Senate deal could lead to smooth sailing for omnibus public lands bill

The Senate is likely to pass the public lands, water and natural resources omnibus bill this week after Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) reached an agreement with Sen. Tom Coburn (R-Okla.) to allow votes on six amendments. Reid told reporters today that the agreement could mean the Senate could have the entire omnibus wrapped up as soon as tomorrow, joking that the vote was long overdue. "We're getting used to working on it, we've done it for so long," he quipped. The deal will allow for 60 minutes of debate on each of Coburn's amendments and require 60 votes for final passage. The Senate first passed the omnibus bill in January, 74-21, and a cloture vote yesterday was approved, 73-21. Two of Coburn's amendments would strike all provisions that could restrict renewable energy development on public lands and sections that Coburn deems frivolous, such as the $3.5 million to celebrate the 450th Anniversary of St. Augustine, Fla., in 2015. Noting the National Park Service's $9 billion maintenance backlog, one amendment would bar new construction until all current park sites are certified as fully operational, ensuring full access by the public, and posing no health or safety threat. Other amendments would require an annual report detailing the total size and cost of federal property, prohibit the use of eminent domain for any provision authorized in the bill, and clarify the bill to protect park visitors and scientists from criminal penalties for taking stones that may contain fossils...NY Times