But the bill's opponents, who say the bill favors development and sells taxpayers short, see nothing but a bleak future if the bill would pass.

Peter Metcalf, CEO of Black Diamond Equipment and a director of the Outdoor Industry Association in Salt Lake City, told the subcommittee that the bill "falls short of truly protecting our public lands and balancing the needs of the region."

The bill's proposed land sales would make preserving open space and allowing for "close-to-home outdoor recreation opportunities" even harder, Metcalf said. He also feels the bill leaves out many local forests, canyons and landscapes from federal protection.

Metcalf objects to the precedent being set by letting proceeds from the land sales going to fund local projects when it is American taxpayer money.

Subcommittee Chairman Larry Craig, R-Idaho, said listening to the testimony makes it sounds like they are talking about two different bills. But he supported joining together issues that would normally be addressed in separate bills.

Sen. Maria Cantwell, D-Wash., asked "what's the rush?" She was concerned over the precedents the bill would set and reminded the subcommittee that wilderness bills for Washington have gone back and forth between the House and Senate without ever getting passed by both in the same session.

The House still needs to approve its version introduced by Rep. Jim Matheson, D-Utah. There was a hearing in September on the bill.

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E-mail: suzanne@desnews.com