Senate Advances Wilderness Protection Bill

(AP)  In a rare Sunday session, the Senate advanced legislation that would set aside more than 2 million acres in nine states as wilderness. Majority Democrats assembled more than enough votes to overcome GOP stalling tactics in an early showdown for the new Congress.

Republicans complained that Democrats did not allow amendments on the massive bill, which calls for the largest expansion of wilderness protection in 25 years. But Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., and other Democrats said the bill - a holdover from last year - was carefully written and included measures sponsored by both Republicans and Democrats.

By a 66-12 vote, with only 59 needed to limit debate, lawmakers agreed to clear away procedural hurdles despite partisan wrangling that had threatened pledges by leaders to work cooperatively as the new Obama administration takes office. Senate approval is expected later this week. Supporters hope the House will follow suit.

"Today is a great day for America's public lands," said the bill's sponsor, Sen. Jeff Bingaman, D-N.M. "This big, bipartisan package of bills represents years of work by senators from many states, and both parties, in cooperation with local communities, to enhance places that make America so special."

The measure - actually a collection of about 160 bills - would confer the government's highest level of protection on land ranging from California's Sierra Nevada mountain range to Oregon's Mount Hood, Rocky Mountain National Park in Colorado and parts of the Jefferson National Forest in Virginia. Land in Idaho's Owyhee canyons, Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore in Michigan and Zion National Park in Utah also would be designated as wilderness.

Besides new wilderness designations, the bill would designate the childhood home of former President Bill Clinton in Hope, Ark., as a national historic site and expand protections for dozens of national parks, rivers and water resources.

In Wyoming, the bill would limit further oil and gas leasing in the Wyoming Range. It would also protect 387 miles of rivers and streams in Snake River headwaters under the federal Wild and Scenic Rivers Act.

Senate Majority Leader Reid said about half the bills in the lands package were sponsored by Republicans. Most had been considered for more than a year.

"I am happy that after months of delay we will finally be moving forward," Reid said.

The bill's chief opponent, Sen. Tom Coburn, R-Okla., denounced what he called Democratic bullying tactics.

"I am disappointed the Senate majority leader has refused to allow senators the opportunity to improve, amend or eliminate any of the questionable provisions in his omnibus lands bill," Coburn told fellow senators.

"When the American people asked Congress to set a new tone, I don't believe refusing to listen to the concerns of others was what they had in mind," Coburn said. "The American people expect us hold open, civil and thorough debates on costly legislation, not ram through 1,300-page bills when few are watching."

Coburn and several other Republicans complained that bill was loaded with pet projects and prevented development of oil and gas on federal lands, which they said would deepen the nation's dependence on foreign oil.

Environmental groups said the bill set the right tone for the new Congress.

"By voting to protect mountains and pristine wildlands, Congress is starting out on the right foot," said Christy Goldfuss of Environment America, an advocacy group. "This Congress is serious about protecting the environment and the outstanding lands that Americans treasure."

[Krazcarl]

to little to late we need the minerals timber and any oil there not nice post cards put some cash in reforestation of dead and used land.

[oldpilot954]

I am for saving wilderness and enjoy hiking in the backcountry. However, most of the time the government involvement just means dumping money into a pork barrel that the average person no longer has access to. Without seeing what''s in the bill, I really can''t comment about it being good or bad. I expect to see it eliminate hunting, fishing, most camping and backpacking from those lands. Therefore scientists can use out tax-money grants to study nature without all of us taxpayer riff-raff tromping on their 2 million acre playground. Oh yeah -- they''ll probably license a couple of outfitters to guide through them so, if you can afford the $1000-$2000 per person guide fee, you can go look at it. We just don''t want any common citizens to go there. While I am complaining, I have never yet figured out where some people think our lifestyle comes from. They say we are bad for exploiting natural resources but you only have to live in an un-industrialized country a short time to appreciate what we have here in the USA.

[usclimey]

Can Congress hang onto the bill long enough so that King George can''t veto it, as I''m sure he would?

[canislupus16]

"Another sad day in this Country, as Senate DemoCrooks steal another 2+ million acres of land from the American people!"

- Posted by DaVicar3 at 10:11 AM : Jan 12, 2009

Typical rhetoric talking points from the pro-industrial wing. Seems like the bill, in FACT, saves these lands for PRECISELY the AMERICAN PEOPLE as a whole instead of a handful of greedy, get-rich-quick, slash-and-burn profiteers who don''t give a rat''s a** about America.

[kazoodan]

''The bill''s chief opponent, Sen. Tom Coburn, R-Okla., denounced what he called Democratic bullying tactics.''

Tough!

[antoniof123]

Republicans complained that Democrats did not allow amendments on the massive bill, which calls for the largest expansion of wilderness protection in 25 years.

Democrats assembled more than enough votes to overcome GOP stalling tactics.

Looks like the moderates who are left in the GOP are getting the message want to bet they can''t do the same thing they did over the last 2 years.

You warned neocons about playing nice yet you chose to think that we swing voters were as dumb as those that vote for you over and over again.

Want to bet you try and get the same result in 2 years. Well, of course if the Demcorats do even a little better than the neocon party that supported Bush. Well, you will still lose in 2010.

Have a nice day neocons, moderate or go the way of the whigs.

[usclimey]

Barack Millhouse NObama

Posted by I_H_Libturds

I realize you''re merely an ignorant peasant who I usually choose to ignore - but what''s with the Millhouse? If you''re somehow referring to your anticonstitutionalist (sorry about the long word) hero Richard Milhous Nixon - your spelling the name wrong - if you''re inferring some sort of racial slur, I don''t understand it - and if there''s no reason for it whatsoever, then you''re even dumber than you show you are every time you post your tripe.

[omega40]

"$$Trillion$$ dollar annual spending deficeits as far as the eye can see" is what you libturds messiah is already promising...

Posted by I_H_Libturds


Wait....I thought conservatives rallied around the cry that deficits don''t matter. Didn''t you people come up with all kinds of budget trickery such as comparing them as a percentage of GDP to minimize the significance of their impact? Are we back to real world accounting again? Geez, you need a program to keep up with you people.

[quickly101]

I applaud the Senate sponsors of the bill. I am surprised Tom Coburn came down on the side of oil and coal companies. I thought he was more of a populist. I am very disappointed in him.

[usclimey]

I understand that to be correct and it is NOT a good thing. What we are seeing is Moderate reasonable Republican''''s leaving the Party in DROVES, conceding the party to McConnell and the Fascist. Truly the "Party" is becoming a regional party and that is NOT a good thing at all.

Posted by irmcvet971

I understand the right wing of the republican party is driving out the moderates all over the country. Is this not, however, cutting their own throats in the long run. Elections are won by how the moderate center vote - the more marginilized to the right republicans become, the easier it will be to defeat them by ever increasing margins. Luckily the loony left as represented by dailykoz and moveon is not in charge of the democrats while the rightist jerks, Limpbore, Shammity, O''Wrongly and their acolytes have taken over the republican party. While republicans allow these ignorant blowhards to be their mouthpieces, there will be no answer to eight years of Obama and beyond. We should feel sorry for the disenfranchised moderates, but we should celebrate the descent of the fascist right into irrelevance.