House Natural Resources Committee has hearing on the ultimate Wilderness bill for the Northern Rockies-
While collaborationism puts the local political power structure first in determining the use of America’s public lands, NREPA does the opposite. It puts the national interest first. This Congress is the first real chance that it could pass.
Bill Schneider reports in New West on the recent House hearing. “WILDEST BILL ON THE HILL ADVANCES. House Holds Hearing on Northern Rockies Ecosystem Protection Act.
With lots of support, but none from local delegations, NREPA backers remain optimistic. Will it make it out of committee this time?”
Ralph Maughan
Dr. Ralph Maughan is professor emeritus of political science at Idaho State University. He has been a Western Watersheds Project Board Member off and on for many years, and also its President. For many years he produced Ralph Maughan's Wolf Report. He was a founder of the Greater Yellowstone Coalition. He and Jackie Johnson Maughan wrote three editions of "Hiking Idaho." He also wrote "Beyond the Tetons" and "Backpacking Wyoming's Teton and Washakie Wilderness." He created and is the administrator of The Wildlife News.
Through all the years, all the issues, and all the “collaboration,” endless pressure endlessly applied has been the common thread in every victory. Everything has a tactical context; but, the tactics are just details. It almost doesn’t matter if it makes it “out of committee this time” because our actions should remain the same either way. Don’t get distracted by side talk; don’t go chasing bones that they always throw into the weeds; just keep applying endless pressure, endlessly.