Economic Terrorism

Yesterday, the JR Simplot Company announced that they were letting 114 workers go from Pocatello's Don Plant and the Smoky Canyon Mine.

The displaced workers, their worried spouses, and now unsettled children can thank environmentalism. Groups like (and including) the Greater Yellowstone Coalition filed a lawsuit seeking an injunction against a much-needed expansion of the Smoky Canyon Mine. The Don Plant needs more phosphate ore, and the current mining site is nearly depleted.

The notoriously liberal Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals has effectively banned, for now, expansion of the mine.

Simplot says that if they aren't able to expand the mine they'll be shutting down the operation completely later this year.

Thanks, GYC. Glad you're looking out for us.