Idaho Congressman Mike Simpson is spearheading an effort to undo the August 2010 ruling by Judge Molloy that put wolves back on the endangered species list.  The continuing resolution (CR) under consideration by the House of Representatives this week includes a provision to overturn the court decision and ensure that it does come not before Judge Malloy again.

Congressman Simpson is also an original cosponsor of H.R. 510, the Idaho and Montana Wolf Management Act of 2011, introduced by Montana Representatives Denny Rehberg, and H.R. 509, an effort to legislatively delist wolves.

“I fully support efforts to take gray wolves off the endangered species list throughout the country, and it has been an honor to work with Congressman Rehberg on both H.R. 509 and H.R. 510,” said Simpson. “Until that bill can be taken up by the House, I believe we need to take advantage of the opportunity that the CR provides to overturn Judge Molloy’s decision. Not only does this provide an immediate solution to the wolf management problem in the western United States, where wolf populations have grown robust and where effective plans are in place for managing these populations, but it gives us the chance to continue working for a broader solution like the one Congressman Rehberg has proposed.”

Simpson’s provision puts management of wolves back into the hands of states which had been managing wolves under approved and effective state management plans before Molloy’s decision, and it allows wolf hunts scheduled in Idaho and Montana and portions of several other states to be reinstated. 

“Ultimately I support complete delisting of this species, but this provision is a step in the right direction,” said Simpson. “Today the choice is between preventing state management by keeping wolves on the endangered species list and overturning Judge Molloy’s decision so that western states can implement their wolf hunts again, so I will strongly advocate for state management in Idaho.”