WASHINGTON - In a rare Sunday session, the Senate advanced legislation that would limit further oil and gas leasing in the Wyoming Range and designate 387 miles of rivers and streams in the Snake River drainage as "wild and scenic."

By a 66-12 vote, with only 59 needed to limit debate, lawmakers agreed to clear away procedural hurdles despite partisan wrangling that had threatened pledges by leaders to work cooperatively as the new Obama administration takes office. Senate approval is expected later this week.

Majority Democrats assembled more than enough votes to overcome GOP stalling tactics in an early showdown for the new Congress. Sens. Mike Enzi and John Barrasso, R-Wyo., were among those voting in the majority.

The measure - actually a collection of about 160 bills - also would set aside more than 2 million acres in nine states as wilderness.

Supporters of protecting the Wyoming Range, on the state's far-western flank, said they were happy with the vote.

Tom Reed, spokesmen for Sportsmen for the Wyoming Range, said Sunday that the vote was a good sign and a ratification of the hard work supporters had put into protecting the area. Former Sen. Craig Thomas, R-Wyo., had supported protection of the area before his death in 2007.

"The fact that the vote was 66 to 12 bodes well for our chances when it comes to a final vote," Reed said. "I think it's also sort of validation of things that Craig Thomas stood for, which was balance in terms of energy production and hunting and fishing values."

Reed said protecting the Wyoming Range would be a "real validation of the Wyoming way of looking at things: We can pitch in and do more than our fair share of energy production for this country, but we also want to save something for our kids."

Thomas also had supported "wild and scenic" designation for parts of the Snake River and its tributaries in northwest Wyoming, and following his death, Barrasso led the effort in support of that measure as well.

"Senator Barrasso has done a fantastic job guiding this bill through the Senate," said Campaign for the Snake Headwaters Executive Director Tom Patricelli, who traveled to Washington to witness the vote. "This was a critical test for this legislation which is so important for Wyoming's small businesses, our outfitters, our tourism-based economy, and our natural resources."

"Wild and scenic" designation protects water quality and the free-flowing nature of rivers while allowing the continued multiple use of the streams and surrounding lands. Such designations do not affect or restrict water rights, interstate water compacts or private property rights.

Another piece of the major package of legislation would commit the federal government to help states compensate ranchers for livestock lost to wolves, once the animals are removed from Endangered Species Act protection.

Republicans complained that Democrats did not allow amendments on the massive bill, which calls for the largest expansion of wilderness protection in 25 years. But Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., and other Democrats said the bill - a holdover from last year - was carefully written and included measures sponsored by both Republicans and Democrats.

In fact, Reid said, about half of the bills in the package were sponsored by Republicans. Most had been considered for more than a year.

"I am happy that after months of delay we will finally be moving forward," Reid said.

The bill's chief opponent, Sen. Tom Coburn, R-Okla., denounced what he called Democratic bullying tactics.

"I am disappointed the Senate majority leader has refused to allow senators the opportunity to improve, amend or eliminate any of the questionable provisions in his omnibus lands bill," Coburn told fellow senators.

"When the American people asked Congress to set a new tone, I don't believe refusing to listen to the concerns of others was what they had in mind," Coburn said. "The American people expect us hold open, civil and thorough debates on costly legislation, not ram through 1,300-page bills when few are watching."

Supporters expressed confidence that the House will approve the package once it clears the Senate, though new U.S. Rep. Cynthia Lummis, R-Wyo., on Friday spoke in opposition to the package of bills. She also said she doesn't support the Wyoming Range and Snake River measures as currently written.