GREENLines, Wednesday, Oct. 21, 1998 from GREEN,
the GrassRoots Environmental Effectiveness Network,
A project of Defenders of Wildlife
(505) 255-5966 or E-mail [log in to unmask]
(c) GREEN/Defenders of Wildlife 1998

HOUSE VOTES ON OMNIBUS SIGHT UNSEEN:  On Tuesday evening the US House
of Representatives voted on the 1998 Omnibus Appropriations bill
without having read 4,000 page bill.  Parts of the bill were still
being distributed to Congressional offices as the vote was being held.
Congress attempted to sneak more than 70 anti-environmental riders into
the appropriations bill.  Pressure by environmental groups forced the
withdrawal many of those.  A number of unacceptable riders remain and
environmentalists are calling on President Clinton to live up to his
promise to veto the bill if it contained anti-environmental riders.
Gene Karpinski, of the US Public Interest Research Group said, "This
bill deserves to be vetoed, not celebrated.  It...will weaken public
health protections and plunder public resources."

IZEMBEK:  The 10/20 Boston Globe cites tenacious opposition of
environmental groups in the defeat of a bill to place a road through
the Alaska's Izembek Wilderness.  In last minute wrangling over the
budget, the Alaskan congressional delegation dropped their demands for
a road through the wilderness in exchange for $17 million to improve
the local airport and the local clinic.  Another $20 million will be
provided to construct a ferry terminal and road through the national
wildlife refuge to the Wilderness boundary.  Environmentalist groups
object to the compromise because the ferry terminal and road still
wildlife at risk.

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