Pacific Northwest Four Wheel Drive Association

Arlene Brooks · Posted: Sat Nov 15, 2008 8:03 am Post subject: Omnibus Land Act of 2008 -

Here's a side note with regards to the posting of the (ALERT) Ominbus Land Act 2008 on the front page of the website.

This management act is also known as Senate Bill 3213 - it is up for consideration as early as (Monday) November 17th. Senate Majority Harry Reed (D-Nevada) has annnounced he plans on calling the Senate back in to vote on this piece of legislation - among other issues at hand.

The "package" has a combination of 160 plus separate bills tacked on to it - a multitude of "pork barrel spending" projects; not only does this bill withdraw millions of acres of public land from energy development; adds additional restrictions to federally managed lands; it will also add approximately two million acres for consideration for wilderness designation - limiting and restricting access for major recreation.

Those opposing this legislation is massive and are from varied groups; American Motorcycle Association (AMA); American Land Rights; Blue Ribbon Coalition; Multiple Use Coalitions; NW Mining Association; to the Washington State Farm Bureau - to name a few.

You can click on to the email address - "Save The Trails" organization or you can personally contact your State Senators using their email form. It is recommended to phone, fax or email our representatives now - due to the screening procedures the "snail mail" has to go through.

Senator Patty Murray <http://murray.senate.gov> (Toll free) 886-481-9186 - FAX 202-224-0238

Senator Marie Cantwell <http://cantwell.senate.gov> 202-224-3441 - FAX 220-2280514.

Arlene Brooks, WA. State Director

Arlene Brooks · Last edited by Arlene Brooks on Mon Nov 17, 2008 4:30 pm; edited 1 time in total

The word is - " S.3213 piece of legislation (Omnibus Public Land Management Act - 2008) is likely dead for this session." It seems Congress has a full plate addressing issues with the economy and the automobile industry - plus, Senator Tom Coburn (R - Oklahoma) threatened filibustering if the bill comes before the Senate for a vote - he called it "excessive spending."

Congress will be adjourning soon for the holidays - I'm pretty sure next session the bill will be back again.

Arlene Brooks, WA. State Director

jim putman · Posted: Mon Nov 17, 2008 12:17 pm Post subject:

well thats good news in a odd sort of way :wink: At least their busy trying to fix some real problems. Just gotta watch those tricky under the wire moves.

Arlene Brooks · Posted: Tue Nov 18, 2008 5:34 pm Post subject: Omnibus Land Act of 2008 - Update

We just received information from Speciality Equipment Market Association (SEMA- Washington D.C. Office) - according to Senator Majority Harry Reid (D-Nev) the Omnibus Land Management Act -2008 (S.3213) will not come up during this week's session, citing a lack of time to defeat one Senator's (Sen. Tom Coburn (R-Okla.) delaying tactics.

According to policy - if the bill was brought up there would be a requiremnet to read the bill - which would take more than 24 hours. Legislation will re-introduced in January and considered under "Rule 14" - it will be immediately placed on the Senate calendar and can be brought to the floor at anytime without the need to go through the committee process.

Stay tuned - Arlene Brooks, WA. State Director