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Senate panel backs conservation bill WASHINGTON (AP) – A Senate panel approved a landmark conservation bill Tuesday that supporters say will provide a reliable $3 billion a year for buying land, restoring coastlines and protecting wildlife.
Western Republicans and other critics vowed to continue fighting the bill, which they termed a federal land grab and “pile of pork.” The Energy and Resources Committee approved the bill 13-7 with four Republicans joining all nine Democrats. The vote came after 11 hours of debate over five days. Sen. Conrad Burns, R-Mont. voted against the bill. The White House supports the bill, and the House overwhelmingly approved a similar measure in May. Unlike the House version, the Senate bill would require Congress to vote on each purchase. Brian Schweitzer, Burns’ opponent for Montana’s Senate seat, said, “Burns’ vote against CARA proves he is out of step with ordinary Montanans. “We are talking about money to build soccer fields and bike paths. To vote against that is like being against apple pie and motherhood. Senator Burns is not representing a majority of Montanans when he votes against this bill,” Schweitzer said. Gov. Marc Racicot supports CARA and successfully encouraged the Republican Governors Association to endorse the bill. The bill would create a $3 billion-a-year fund for 15 years to pay for an array of conservation activities, from restoring beaches to creating urban parks and paying for federal and state land purchases. The money would come from oil and gas leases, primarily in the Gulf of Mexico and off Alaska. The bill would provide $450 million a year for federal land purchases and another $450 million for states to buy property. The remaining money would be spent on conservation programs, but only if Congress spends at least $450 million for federal purchases. Despite inducements such as doubling the payments to local governments that replace taxes for federal land, Western Republicans criticized the government for mismanaging land it already owns, based on maintenance backlogs at parks and disputes over how forests and rangeland are used. The bill is HR701. Copyright 2000 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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