Senate Votes 'Yes' on Public Lands Protection Package

[muriel_volestrangler]

Source: Environment News Service

The U.S. Senate today passed the Omnibus Public Lands Management Act with a bipartisan vote of 73-21, ending a year-long standoff between the Democratic majority and a small group of lawmakers who blocked the conservation measures.

The package of more than 160 bills now moves to the House of Representatives, which is expected to consider it in the coming weeks.

If enacted, the legislation will provide the largest expansion of the National Wilderness Preservation System in 15 years, designating 2.1 million acres of wilderness in nine states - California, Colorado, Idaho, New Mexico, Michigan, Oregon, Utah, Virginia, and West Virginia.

The bill would safeguard over 270,000 acres along over 1,000 miles of rivers in Oregon, California, Idaho, Arizona, Wyoming, and Massachusetts and add 2,800 miles of new trails to the federal system.

Read more: http://www.ens-newswire.com/ens/jan2009/2009-01-15-094.asp

[Bette Noir]

1. Good.

What about the lands Bush wanted to lease for drilling/mining in sight of Arches and the Grand Canyon?

[Javaman]

2. thank you. :) nt

[pleah]

3. K&R Good. n/t

[blondeatlast]

4. Thank you, Senators, for putting the country ahead of politics. Kyl and McCain--nay of course;

my worthless scumsucking Senators.

[dmallind]

5. Yep - this isn't change at all. NT

[Laf.La.Dem.]

6. David Vitter - GOP - Louisiana

I am sure, but I did not check, that my beloved senator - David Vitter - Republican - Louisiana - voted NO. He was the only senator to vote against Hillary Clinton.

This is for you David -
:puke:

[blondeatlast]

7. Link to roll call; not a surprise in the "nay" bunch:

http://www.opencongress.org/roll_call/show/5138

[Laf.La.Dem.]

8. Thank you - not shocked

I just love that guy - too bad they did not offer him diapers and/or a "lady of the evening".

[thereismore]

9. Hey, this could be Shrub's greatest achievement in office. But I guess Obama will have to sign it

now. Sigh.

[Spazito]

10. Excellent!

REAL change has already begun, imo, and will continue AFTER PE Obama is sworn-in.

Recommended.

[janx]

11. kick!

[bertman]

12. Rec. Thanks for the post, muriel. And thanks to blondeatlast for the vote link.

Our predictable, fascist Republican Senator Burr voted "nay". We'll be gearing up to replace him with a Democrat in 2010.

That's TWO big ones for our President-elect and he hasn't even taken the oath of office yet.

Let's keep that ball rolling.

[Dumak]

13. Every one of the 21 freaks who voted against it

are Republicans - looking forward to a flat, lifeless world.