Will Butterflies Single-handedly Crumble the Texas Economy?

Are these beautiful creatures that are the symbol of rebirth and change going to threaten Texas' economic success? Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller seems to think this is a major possibility.

Sid Miller's Statement

In a recent statement by Texas Ag Commissioner Sid Miller, he says that President Biden and his administration have recently proposed that Monarch butterflies should be listed as threatened species. That's all well and good, but certain strings come attached with these declarations.

One such string is what Miller calls a part of the radical agenda from "out-of-touch and out-of-control Washington bureaucrats."

Should this proposal move forward, it would place restrictions on any building or activity conducted that might disrupt or disturb Monarch butterfly habitats. Miller says this would make it just about impossible for rural expansion in the Lone Star State.

Potential restrictions could impact farmers and ranchers, with small businesses and consumers feeling its effect as well. Many core building blocks of Texas could be also be affected, like wind and solar farms, football stadiums, roads, hospitals, and mines, to name a few.

In what Miller calls "a roadblock to growth, jobs, and prosperity" in his statement, this proposal could mean an imbalanced approach to wildlife conservation.

He also calls this action "nothing more than a parting shot from the Biden Administration," and that this is all just one "desperate move to impose its heavy-handed, radical climate agenda on hard-working Americans" before Trump takes office in January.

Monarch Supporters

On the other hand, you have supporters of the new proposal, supporters like Monika Maeckle from Texas Butterfly Ranch. Maeckle argues that it's not the butterflies themselves that are endangered, it's their migration that's declining.

Regardless, there are still many who see this as a win for butterfly conservation and species protection.

What do you think? If what Sid Miller says is true, is Monarch butterfly protection worth some sacrificed Texas freedoms?