Senate passes Omnibus Public Land Management Act of 2008

[Terri]

By MATTHEW DALY
Associated Press
January 12, 2009

WASHINGTON (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.

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[Terri]

Senate thwarts Coburn filibuster of lands bill

The Hill

The Senate voted during a rare Sunday session to move forward on a package that has become known as the “Coburn omnibus” because it is designed to thwart a filibuster by Sen. Tom Coburn (R-Okla.).

The most recent version of the Coburn omnibus is a 1,000-plus page package that consists of more than 160 different provisions governing various land-use issues.

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) tried to move many of the provisions through the Senate last year but action was held up by Coburn’s use of dilatory procedural tactics.

[Terri]

An opinion....

A Mitch-erable Failure

Erick Erickson
RedState

On Thursday night and Friday morning, I made the case that Mitch McConnell is a cancer on the Senate Republican caucus.

By Friday afternoon, I was called and informed that McConnell had decided, in fact, to take a lead and try to get Republicans to all protest Reid’s Sunday vote by not showing up.

Sunday came and, in fact, a majority of the GOP not only did show up, but voted for the lands bill. On 12 GOP Senators voted against the bill. Leading the GOP support for the legislation was Senator Bennett of Utah. Anyone who pays attention to Senate dynamics knows that Bennett and McConnell are joined at the hip.

[cgretired]

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.

The dope from Hope gets his home designated as a national historic site? Wow. I wonder if they will have various types of knee-pads on display?

Don't they have anything better to do with their time?

[utexas]

I am SO DISGUSTED with what are called “Republicans” in the Senate, I direly wish there was a viable alternative to the GOP, so I could leave this lame moderates, RINO’s, and Dimocrap-Lites behind forever. What is the difference between a Dim and a Repub in the Senate? Apparently nothing.

[candles]

This makes me want to What are they setting the land aside for? Do they want oil prices to go up even higher?

[Charie]

Guess it's time to get the grassroots riled up again. How much more of this kind of hooey can we be expected to take from the Gutless Old Party?

I received a letter from the RNC and one from the RPW today asking for money. They're going to get a letter instead.