Thu
Jan 19 2017
07:48 pm

Heather Hansman in the Guardian - Congress moves to give away national lands, discounting billions in revenue

The Congressional devaluation of national property is the most far-reaching legislative change in a recent push to transfer federal lands to the states. Because of the Republican majority in Congress, bills proposing land transfers could now swiftly diminish Forest Service and BLM lands across the country. “We didn’t see it coming. I think it was sneaky and underhanded. It exemplifies an effort to not play by the rules,” said Alan Rowsome, senior director of government relations at The Wilderness Society. “This is the worst Congress for public lands ever.”

Rowsome said he’s not exactly sure how the rule will be used, but he thinks the first places to come under attack might include areas adjacent to the majestic Grand Canyon National Park in Arizona and Minnesota’s Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness. Those areas hold uranium and copper, respectively.

Sen. Lamar Alexander 865-545-4253
Sen. Bob Corker 865-637-4180
Rep. John Duncan 865-523-3772

Factchecker's picture

Ownership by the people is

Ownership by the people is what makes this country great and valuable. It's priceless, except apparently to Republicans drunk on power and on enriching themselves and their friends.

michael kaplan's picture

That pretty much paraphrases

That pretty much paraphrases what I told City Council before they voted to sell the Candy Factory, the people's downtown community center ...

Somebody's picture

.

Yes, of course. This is all about the Candy Factory.

bizgrrl's picture

No, it's a loss of useful,

No, it's a loss of useful, beneficial public assets to private enterprise.

R. Neal's picture

Quotes from one of my

Quotes from one of my favorite Republicans...

"If in a given community unchecked popular rule means unlimited waste and destruction of the natural resources—soil, fertility, waterpower, forests, game, wild-life generally—which by right belong as much to subsequent generations as to the present generation, then it is sure proof that the present generation is not yet really fit for self-control, that it is not yet really fit to exercise the high and responsible privilege of a rule which shall be both by the people and for the people. The term “for the people” must always include the people unborn as well as the people now alive, or the democratic ideal is not realized."

Teddy Roosevelt

Also...

"it is also vandalism wantonly to destroy or to permit the destruction of what is beautiful in nature, whether it be a cliff, a forest, or a species of mammal or bird. Here in the United States we turn our rivers and streams into sewers and dumping-grounds, we pollute the air, we destroy forests, and exterminate fishes, birds and mammals -- not to speak of vulgarizing charming landscapes with hideous advertisements. But at last it looks as if our people were awakening."

"And to lose the chance to see frigatebirds soaring in circles above the storm, or a file of pelicans winging their way homeward across the crimson afterglow of the sunset, or a myriad terns flashing in the bright light of midday as they hover in a shifting maze above the beach -- why, the loss is like the loss of a gallery of the masterpieces of the artists of old time."

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