U.S. Sen. John Kerry described himself today as conflicted, and declined to say how he will vote on the so-called Jones amendment to shut off funding for future catch share programs, the top fisheries policy of the Obama administration and its National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, but a policy that's drawn widespread opposition along all three U.S. coasts.
Kerry's colleague from Massachusetts, Republican Sen. Scott Brown, announced over the weekend that he would vote to end funding for any expansion of catch share programs.
The Senate is expected to take up the amendment by Rep. Walter Jones, a North Carolina Republican, as early as Wednesday. Jones' co-sponsors include Democratic Reps. Barney Frank of Massachusetts and Frank Pallone of New Jersey.
"We all share the frustrations that led to the Jones Amendment," Kerry said in the statement e-mailed to the Times. "But if there's no viable path for it to become law right now, what's the best practical route forward to get the job done?"
Kerry's press secretary, Whitney Smith, told the Times she did not believe the statement meant he had decided against voting for the Jones amendment, which was approved by the House two weeks ago, 259-159, with 50 Democrat votes including those of eight of the 10 Massachusetts lawmakers.
Read the complete story from The Gloucester Times.