Robin's Blog for Dauphin Island

Bill to protect coastal areas fails narrowly in U.S. House vote

Thursday, March 12, 2009
Staff, wire report

WASHINGTON — The U.S. House of Representatives on Wednesday defeated a bill that would have allowed spending up to $60 million annually to protect coastal and estuarine areas through 2013.

A majority of House members supported the bill, but the measure was defeated because it did not receive the needed two-thirds vote. The vote was 282-144 in favor — two votes short of approval. Rep. Jo Bonner, R-Mobile, was among those voting against the bill, which had already passed the Senate.

The measure had the support of Alabama conservationists eager to see more funding for land preservation in fast-developing coastal areas. But Republicans objected that the legislation — which would also expand federal wilderness areas — was too expensive and had not received enough scrutiny.

Democratic leaders vowed to bring the bill back, but did not say when or in what form.