Federal Lands in Idaho
In
2013 the Utah Legislature and Governor passed a law requiring the
federal government turn title to all BLM and Forest Lands to the state,
with a December 31, 2014 deadline. Idaho is considering the issue. Idaho
owns the thousands of acres of forest lands; the proceeds going to
schools. The state does a very good job of managing our forestland and
we make a profit. The federal government on the other hand operates on a
deficit budget and spends many millions of dollars in managing with no
profit.
Most
Idaho citizens are reluctant to embrace state control fearing access
would be reduced for recreation and the lands would be sold off to
private enterprise. I oppose that happening and it doesn’t need to be.
Acquirement should be contingent on the land remaining under state
control with no possibility of selling it to private landowners. State
control would certainly alleviate school funding problems; lease revenue
and profits would go to the state endowment for public schools.
Federal monuments, parks, etc, would be exempt from state control – as they should be.
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