Mount Hood wilderness bill stalls; Oregon senators fume
Surprise objection - Republican Sen. Tom Coburn blocks the expansion

Friday, February 29, 2008
CHARLES POPE
The Oregonian

WASHINGTON -- In a surprise move, Oregon Sens. Ron Wyden and Gordon Smith tried Thursday night to slide through the Senate a popular but tortured bill that would expand wilderness areas surrounding Mount Hood.

It didn't work.

Sen. Tom Coburn, an Oklahoma Republican who has been Wyden and Smith's nemesis for eight months, objected to their request that the wilderness proposal be approved unanimously.

With that roadblock, Wyden and Smith backed down. They did not offer the bill for a vote that would have been doomed.

Coburn has been able to box in Wyden and Smith because the only way the Mount Hood wilderness bill can pass is by unanimous vote. A single objection blocks the bill.

Allowing the bill to be debated and passed by majority vote is not an option, Wyden said, because that would require hours or possibly days of debate at a time when more pressing national concerns, such as mortgage relief, the farm bill and others are waiting for action.

Wyden pointed out that Coburn's objection also violated Senate tradition. Historically, when both senators from a state support a measure for their home state it breezes through with a voice vote.

The 15-minute exercise did nothing to minimize the frustration.

"I don't expect the citizens of Oregon to understand the arcane rules of the Senate," Smith said.

The expansion, Wyden said, has support in "every corner of Oregon that this protection is essential."

Both Wyden and Smith called Mount Hood a state "icon" that warrants maximum protection available under law.

Both did little to conceal their disdain for Coburn, a maverick conservative who has a reputation for standing in the way of bills that otherwise would sail through the chamber.

"Our constituents just don't understand how a piece of legislation that has all this consensus . . . cannot pass the Senate tonight," a visibly angry Wyden said. "The people of our state want this icon protected and not held hostage."

Wyden added that he has asked Coburn to detail his objections but he has yet to get the information. Smith pointed out that all Republicans on the Senate committee that handled the bill voted for it. He also said the Bush administration supports expanding the wilderness protections around Mount Hood.

The bill, named the "Lewis and Clark Mount Hood Wilderness Act of 2007" increases existing wilderness protections by almost 125,000 acres and grants wild and scenic river protections to an additional 80 miles of Oregon rivers.

It also would create more than 34,000 acres of a Mount Hood National Recreation Area with improved access for mountain biking and other recreation opportunities.

Wyden said he has been working on the issue for at least five years to address all complaints and issues.

"It's taken years longer to pass this legislation through the Senate than it took Lewis and Clark to cross the country," he said. That famous expedition reached the Pacific Ocean in two years.

Wyden said he isn't sure how much longer it will take to win approval. He and Smith have made yet another overture to Coburn to discuss the matter.

Said Wyden: "I'm trying to be conciliatory, but it is mighty, mighty frustrating."

Reach Charles Pope at charles.pope@newhouse.com.

©2008 The Oregonian