Senate Democratic leader Tom Daschle added language to a bill on defense spending (H.R.4775) that will allow crews to start thinning forests—but just in his state—imperiled by the threat of wildfire, by exempting the state from challenges allowed under the National Environmental Protection Act. But why not the rest of the nation? [Update: this bill became Public Law No: 107-206 when signed by President Bush on August 2nd.