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Democrats Step Up on Salmon Issues as Craig Loses Support by Associated Press KTVZ.com, September 29, 2007

WASHINGTON - The fall of Republican Senator Larry Craig could be good news for salmon recovery on Northwest rivers.

Craig, of Idaho was known as 1 of the Senate's most powerful voices on behalf of the timber and power industries.

He was removed from leadership posts after a sex scandal and is now fighting to hold onto his seat.

And now, Senate Democrats, exercising their slim majority, have waded into two contentious issues - both related to Snake River salmon.

First, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid of Nevada asked federal regulators to require passage for salmon and steelhead for relicensing of the Hells Canyon Complex.

That's a series of dams on the Snake River between Oregon and Idaho.

Meanwhile, Senator Maria Cantwell, a Washington Democrat, has asked her colleagues to undo Craig's bid to use a federal spending bill to dictate water flow for Snake River fish.