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March
25, 2009
Democrats Use Heavy-Handed Tactics to Pass Massive Lands Bill
WASHINGTON, D.C.
–
House Natural Resources
Committee Ranking Member Doc Hastings (WA-04) released the
following statement today following passage of
the Omnibus Public Lands Management Act:
“After using every legislative trick in their procedural
playbook, Democrat leaders finally managed today to pass a $10
billion, 1200-page bill without fair and open Congressional
review. The appalling lack of transparency in this process is
even more troubling because this bill increases unchecked
federal spending, denies disabled individuals’ true access to
wilderness areas, weakens our border security, and prohibits
American-made energy production and new jobs on federal lands.
Democrat Leaders also failed to use this legislation to
restore Americans’ Second Amendment rights on federal park
lands that were struck down last week by a federal judge.
House members proposed bipartisan amendments to address each
of these issues – but Democrats blocked their consideration.
The passage of this bill is another disappointing display of
heavy-handed Democrat tactics that rely on secret, backroom
bill writings that are then jammed through without any
opportunity for alternatives or improvement.” |
