Will Legislative Democrats Let Dan Richards Bully Them Too?

The outrage about Fish and Game President Dan Richards poor judgment has spread nationwide. Here in California it has reached a fever pitch, with even newspapers in hard core Republican districts calling for Richards to go. But even though there seem to be votes for his removal, Richards continues to serve on the Commission.

Apparently slamming State Senate President pro Tem Darrell Steinberg personally, and sending an acid tone letter to  Assembly and Senate Democrats wasn't enough to spur an immediate ouster.

Perhaps Legislative Democrats should read this article in the San Jose Mercury News http://www.mercurynews.com/science/ci_20107222 today, which recounts how Legislative Republicans forced a Fish and Game Commissioner to resign in 2007. And no, it wasn't because he mocked the legislature, appeared on right-wing radio shows instead of speaking to the press, or apparently violated FPPC regulations involving the taking of a free gift. It was a policy matter: the Republicans objected to the commissioners support for a ban on lead bullets.

If turnabout was fair play, then Mr. Richards ought to be removed on policy issues alone. He has an extremist record, and now calls conservationists "enviro-terrorists."

But this isn't about policy. It's about horrendous judgment. And it's about attacking both the Governor who appointed him and the Legislative that confirmed him.

If the Republicans squawk about this removal, they only need to look in the mirror for what they did to another Fish and Game Commissioner in 2007.

The Legislature needs to stick up for itself. Remove Dan Richards now.

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