November 2, 2011

The Supreme Court didn't bite, PLF's "save our water" fight goes on!

High Court won't take smelt case, but PLF keeps fighting for water — and the Constitution!

The U.S. Supreme Court announced this week that it won't hear PLF's constitutionally based challenge to the federal Delta smelt regulations that have caused draconian water cutbacks in Central and Southern California.

Sure, we're disappointed. But we're also determined.

Don't doubt for a second: PLF will keep fighting against the fish-before people policies that led to a regulatory drought in the San Joaquin Valley and for millions of urban residents farther south.

We're active in other litigation over the federal biological opinions for the Delta smelt and other species.

And we'll keep raising challenges whenever the feds start violating the Constitution by imposing regulations for local species. The Commerce Clause imposes real boundaries on federal power, and we will litigate this issue until the Supreme Court ultimately agrees to take it up.

As PLF's Brandon Middleton explains, PLF is in a long-term battle to stop federal intrusion that robs people of their livelihoods and liberties, and undermines the basic framework of the Constitution.

Staff Attorney Brandon Middleton summarizes PLF's current position

Help PLF enforce the Constitution — and get water to people who need it!

Although the smelt case won't be heard at the Supreme Court, our fight against abusive federal power goes on. In fact, the justices have agreed to hear our high-profile challenge to EPA bullying — Sackett v. EPA. And we continue battling, on other legal fronts, against the regulatory drought in California.

PLF is a "never say die" organization. We've been at this work for nearly four decades, and we're not going anywhere!