"Bishop Unveils LWCF Reform Package, Rousing Critics"

"House Natural Resources Chairman Rob Bishop (R-Utah) [Thursday] proposed comprehensive reforms to the Land and Water Conservation Fund in a bill that would send significantly more money to states and greatly curtail the purchase of new federal lands.

Bishop's draft bill drew a chorus of criticism from conservation and sportsmen's groups but was praised by one state parks advocate as a starting point for how to better divide up money from the wildly popular fund.

The draft contrasts sharply with the bipartisan LWCF reform package advanced over the summer by the leaders of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, which was roundly endorsed by conservation advocates but drew skepticism from state advocates.

It suggests that the road to reauthorizing LWCF -- which expired Sept. 30 for the first time in its 50-year history -- will be steep and fraught with partisan fights."

Phil Taylor reports for Greenwire November 5, 2015.