After 50 years, the intent of the Endangered Species Act has been lost. Here are the reforms needed.

The Endangered Species Act, which turns 50 years old this week, is a perfect example of good legislation that has been twisted by a greedy government. No longer is its goal to recover endangered species and return management to the states; fully recovered species remain improperly listed as 'endangered' because bureaucrats want to protect their jobs and gobble up more money and land for the federal government.

The consequence of this reality is that other wildlife suffer, limited funds are pulled away from the areas and species that truly need them, and people are put in danger.

If we want the ESA to last another 50 years, we must return it to its original purpose.