Senate boosts wilderness protection across US (rare Sunday session)

Associated Press ^ | 01/11/09 | MATTHEW DALY

[shielagolden]

WASHINGTON – 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.

On the Net:

Information on the bill, S. 22, can be found at http://thomas.loc.gov

[shielagolden]

Goodbuy BILLS OF rights

[Carry_Okie]

Our creditors have spoken.

Our ability to service the debt has been denied.

We sink deeper into prison.

[FlingWingFlyer]

You'd never know that the world was going to end Friday without bailing something or somebody out. When did the buffoons come up with the time for this BS? We REALLY need more "wilderness."

Congratulations America! This Titanic is also the ship of fools! Let's continue putting these morons in charge of OUR government so they can run our lives for us and tell us how to live!

[bboop]

I just BET it is bi-partisan.

[gondramB]

>>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.<<

That sounds like it not just the Democrats...

[CindyDawg]

Yall just go home. PLEASE!

[DustyMoment]

And, thus, the war against freedom and liberty intensifies.

For those of you keeping track, the American people are losing.

Enjoy your little slice of the gulag, comrades.

[Cheerio]

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

Going to be seeing this news a whole lot over the next TWO years. Hopefully by 2010, Americans will have woke up, BUT I do not have high hopes. Every school day the heads full of mush are being filled by liberal scholars all across this country. I was speaking to my 14 year old grandson over the weekend (whom I am proud to say is a dyed in the wool conservative) say practically his entire class call him stupid, the earth is burning up, Buba Klintoon was the most marvelous President of that last Century, we need more zer0bama spending to get us out of this financial crisis, etc., you get the picture. So far he stands tall and doesn't let it bother him. This at age 14!! Makes me very proud, but there are so few of them. He claims he is the only one in his class with conservative views. I truly feel sorry for him, because I know the numbers are largely against him during his lifetime. Welcome to the age of ginormous government, loss of liberties, and more soclialism.

[xcamel]

Today is a really bad day for private property rights..

[SumProVita]

Does this have anything to do with oil?

[SteamShovel]

prevented development of oil and gas on federal lands, which they said would deepen the nation's dependence on foreign oil

So if I earn more of my own money, I will more dependent on Welfare? (or so their logic goes)

What "Twisted Logic" RATS have.....

[shielagolden]

What FREEDOMS

[SteamShovel]

Does this have anything to do with oil?

It's probably all about preventing us from using our own oil. See my post 12.

[B Knotts]

The war on the west continues.

[muawiyah]

Creating more "wilderness" areas is simply going to clog the court with "handicap accessibility" lawsuits.

In a time of financial crisis, it's not at all reasonable to start depriving handicapped people of their right to visit and use public lands just like everybody else.

[redk]

Putin and Co. love this bill.

[Rebelbase]

“Our creditors have spoken.”

DING! DING! DING! We have a winner!

Message: You’d better freeze that land from resource extraction or else we’ll call our notes due NOW.

[Leo Carpathian]

DC should be declared wilderness, cordoned off and sealed from the rest of the normal country. Enclose it in glass and collect admission fee to look at magnificent collection of maroons!

[austinaero]

I guess the Senate must be bored without any real legislation to spend their time on. Poor things.