Simply showing that they are yet again attempting to thwart and ignore the will of the people, as they have been mostly doing since Obama took office, Dems are going to push whatever they can
Democratic efforts to push through more than 100 public lands and water bills in the lame duck session are reaching a fever pitch, with the recognition this is the last chance many of them have to become law.
Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) has tasked Democratic leaders on at least three committees to come up with a list of bills that could get past a GOP filibuster.
To what point? Most likely to sneak through legislation that couldn’t, and wouldn’t, stand on its own.
Boxer, most of the Democrats on her panel, Energy and Natural Resources Chairman Jeff Bingaman (D-N.M.) and Sen. Carl Levin (D-Mich.) were among those who gathered with Reid off the Senate floor during a vote last Monday to talk options. More formal meetings were also held Tuesday.
Several Senate Republicans are cosponsors of individual bills that could be included but the GOP appears likely to object to the package as a whole.
Are they all bad? Probably not. Some are probably benign. Not all though
Sen. Jim Inhofe (R-Okla.), ranking member of the Environment and Public Worls Committee has threatened to block swift approval of a land and water omnibus bill if it includes, for example, the version of the Chesapeake Bay protection bill that passed the panel by voice vote with the understanding that work on it would continue.
That bill “still needs significant changes, principally with respect to restricting the broad, and unprecedented, scope of authority it grants EPA over state permitting programs,†Inhofe said last week. Inhofe said he wants to keep talking with the bill’s chief sponsor, Sen. Ben Cardin (D-Md.).
What they are speaking of is the Public Lands Omnibus Bill, which would be a massive land grab by the federal government, which could cover some two million acres of land. Ranchers and farmers are dead set against this bill, as it would restrict grazing land and water rights. It would restrict and end logging in some areas, as well as mineral research (ie, a search for more coal and oil). While many portions have good intentions, like protecting areas with declining eagle populations, and simply setting aside some pristine areas for use as national parks.
It could also include removing the word “navigable” from the clean waters act, which would give Los Federales control over all waters in the USA, including that pretty stream running behind your house. Or, that puddle during that rain storm. Farm ponds. That pond you fish at. You name the water and its use, the EPA would have control.
Crossed at Right Wing News and Stop The ACLU. sit back and Relax. we’ll dRive!
Donkeys have a history of making grave mistakes when rushing ahead in a “fever pitch.” We should watch this very closely, keeping an eye out for legal and ethical missteps. At this point, even I trust McConnell’s incredible shrinking caucus to block passage of actual bills.
http://libertyatstake.blogspot.com
“Because the Only Good Progressive is a Failed Progressive”
No more national parks, or grasslands, or prairies, or whatever.., till we get our energy sources built up and secured!!!!
we need these states to take back their lands that the feds stole from them!!
I have never understood how the Feds can just declare a certain state’s lands will now be removed from state control and tax tables? How can they just declare one day, ok these aren’t your lands any more.
Is that Constitutional?
Open up our lands to development and state control.