FIVE House Republicans declare red line on land sales in megabill

Politico ^ | June 26 | James Bikales

[RandFan]

Five House Republicans on Thursday threatened to vote down the GOP megabill if the Senate includes a provision to sell public lands for development.

The move comes after Sen. Mike Lee (R-Utah) sought to include those sales in the bill, and this week revised and narrowed his proposal after the Senate parliamentarian ruled that his initial language did not comply with the strict rules governing measures that can be included in party-line reconciliation bills.

“We cannot accept the sale of federal lands that Sen. Lee seeks,” wrote the five Republicans led by Rep. Ryan Zinke (R-Mont.). “If a provision to sell public lands is in the bill that reaches the House floor, we will be forced to vote no.”

Zinke — who served as Interior secretary in the first Trump administration — was joined by Reps. Mike Simpson (R-Idaho), Dan Newhouse (R-Wash.), Cliff Bentz (R-Ore.) and David Valadao (R-Calif.), all of whom represent Western states with large federal land holdings.

[lastchance]

It may have to do with grazing rights. And it is taxpayers’ land. I am against taking land away that taxpayers have paid for and continue and pay for and putting it in the hands of a few. Now explore more use for the land and increasing its productivity is another matter. Good management should be a given. That can save taxpayers money without making them lose access to the benefits of the lands.

[lastchance]

I don’t think those fears are unfounded.

[lastchance]

That would make sense.

[LS]

Unbelievable that still today ANYONE defends letting the feds keep more land. US gubment owns 1/3 of US land already.

Jefferson and Lincoln would both be sick to their stomachs.

[Georgia Girl 2]

Utah has an obscene amount of its territory unconstitutionally held by the Federal government. Obama confiscated millions of acres. Its ridiculous. The constitution strictly limits the amount of land to be held by the government to forts and monuments.

[DownInFlames]

Lands sales to U.S. citizens and companies. No shell companies or foreigners, especially China.

[FLT-bird]

Newhouse and Valadao are the only 2 surviving members of the 10. They need to be primaried and removed. Keep primarying them every time until they are out and if they win the primary, then deny them so much as a plug nickel in funding. Get that backstabbing RINO scum OUT!

[kaktuskid]

It deals with BLM lands adjacent to urban areas.

[Svartalfiar]

One of the biggest Federal land holdings are military bases and bombing/instrumentation ranges.

Yes, military land is one of the biggest at number two, but that's still just a tiny bit. Parks is 95% of Federal land, between BLM, NPS, FWS, and the Forest Service.

It's like comparing militaries. Sure, China has the second largest military, but these US is so far beyond them, it's laughable.

[Svartalfiar]

And it is taxpayers’ land. I am against taking land away that taxpayers have paid for and continue and pay for and putting it in the hands of a few.

How do you think most of the States came about? Fedgov purchased land, territories were formed, and at some point chunks thereof were admitted as a State. The only non-military, non-admin land FedGov should own is territories. All that forest should be given to the States and they can keep it as such, or have sales. The only restriction I would argue for is limiting/not allowing foreign purchases, and maybe prioritizing small purchases (up to, say, 100-acre parcels)

[lastchance]

Putting the land in the hands of the states is a workable solution. The voters could then have a say in what is allowed to be sold.