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MONTANA FIRST STATE TO BAN FEDERAL AGENCY LAND PURCHASES
Montana Legislative Reports ^ | 5-7-03 | RCM

Posted on 05/07/2003 8:22:53 AM PDT by GotDangGenius

Montana First State to Ban Federal Government Land Purchases

HELENA- Montana became the first state in the nation to prohibit the sale of state owned land to the federal government.

“This is an accomplishment I am very very proud of,” said Representative Rick Maedje (R) – Fortine about his amendment to House Bill 223.

House Bill 223 authorizes the state land board to sell school trust lands that are not producing income from grazing, timber, mining, or oil and gas. The measure was dubbed “the state land banking bill” and it also allows the land board to purchase more productive lands in its place.

“I don’t disagree with the underlying purpose of the bill at all. It’s entirely appropriate for the State Land Board to look for better timber, mining, and grazing lands for the schools,” said Maedje, “but there was a serious unintended consequence- the present state lands could wind up in the hands of the federal government, and that is entirely inappropriate in Montana.”

There are approximately six million acres of school trust lands in Montana. These lands were originally granted to the state by the federal government when Montana agreed to statehood. Congress mandated the lands be used solely for generating income for schools.

In the hearing on HB 223 before the House Natural Resources Committee, Bud Clinch, Director of the DNRC, said, “It is my fiduciary responsibility to generate income for our schools from these lands.” Director Clinch added, “This bill allows the Department the flexibility to increase income for the schools.”

Representative Maedje, who sits on the House Natural Resources Committee said during executive session deliberations on the bill, “I am not prepared in any way, shape, or form to see a single acre of state land wind up in the federal government’s hands. Not only does the federal government fail to pay taxes on land it holds, but even the PILT payments (Payments in Lieu of Taxes) it promises us never come through. Worse yet, Montana has had nothing but serious problems in the last 30 years with virtually every acre the federal government claims to have jurisdiction over in this state. Selling the feds our state land is like rubbing salt in a wound.”

Representative Maedje, an outspoken opponent of federal land ownership in Montana, believes the federal government has overstepped its Constitutional authority in the last 30 years, and offered his amendment as a means to reign in federal agencies in Montana.

“House Bill 223 came through the Natural Resources Committee, and I saw the real opportunity to add a friendly amendment to the bill to begin to stop federal land acquisitions in our state,” said Maedje.

Maedje referred to Article I, Section 8 of the federal Constitution, which restricts Congress: “to exercise like Authority over all Places purchased by the Consent of the Legislature of the State in which the Same shall be, for the Erection of Forts, Magazines, Arsenals, dock-Yards and other needful Buildings.”

Maedje’s amendment to HB 223 amends Montana Code Annotated 77-2-306 to read: “State land may not be sold to the federal government or to any agency of the federal government, except for the purpose of building federal facilities and structures.”

The bill made it to the Governor’s desk with Maedje’s amendment intact, but not without a fight.

Representative Chris Harris (D) – Bozeman, blasted Maedje’s amendment on the floor of the House arguing that “Iraq could buy this land. North Korea could buy this land, but our own red white and blue federal government can’t buy this land. This is wrong.”

“Frankly,” Maedje said afterwards about Rep. Harris’s comments in the floor debate, “...and I say this within the tangible and real context of unabashedly asinine decisions made by federal agencies which unnecessarily hurt rural natural resource dependent communities-- Representative Harris might have been unintentionally right. I indeed wonder if the constitutional rights of Montanans could be any more abused by a North Korean dictator than they are by our own federal agencies. That may sound stunning to those who haven’t suffered because of federal land policies, but it is closer to the truth than one might want to contemplate.”

Maedje offered the following remarks after Governor Martz signed HB 223 into law:

“The Constitution never intended the federal government to increase its land holdings or jurisdictional influence without the consent of the people of a state. Regrettably, over the last 30 years the federal government has overstepped its authority, and its abuse of that authority directly conflicts with the economic vitality, character, and traditions of the people of Montana. Montanans have been patient. We have tried to work with federal agencies, but we have intelligently arrived at the conclusion that federal agencies have little or no incentive to abide by the federal Constitution.So, we're now going to help them get back on track.”

“This amendment to HB 223 is the first step in a calculated effort not only to put the brakes on federal land acquisitions, but in future legislative sessions, we will take intelligent, lawful steps such as this to roll back federal land holdings and jurisdictional authority,” Maedje said.

“Montana is the first state in the nation to prohibit the federal government from purchasing state lands. This is an historic step for any state to take, and federal agencies should be well aware that Montana will continue to assert our rights as a state, and we take this issue very very seriously.” Maedje added.


TOPICS: Breaking News; Government; News/Current Events; US: Montana
KEYWORDS: banglist; federalland; landgrab
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To: madfly
That's a great tune. The guitar solo ROCKS bigtime. I'm gonna put it on right now.
41 posted on 05/07/2003 11:18:30 AM PDT by AAABEST
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To: Chancellor Palpatine
Do you disagree with Montana's decision? Why or why not?
42 posted on 05/07/2003 11:26:15 AM PDT by jmc813 (The average citizen in Baghdad,right now, has more firearm rights than anyone in our country.)
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To: madfly
well I might.... ride along the border
with my tweezers gleamin' in the moonlight night

And then I'd.... get a cup of coffee
and give my foot a push
just me and the pigmy pony
over by the dental floss bush


43 posted on 05/07/2003 11:27:59 AM PDT by AAABEST
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To: TonyWojo
Hehe. Check out #26 and 43
44 posted on 05/07/2003 11:29:45 AM PDT by AAABEST
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To: hedgetrimmer
It's on the list of 10 candidates. I believe Wyoming is the current leader and Montana is about number 4, but I can't find the link for the last straw vote. Maybe they have been taken down. The vote for a state will happen this year, based on current membership joining rates.

Certainly having another freedom minded state as a neighbor is a good thing.


45 posted on 05/07/2003 11:30:17 AM PDT by Jack Black
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To: TonyWojo
LOL, I didn't even know you were already on this thread when I pinged you. I noticed when I was skimming through just now.

Too funny.

46 posted on 05/07/2003 11:41:06 AM PDT by AAABEST
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To: AAABEST
you did not like # 36
47 posted on 05/07/2003 11:42:04 AM PDT by TonyWojo
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To: GotDangGenius
Next, they should prohibit all land sales to any government agency.
48 posted on 05/07/2003 11:42:44 AM PDT by 1Old Pro (The Dems are self-destructing before our eyes, How Great is That !)
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To: GotDangGenius
Representative Chris Harris (D) – Bozeman, blasted Maedje’s amendment on the floor of the House arguing that “Iraq could buy this land. North Korea could buy this land, but our own red white and blue federal government can’t buy this land. This is wrong.”

So ban them too from buying the land. Is that so hard? Or maybe we should get the federal government to own every square inch of this country? Hey, we wont have any private property rights, but that way North Korea wont be able to buy that three bedroom house next door in the suburbs.

49 posted on 05/07/2003 11:44:36 AM PDT by lowbridge
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To: TonyWojo; madfly

with a ...pair of heavy duty
zircon encrusted tweezers in my hand
every other wrangler would say
I was mighty grand

50 posted on 05/07/2003 11:49:27 AM PDT by AAABEST
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To: BenLurkin
Yes sir. In fact, how about the Fed starts selling some of that land and pay off the national debt?

What do you think is actually backing up the money supply in terms of specie ?

51 posted on 05/07/2003 11:51:53 AM PDT by Centurion2000 (We are crushing our enemies, seeing him driven before us and hearing the lamentations of the liberal)
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To: GotDangGenius
Knowing the beauracracy of the feds they will do a "straw-man" purchase of any lands they want through a private citizen.
52 posted on 05/07/2003 11:52:35 AM PDT by Centurion2000 (We are crushing our enemies, seeing him driven before us and hearing the lamentations of the liberal)
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To: GotDangGenius
Way to go, buddy. I see they didn't manage to turn you into a socialist at the Capital.
53 posted on 05/07/2003 11:54:26 AM PDT by CholeraJoe (Standing tough under Stars and Stripes)
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To: AntiGuv
Good job for Montana!

Montana has boycotted the French.

54 posted on 05/07/2003 11:55:09 AM PDT by NEWwoman
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To: hattend; Jack Black; GotDangGenius; Cool Guy; hedgetrimmer; Lil'freeper; TonyWojo; Sal; gcruse; ...
Too late! :(

See this! Article(post) today about the new Conservation Land Network in Montana. Three guesses who is behind this group! If you read the bill, they've stricken a clause that requires you to be a US Citizen to purchase land. So, not to be a party pooper, but it looks like Montana land can now be bought and sold globally through the Nature Conservancy's non-profit Real Estate Agency!

Conservation Land Network paying to protect Montana lands
The Bozeman Daily Chronicle ^ | May 7, 2003 | NICK GEVOCK Chronicle Staff Writer

Posted on 05/07/2003 11:39 AM PDT by madfly

Conservationists have scored some impressive victories in their efforts to keep southwest Montana from becoming suburbia, largely by buying conservation easements on big ranches.

_____________________________

Con-servation Land Network

Real Estate Brokers and Agents

"The Conservation Land Network brings together a fantastic, broad coalition of professionals. Property endorsed by this group deserves attention and protection."

Benjamin C. Pierce
The Nature Conservancy, Conservation Buyer Fund

Real Estate Brokers and Agents

Our brokers help buyers find and buy Montana conservation real estate, including ranches, fly fishing properties, and hunting retreats. They can also advise buyers on the potential tax benefits of land conservation.


55 posted on 05/07/2003 12:10:13 PM PDT by madfly
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To: AAABEST
what a guy! :)
56 posted on 05/07/2003 12:11:52 PM PDT by madfly
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To: jmc813
First off, I (as well as most Americans) find the kind of hyperbole used by that moron offensive and wrong. The United States doesn't keep political prisoners at the behest of a tinpot nepotist dictatorship, much less torture and murder them; any comparison to that evil psychopath Kim is beyond the pale, and makes decent people despise the militia nutcases even more.

Secondly, the terms of the original grant are clear with regard to purpose, and if a willing buyer comes along offering a decent price, then one theory would have that entrusted land revert. It was not given over to Montana to offer free or greatly reduced price rangeland to cattlemen, and the favored disposition of resources on the cheap is at the heart of a lot of Western disputes, so follow the $$$.

Lastly, the terms of the Supremacy clause alone would void any state statute prohibiting sale to the US.

57 posted on 05/07/2003 12:27:52 PM PDT by Chancellor Palpatine
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To: madfly
"Montana" by Frank Zappa

Awww, you beat me to it!

58 posted on 05/07/2003 12:29:34 PM PDT by FierceDraka ("I am not a number - I am a FREE MAN!")
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To: GotDangGenius
God Bless Montana!
59 posted on 05/07/2003 12:48:03 PM PDT by F-117A
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To: GotDangGenius; madfly
Great example set for all other Western states! This is good.

Thanks for the ping, madfly!
60 posted on 05/07/2003 12:55:40 PM PDT by WaterDragon (Only America has the moral authority and the resolve to lead the world in the 21st Century.)
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