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| Sen. Maria Cantwell |
Next week, Senate Republicans will attempt to jam through Trump’s “Big Beautiful Bill” on a party line vote.
Buried in the Republican legislation is a proposal to mandate the sale of at least 2-3 million acres of public lands in 11 western states over the next five years to help pay for tax cuts for the ultra-wealthy.
However, the land sale criteria in the legislation allows the Administration to sell up to 250 million acres of public land across the West.
This would be devastating to Washington state’s $22 billion outdoor recreation economy and the over 200,000 jobs it supports.
This would be devastating to Washington state’s $22 billion outdoor recreation economy and the over 200,000 jobs it supports.
Under this Republican proposal, 5.35 million acres of public land in Washington state would be eligible for sale, including 5 million acres of US Forest Service land and 350,000 acres of Bureau of Land Management land.
Sen. Cantwell released the following statement:
"This Republican budget bill is all about taking from average Americans to give to the ultra-wealthy and now that includes allowing the highest bidder to buy millions of acres of public lands that belong to all of us.
"This alarming proposal would put No Trespassing signs at beloved trailheads and fishing spots across the West, threatening the $1.2 trillion outdoor recreation economy and the five million jobs that rely on protecting these irreplaceable public lands.
"We need voices from across the nation, and on both sides of the aisle, to stand up for keeping our natural heritage accessible to all Americans today and into the future."
Given that the feds owns 640 million acres of the western United States which amounts to 46% of the land, 2 to 3 million acres is a pittance. The feds own a third of Wa St amounting to a little over 12 million acres or about 30% of the state. The sky is not falling.
ReplyDeleteFor those who use and enjoy BLM and Forest Service land this is deeply upsetting. I believe there are many out there in Western states who just do not realize to what extent the Senate is going to finance tax cuts for the wealthy. Articles and information like this need to published in Western red states too.
ReplyDeleteIt has nothing to do with tax cuts. It has to do with private development of business providing jobs and growth in the local economy.
Delete"It has nothing to do with tax cuts." Wrong. It has everything to with tax cuts.
Delete"It has nothing to do with tax cuts."
DeleteWrong. It has everything to do with tax cuts.
Selling USFS and BLM land is a horrible plan. Once the land is sold, the public loses access to it forever. Instead of selling the land, sell the timber responsibly like we've been doing since the USFS was established.
ReplyDeleteOur outdoor lands for recreation are already suffering by lack of access due to un-maintained forest service roads. We don't need to sell off more land to support tax cuts for the rich. We should be investing in more protected areas with access for hiking. As an avid hiker since 1972 in Wa. state our existing trails are packed with people and we need more trails not less due to land sales or maintenance. We applaud the opening of the Frog Mountain trail in the Skykomish Ranger District.
ReplyDeleteSTOP this Bill.
ReplyDelete