Legislative threats to the integrity of the Endangered Species Act

From the snail darter to the spotted owl and the gray wolf, endangered species have, at times, caused political controversy.  Though the law is supposed to be grounded in the ‘best available science,’ politics has always played a role.  Here I review some of the most outstanding legislative threats to the Endangered Species Act that have occurred over the course of its 40 year history with a more personal account of the continuing and ever-present threats facing the Act today.