Beware of Omnibus Land Grab Bill

Senator Jeff Bingaman (D-NM) has re-introduced the gigantic omnibus land grab bill from last year.  It’s now S. 22  in the 111th Congress.  It’s a terrible bill with dozens of awful titles, but the worst is the one that’s relevant to energy and global warming policies.  A provision in Title III would withdraw 1.2 million acres of the Bridger-Teton National Forest in Wyoming from oil and gas production.  This is an area with high gas potential.  Natural gas is in tight supply, production continues to decline in many fields, and it’s the only alternative to coal that produces much electricity.  So naturally the first item of business for Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) in the 111th Congress is to pass a bill that will constrict gas production.  Curiously, one of Wyoming’s Senators, John Barrasso (R-Wyo.), was supportive of the bill in the last Congress.