On Tuesday at 4:38 PM, I sent this message out via Facebook and Twitter:
this spending bill is growing so massive and controversial- that Tester’s wilderness bill may go down with the ship…
Last night, that is exactly what happened. Senator Jon Tester’s (D-MT) wilderness bill, more than 6,000 earmarks, and over a trillion dollars in spending- pulled from the floor of the US Senate.
The AP has the story:
Republican leader Mitch McConnell of Kentucky had thrown his weight against the bill in recent days, saying it was “unbelievable” that Democrats would try to muscle through in the days before Christmas legislation that usually takes months to debate.
“Just a few weeks after the voters told us they don’t want us rushing major pieces of complicated, costly, far-reaching legislation through Congress, we get this,” McConnell said. “This is no way to legislate.”
Of course, Senator Tester could still attach the bill to another piece of legislation at the last minute during this lame duck session. And he will likely continue to press the bill during the next session, despite the broad, overwhelming coalition opposing it. If you want more of my thoughts on this issue, read the post: Wilderness Bill Holding Loggers Hostage