The Texas Public Policy Foundation (TPPF) filed a motion for summary judgment in the pending lawsuit seeking delisting of the Bone Cave Harvestman from the Endangered Species Act. TPPF’s Center for the American Future is representing Williamson County resident John Yearwood and Williamson County, Texas in the lawsuit, which challenges the authority of the federal government to use the Interstate Commerce Clause to regulate non-commercial interactions with the Bone Cave Harvestman arachnid, which only exists in two central Texas counties, is not bought nor traded in interstate commerce, and does not otherwise affect interstate commerce.

 "This case is about whether the text of the Constitution places any meaningful limit on federal authority,” said Chance Weldon, attorney with the Center for the American Future at TPPF. “The Constitution provides Congress with authority to limit ‘interstate commerce’ If Mr. Yearwood stepping on a bug in his backyard can be deemed a criminal interference with interstate commerce, then anything could be.”
 
“Camping isn’t commerce. This case leads the Court to determine that the Endangered Species Act has limits,” said Robert Henneke, General Counsel and Director of the Center for the American Future at TPPF. “A successful ruling from the Court on this dispositive motion will greatly strengthen private property rights in Texas.”
 
"We all believe that protecting plants and animals is important, but in this case, there is no need for the Federal Government to be involved,” said co-counsel Chad Ennis. “Texas and Travis and Williamson County can and do provide enough protection for the Bone Cave Harvestman. Given that the Supreme Court has moved in our direction, we think that we will prevail in removing the Federal Government from this local issue."
 To read the motion, please visit: http://txpo.li/2eH18IV
 
For more information, visit www.LoneStarPropertyRights.com
 To schedule an interview with Mr. Henneke or Mr. Weldon, please contact Caroline Espinosa at [email protected] or 512-472-2700.

The Honorable Robert Henneke is General Counsel and Director of the Foundation’s Center for the American Future.
 
Chance Weldon is an Attorney with the Center for the American Future at the Texas Public Policy Foundation. 

Registration for the 2017 Policy Orientation for the Texas Legislature is now open to media and the public! 

The Texas Public Policy Foundation is a non-profit, free-market research institute based in Austin, Texas.

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