Nut Ball Wilds Bill in Congress
This new attack on wilderness quality lands across America would be laughable were it not for the fact it's introduced by a member of the leadership, Rep. Kevin McCarthy (R-CA). Don't laugh. Fight.
Introduced back in April, but recently featured in a US House hearing in DC, the Wilderness and Roadless Release Act is one of the most extraordinary attacks on public lands I've ever seen in Congress. It's completely over the top—so much so I'd be inclined to laugh it off.
The trouble is it was introduced by Rep. Kevin McCarthy, a member of what is supposed to pass for 'leadership' these days in the US House of Representatives.
The bill—if passed—would remove legislative protections from millions of BLM Wilderness Study Areas. It would remove protections for millions of acres of US Forest Service roadless lands. It would preclude future administrations from ever protecting wilderness characteristics on millions of acres of wilderness-caliber lands.
As the Idaho Statesman points out, this is a land grab and would impact 43 million acres of America's public land. Rep. Raul Labrador has endorsed it; Rep. Mike Simpson has not. Let's hope Simpson continues to distance himself from this despite the certain pressure coming from his less thoughtful colleagues in leadership.
