David Obey: “this is a case where a very good Member is bringing us a very bad bill, and I am sorry about it. but I just cannot bring…”

“this is a case where a very good Member is bringing us a very bad bill, and I am sorry about it. but I just cannot bring myself to support it. Mr. Speaker, if we take a look at what this bill does to the Tongass; if we take I look at what it does to the Bureau of Indian Affairs; if we take a look at what it does to the California Desert Act; if we take a look at what it does on mining, as has been discussed often this morning, my only question would be where is Bill Proxmire when we really need him? If Bill was here, he would absolutely give this bill the Golden Fleece Award for this Congress, because this bill, which is above all supposed to be a bill that protects the public's interest, instead caves in to the private interests. Mr. Speaker, the worst of all offenses is what has been done or what has not been done to reform the mining law. As I pointed out on the floor yesterday, under existing law, Interior was forced last year to sign away land under which was located an estimated $10 billion in gold, and they had to sell it for 10,000 bucks. Under the so-called reforms working their way through this place, that price tag would rise to 100,000 bucks. Big deal. Mr. Speaker, it just seems to me that the only logical thing for this House to do, if we care about defending the public's interest, is to support the recommittal motion of the gentleman from Illinois [Mr. Yates], repair this bill, at least in one way.…”