The Senate cleared a procedural hurdle Sunday toward passing an omnibus bill that would designate large tracts of new wilderness nationwide. In a rare Sunday session, senators voted 66-12 to invoke cloture on a motion to proceed to the bill (S 22), seven more than the 59 votes needed. The next step will be another procedural vote on Wednesday, followed by a vote on passage to be held Thursday or Friday. Sponsors have been trying to pass similar legislation for the past several months. The major obstacle to passage has been Tom Coburn, R-Okla., who used procedural tactics to block or delay votes. The package combines more than 160 public lands bills introduced in the 110th Congress, and is sponsored by Energy and Natural Resources Chairman Jeff Bingaman, D-N.M.

Coburn said the bill would authorize wasteful spending and block energy production on some federal lands. He also objected to what he said was a larger trend for Democrats to block the minority from offering any amendments.  “What is a priority for us here in terms of political benefit at home is going to trump doing what’s in the best interest, the long-term interest of the country,” Coburn said. Bingaman said many of the underlying bills were the result of a “lengthy public process” that allowed local jurisdictions to reach consensus on land use. “Many of the bills in this package resolve major land and water policy issues that have been contested for years, and in some cases for decades,” he said. “The combination of these 160 bills reflects possibly the most significant conservation legislation passed by the Senate in the past decade.” Following Sunday’s vote, Coburn said he will continue to throw up procedural hurdles every step of the way. “You bet,” he said. “Why would we speed it up? If this is a really important piece of legislation, then we ought to take time to talk about it, and we ought to look at what could have been amendments that weren’t allowed.” He added that he planned to go to the floor to talk about amendments that he would like — but is not being allowed to — offer. Coburn said he was not discouraged that his GOP colleagues didn’t stand with him in opposition. “Most of the ones that would have voted against it were not here – they didn’t come back,” he said. Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., was not present for the vote. Spokesman Don Stewart said he did not support proceeding to the bill. “Sen. McConnell is disappointed this parks bill restricts development of energy resources at a time when we should be doing much more to become energy independent,” he said. The bill would designate more than 2 million acres of new wilderness areas, in addition to scenic rivers, historic sites and expansions of national parks. It would authorize new water projects and allow three water settlements in Western states. John Barrasso, R-Wyo., is backing a provision that would withdraw about 1.2 million acres in his state from oil and gas development. He said this action will be a legacy for the late Sen. Craig Thomas, who occupied Barrasso’s seat until he died in 2007. “There are certain places that are so special and so pristine that they need to be protected for future generations,” Barrasso said. “To call this legislation bipartisan is an understatement,” added Michael D. Crapo, R-Idaho. “Every bill in the package has gone through regular order.” The bill would also codify a National Landscape Conservation System that President Bill Clinton established by executive order. The goal is to improve management of federal land that is already protected. A number of Republicans say this will lead to new restrictions on land use, though supporters say this is not their intent. Several environmental groups oppose a section that would allow a new road through the Izembek National Wildlife Refuge in Alaska, providing   airport access to the remote village of King Cove. The road has been a priority for the Alaska delegation and Republican Gov. Sarah Palin. In a letter to Senate leadership on Friday, however, environmentalists urged support for an amendment Coburn offered to remove this part of the bill. “The proposed road is not needed,” the groups wrote, arguing that the airport is already accessible by hovercraft. Some of the bill’s largest new wilderness protections include: • 517,000 acres of wilderness in Idaho’s Owyhee-Bruneau Canyonlands. • About 256,000 acres of wilderness in Washington County, Utah, including in Zion National Park. • Almost 250,0000 wilderness acres in Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado. • 128,000 acres of wilderness around Mt. Hood in Oregon.

Kathleen Hunter contributed to this story.
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