OK, hunters are the winners too, as is anyone who wanders on BLM land.
Two of the big time major league assholes in the house, Richard Pombo
and Jim Gibbons, cooked up this sleazy land grab. However, the
Democrats beat it back, so your ability to roam the desert is still
intact. Had the measure passed, mining interests would steal what is
now BLM managed range.

How anyone in Nevada can vote for that corrupt bastard GIbbons is
beyond me. He used to be a lawyer representing mining interests, and
this bill was intended to help get money for his quest to be governor
of Nevada. Even Kenny Guinn can't stand Gibbons.

Pombo is just plain corrupt, but hasn't violated the law enough to be
thrown in jail yet. He has had numerous campaign violations and
violations regarding franking. Anyway, here is the article.
-----------------------------------------------------------
http://releases.usnewswire.com/GetRelease.asp?id=58107

To: National Desk

Contact: Tony Iallonardo of the National Environmental Trust,
202-271-8602

WASHINGTON, Dec. 13 /U.S. Newswire/ -- Following is a statement of
Velma Smith, mining campaign director, National Environmental Trust:

"America's treasured public lands got an early holiday present today
when Congressman Gibbons announced that he would retract his land
giveaway plan from the House's budget bill.

"Much-needed reform to the nation's 1872 mining law should occur in
full public view. The stakes are simply too high to propose sweeping
sales of national treasures behind closed doors and with no debate. The
outpouring of support on both sides of the aisle and among diverse
interests showed the public's high regard for its national parks,
national forests and other public lands."

MORE INFORMATION:

This afternoon, Rep. Jim Gibbons announced he was withdrawing his bid
to overhaul the nation's mining law as part of the House's budget
reconciliation bill. His statement can be seen on the Internet at
http://wwwc.house.gov/gibbons/display- pr.asp?id=1800 .

Republican and Democratic lawmakers, and a broad coalition of interests
had announced opposition to mining title in the House bill, saying it
amounted to a fire sale of millions of acres of public lands.

For more information, visit http://www.net.org .

http://www.usnewswire.com/