorne used the latter minutes of his address to urge donations for an diabetic Idaho woman who needs an organ transplant.

Related stories:

• Transcript of Republican radio address - December 14, 1996
• Clinton calls for easing adoption process - December 14, 1996

Related site:

• Republican National Committee

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