Last December, Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar signed Order 3310, and started what is sure to become one of the most contentious land debates for a long time to come.
Order 3310 would inventory lands currently under the Bureau of Land Management for “wilderness characteristics,” or lands that provide things like ecological, cultural and economic benefits. If the BLM finds the land is worth protecting, it would be designated as “Wild Lands.”
As with land that is protected now, there would be no development by oil and gas companies on the newly protected lands or access by off-road vehicles. 3310 also means that all future oil and gas production is now on hold in areas that will be surveyed, until a final decision is reached.
Naturally, oil and gas companies are up in arms about the issue, while outdoor recreational enthusiasts and environmentalists couldn’t be happier.
While both sides claim to have strong economic impacts, and very different views on how much acreage oil and gas companies need and use, what can’t be argued is the Republican’s need to run to the rescue of oil and gas ever time they cry afoul.
Every single lawmaker’s signature from the Jan. 28 letter drafted by Rep. Rob Bishop (R-Utah), which asked Salazar to rescind the order, was a Republican one, totaling 57 in all.
According to OpenSecrets.org, a nonprofit, nonpartisan watchdog group, Republicans far outweigh the Democrats in terms of campaign contributions. In fact, the contribution gap in Congress has been growing steadily each year since 1994, hitting its peak last year, with an average Republican contribution of about $32,000. That is compared to an $13,000 contribution average on the other side of the isle.
In the Senate, the gap remained relatively stable until 2008, when it jumped from under $56,000 to close to $140,000 per Republican senator contribution. This compares with a measly $30,000 per Democrat.
In the Senate, the gap remained relatively stable until 2008, when it jumped from under $56,000 to close to $140,000 per Republican senator contribution. This compares with a measly $30,000 per Democrat.
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