How having money means you can break the law...

If ever there was a story that demonstrated how the rich manage to pay off the government and in this case the Federal Government this article in today's Washington Post is it.

Redksin's owner Daniel Synder is "donating" the difference between the new valuation of his property for creating a better view of the river by cutting down 130 mature trees. The National Parks Service agreed to this deal.

Local Government is not buying it (guess they didn't get offered a pay off) so they are investigating if he broke local conservation laws when he had the trees cut down. Lord forbid those trees get in the way of his view of the river.....

The Park Service, which has a reputation for rigorous enforcement of laws that protect the woods along riverbanks, did not disclose the monetary arrangement when asked about the tree removal last December.

After a series of conflicting explanations -- including that Snyder cut the trees "by mistake" -- officials said he was allowed to cut down the trees because his property has been invaded by nonnative species, such as ailanthus and paulownia, that the Park Service has been trying to keep out of its forests.

Michael Sitrick, a spokesman for Snyder, said he has no interest in a better view. In an e-mailed statement, Sitrick said Snyder wanted to help the Park Service get rid of nonnative or invasive plants and trees.

That makes no "common sense" because if he were doing the Park Service such a huge favor then why would he donate any difference in property value increase from the tree removal?

Something stinks here...and it's not the trees....

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A10466-2005Mar5.html