[at-l] More Wilderness Protection

[Frank Looper]

Clyde, please don't make me part of an argument that I'm not gnvolved in.

On 1/11/09, rcli4 at comcast.net <rcli4 at comcast.net> wrote:
> This kinda of Republican bashing is gonna be hard to maintain with a
> democrat pres, and congress.  What will all the folks have to bitch about.
> Try some TRUTH.  George W Bush the idiot and earth raper just protected more
>  earth then any person in the history of the earth.  Contemplate that and
> send all responses off list to Frank Looper.  I am a supporter of truth,
> Frank supports the Bush administration  :>))
>
> Clyde
>
> -------------- Original message --------------
> From: Georgiamountainwoman <gamountainwoman at yahoo.com>
>
>
> WASHINGTON – Congress is considering whether to set aside more than 2
> million acres in nine states as wilderness in an early showdown that
> threatens to derail pledges by Senate leaders to work cooperatively as a new
> administration takes office.
> The largest expansion of wilderness protection in 25 years has bipartisan
> support and would include California's Sierra Nevada mountain range,
> Oregon's Mount Hood, Rocky Mountain National Park in Colorado and parts of
> the Jefferson National Forest in Virginia.
> The bill was scuttled last year after objections from Sen. Tom Coburn,
> R-Okla., who said spending in the bill was excessive — nearly $4 billion
> over five years. Now Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid is seeking a rare
> Sunday vote in an apparent effort to punish Coburn and antagonize his GOP
> colleagues.
> The scheduled Sunday session would try to limit GOP stalling tactics and
> move the bill forward.
> Sen. Jeff Bingaman, D-N.M., chairman of the Senate Energy and Natural
> Resources Committee, said the measure represents years of work by lawmakers
> from many states and both parties. The legislation combines about 160 bills
> covering nearly every state.
> Besides new wilderness designations — the highest level of government
> protection for public lands — 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 a statement, Coburn said the "earmark-laden" measure "makes a mockery of
> voters' hopes for change."
> For example, Coburn said, the bill includes $3 million for a "road to
> nowhere" through the Izembek National Wildlife Refuge in Alaska; $460
> million for a water project designed to save 500 salmon in California; and
> $3.5 million to help celebrate the 450th birthday of St. Augustine, Fla., in
> 2015.
> Environmental groups also oppose the Alaska road. The rest of the bill, they
> say, would be a huge accomplishment for Congress.