The 2008 elections were an historic moment in our nation. The public clearly embraced the message of change that President-elect Barack Obama made the cornerstone of his campaign. In January, he will be inaugurated, and with a newly seated Congress, they will together attempt to solve the many challenges facing our country. In his election night speech, Obama called on the nation to come together and put aside partisanship and work to solve the nation’s and world’s problems.
Over the past few decades, many environmental issues have become highly politicized and turned into wedge issues that political parties attempt to use for electoral gain. One of the exceptions to this has been federal wilderness protection. Wilderness protection, from its inception through the passage of the Wilderness Act in 1964, and over subsequent decades, has always been a bi-partisan issue with champions on both sides of the aisle. This continues to this day.
When the Congress returns this month to address the current economic crisis, it will again have the opportunity to complete work on a package of public lands bills that includes 15 wilderness proposals to protect nearly 2 million acres across eight states.
The 2008 elections won’t change the way the Campaign for America’s Wilderness will conduct its business over the next few years. We will continue to work with any and all members of Congress, regardless of party affiliation, to protect more wilderness in more places around our great nation. Wilderness continues to be our Common Ground.
