Failure to pass in this Congress might improve the two Idaho "wilderness bills'

Both CIEDRA and the Owyhee Initiative are probably stuck and will die in this Congress due to the failure of the current “lame duck” session to take them up in the short period of time available.

Both bills have been very controversial with many conservation groups calling them “too weak” and with too many “giveaways.” On top of that Senator Larry Craig, who I predicted would try to kill them, insists no passage until the ranchers and counties get their money promised in the bills first. Because there is no hope for such an appropriation in a lame duck session, that would seem to kill them unless he can be out maneuvered.