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House shoots down public lands bill with California projects, including San Joaquin River Restoration

Posted by: Aqua Blog Maven on March 11, 2009 at 8:32 pm

From the Fresno Bee:

Democratic leaders suffered an embarrassing defeat Wednesday as the House failed to pass a public lands bill packed with California projects.

Loaded with provisions restoring the San Joaquin River, preserving Sierra Nevada wilderness and storing Madera County groundwater, the 1,248-page bill secured a solid House majority. The 282-144 vote, though, fell just short of the two-thirds margin needed under the special rules in play.

“They were trying to be too cute by half,” said bill opponent Rep Devin Nunes, R-Visalia. “This was a completely ridiculous process.”

The House vote does not permanently kill the public lands bill. Before it returns, though, the House leaders who miscalculated Wednesday will have to reconsider their tactics.

The leadership’s first tactical decision was to fold 172 different provisions into one giant package. This big-tent approach is typical for public lands legislation, because it diversifies political support.

The provisions range from new Pacific Northwest scenic trails and Everglades National Park additions to designating new Sierra Nevada wilderness in honor of former California congressman John Krebs. By Wednesday morning, though, the bill’s size worked against it.

Read more from the Fresno Bee by clicking here.

March 11, 2009 · Filed Under San Joaquin River Restoration

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