Deep-pocketed environmental groups are collecting millions of dollars from the federal agencies they regularly sue under a little-known federal law, and the government is not even keeping track of the payouts, according to two new studies.
Under the Equal Access to Justice Act, or EAJA — which was signed into law by President Carter in 1980 to help the little guy stand up to federal agencies — litigants with modest means who successfully show government agencies wronged them can get their legal fees back from the taxpayer.
But the act also covers 501(c)(3) nonprofits, including environmental groups that aggressively sue the feds to enforce land-use laws, the Clean Water and Clean Air acts and laws protecting endangered species. Their lawyers are getting reimbursed at rates as high as $750 an hour, sources tell Fox News.com.
“It was intended for helping our nation's veterans, seniors and small business owners, but environmental groups have hijacked the so-called Equal Access to Justice Act and abused it to fund their own agenda,” Sen. John Barrasso, R-Wyo., told FoxNews.com. “Then you have small businesses and the American taxpayers left to foot the bill.”
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I favor eliminating this program altogether as I doubt many if any of it's intended beneficiaries are helped by it. To get back ones legal fees one must have money for the lawyers in the first place. A perfect example of a "well intentioned" law being used against us. At a minimum these nonprofits should be excluded.
ReplyDeleteA perfect example of a "well intentioned" law being used against us. At a minimum these nonprofits should be excluded.
ReplyDeleteAgreed and hopefully they will do it.