Republican Tactics Prevent Hearings On Expedited Thinning Of Beetle-Killed Forests In Colorado

[hatrack]

U.S. Sen. Mark Udall, D-Colo., said Wednesday that Republican use of an arcane Senate rule to block a hearing on his bark beetle bill jeopardizes the chances of providing timely help for communities threatened by the insect’s outbreak.

For two days in a row, Senate Republicans prevented the hearing by invoking a rule to stop hearings from occurring more than two hours after the start of the Senate’s daily session. They acted out of protest against the recent passage of health care legislation into law. The Republicans also used the rule to block other hearings, including a Senate Armed Services Committee budget hearing.

“This is irresponsible. This isn’t a game. Republicans are preventing the Senate from taking action on national security and public safety,” Udall said in a media teleconference. Udall’s bill would take steps including expediting thinning of beetle-killed forests near communities to better protect them from wildfires. He said the measure needs to be passed soon if the U.S. Forest Service and logging contractors are going to be able to make plans based on it to act before the summer wildfire season.

State Sen. Dan Gibbs, D-Silverthorne, took time off from the state legislative session this week and spent $600 of his own money to travel to Washington with the intent of testifying on the bill, Udall said. Udall said committee schedules tend to be full, which could make it hard to reschedule the beetle bill hearing soon. Udall’s bill is cosponsored by Republican Sen. James Risch of Idaho, who voted against the health care legislation. Risch spokesman Brad Hoaglun said any effects of the bill’s delay on work this summer remain to be seen.

EDIT

http://www.gjsentinel.com/news/articles/udall_beetle_bill_delay_jeopar

[Ian David]

1. Complaining about THAT one won't win-over Conservatives to our side.

Complaining about how they're blocking National Security hearings might should.