Rove was senior advisor to President George W. Bush from 2000-07 and deputy chief of staff from 2004-07. He oversaw the offices of strategic initiatives, political affairs, public liaison, and intergovernmental affairs at the White House and was deputy chief of staff for policy. Rove is a columnist for the Wall Street Journal and Newsweek, and a contributor for Fox News.
Dear Commissioner Elliott,
I noted with interest that Klamath County had participated in the discussions leading to the development of the Klamath Basin Restoration Agreement and its companion, the Klamath Hydroelectric Settlement Agreement, and, in fact, had signed the agreements.
The announcement of the signing of those agreements caused me to recall a different time, shortly after President Bush took office, when water deliveries for the Klamath Project were curtailed and valuable farmland in the Klamath Basin simply dried up.
President Bush formed the Klamath River Basin Federal Working Group in March of 2002. From that time on, when these agreements have been reached to jointly consider options available, it must have seemed an impossible task, considering the range of interests involved.
Over the years I have followed the progress being made in addressing the complexities of water allocations in the Klamath River Basin. Please accept my thanks to you and your Board for your willingness to engage in the process. Now, the hard work begins!
Convincing Congress that a heavy-handed application of the Endangered Species Act can absolutely devastate a community and that ESA needs changes are going to be tough, uphill battles. But they need to be fought. I encourage your participation.
Sincerely,
Karl Rove