Skabewis

By Matthew Daly
Washington, D.C. (AP)

Senate Democrats are proclaiming victory after they thwarted Idaho Sen. Larry Craig’s bid to use a federal spending bill to dictate water flow for Northwest salmon.

A bill approved by Congress would remove an amendment inserted by the Republican senator directing the Bush administration to go forward with a policy on Columbia River Basin fish that a judge has twice ruled illegal.

Salmon advocates say Craig’s amendment would have nullified the court ruling and forced officials to rely on a discredited policy that does not provide enough water to allow salmon to thrive and shifts the burden for recovery of the threatened fish to Oregon and Washington state.

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