In the News

The Press-Enterprise
By Jennifer Bowles
June 9, 2008

Wilderness Getting Closer to the IE

UPDATE: The House passed the bill this afternoon

A bill by Rep. Mary Bono Mack, R-Palm Springs, that would create some 190,000 acres of wilderness and other land protections across Riverside County is up for a vote in the House of Representatives today.

The bill would designate four new wilderness areas, six additions to existing wilderness areas, four wild and scenic rivers and additions to the Santa Rosa and San Jacinto Mountains National Monument.

Bono Mack's spokeswoman, Jennifer May, said this morning that the bill is up for a so-called suspension vote, meaning there is such broad support that it will be simply a voice vote without debate.

"It means there's huge, overwhelming support," she said.