Updated 4-26-02 Bill to give feds control of zoning kept private Courtesy of THE WASHINGTON TIMES Senate Democrats yesterday barred the public from a committee meeting and vote on a land-use bill that opponents believe will impose federal standards on local zoning boards. "This was no accident; this was a purposeful sham," said Mike Hardiman, spokesman for the American Land Rights Association, who lined up shortly after 8 a.m. to attend the 9:30 a.m. hearing in the Dirksen Senate Office Building. He said the senators were trying to pass an indefensible bill in secret. The bill establishes a federal grant...