Update:

On October 1, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) announced his intentions to bring the Omnibus Public Lands Package up for a vote in the Senate during a post-election session on or around November 17. 

Senate Energy and Natural Resources Chairman Jeff Bingaman (D-NM) said of the public lands package, "It is very important getting it done, and obviously getting it done this year is much to be desired.  There is a lot of very good legislation in there that matters to a lot of members, both Democrats and Republicans. It does not cost the federal budget any money but it puts in place a lot of important legislative proposals."

However, Senator Coburn has continued to use procedural tactics to block the legislation because he believes that protecting our public lands from development will cost the government money.  He has vowed to continue to fight this legislation.

Senator Bingaman has said he has the votes needed to override Coburn’s opposition. Currently, there is no word on whether the House of Representatives plans to hold a post-election session to take up this or any other outstanding legislation. 

To read the Roll Call article on the omnibus lands bill go to:http://www.rollcall.com/issues/54_44/news/29049-1.html

Contact:

Paul Spitler, The Wilderness Society, paul_spitler@tws.org