Senate closer to passing wilderness-lands package

WASHINGTON — In a rare Sunday session, the U.S. Senate moved closer to passing a massive lands package that designates new wilderness areas throughout the West. Majority Democrats assembled more than enough votes to overcome GOP stalling tactics in an early showdown for the new Congress.

The Sunday vote was a swipe at Sen. Tom Coburn, R-Okla., who objected to what he described as questionable priorities and wasteful earmark spending in the lands package. By holding the vote Sunday — a procedural deadline — Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nevada, moved the legislation faster and made it less vulnerable to maneuvers that could derail it.

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.

The legislation pulls together 150 public lands, parks and water bills in one package. It authorizes water projects on Indian reservations, declares some rivers as wild and scenic and designates 2 million acres of wilderness in nine states.

Republicans complained that Democrats did not allow amendments on the massive bill, but Democrats said the bill — a holdover from last year — was carefully written and included measures sponsored by both Republicans and Democrats.

"Today is a great day for America's public lands," said the bill's sponsor, Sen. Jeff Bingaman, D-N.M. "This big, bipartisan package of bills represents years of work by senators from many states, and both parties, in cooperation with local communities, to enhance places that make America so special."

Reid said about half the bills in the lands package were sponsored by Republicans. Most had been considered for more than a year.

Coburn and several other Republicans complained that bill was loaded with pet projects and prevented development of oil and gas on federal lands, which they said would deepen the nation's dependence on foreign oil.