Incredibly good news.
I haven’t seen this posted. When I first read the headline in the Washington Post my heart sank because I figured the legislation was another rape and pillage of our national treasure.
No, just the opposite!
The bipartisan measure would create more than 1.3 million acres of wilderness out West, add three national park units and expand eight others.
And it passed 92 to 8!
House Natural Resources Committee Chairman Raúl M Grijalva (D-Ariz.) hailed it as “an old-school green deal,” saying he and the top Republican on his panel, Rep. Rob Bishop (Utah) "are happy to work together to get this across the finish line.”
Another good feature is a permanent withdrawal of mining claims around North Cascades and Yellowstone. I did not see any mention of mining claims around the Grand Canyon which may continue to be problematic.
As you might expect, Lee (Rethug, UT) was opposed.
The House is expected to take up the measure and pass it. And here’s another you-gotta-be-kidding-me: White House officials have indicated privately that the president will sign it.
Did WaPo somehow pick-up an article from the Onion?
www.washingtonpost.com/...