The White House is endorsing a centrist Democrat’s effort to put off more stringent regulations on New England fishermen, potentially at the expense of an endangered whale.
Legislation from Rep. Jared Golden of Maine would delay restrictions that fishermen and their allies on Capitol Hill view as onerous and detrimental to the state’s prized lobster industry.
The administration went out of its way to tout the new bill by releasing a statement of policy Friday saying President Donald Trump would sign it. Such statements usually come when bills are further along in the legislative process or represent major White House priorities.
“The need to protect Maine’s iconic lobster industry knows no party,” Golden said in a statement. “I’m grateful for the President’s support for Maine’s lobstermen and hopeful that my colleagues in the House will join me in quickly passing this bill into law.”
