Transfer of Public Lands

highplainsdrifter

highplainsdrifter

Very Active Member
May 4, 2011
703
128
Wyoming
SF0056, the study bill, passed first reading of the House of Representatives yesterday. It was amended to provide $75,000 for the study rather than $100,000. Upon calling for a voice vote, the vote was close enough where the chairman had to call for those in favor to stand.

Perhaps it is a small victory that they got through the entire debate without disparaging the opposition one time. You can hear the debate at the 3:35 point below:

http://legisweb.state.wy.us/2015/audio/house/h0302pm1.mp3

Today the bill will be heard a second time. It must pass three readings before the House adjourns at the end of the week. Typically the most intense debate comes on third reading which will likely be tomorrow or Thursday. So there is still time to submit comments. You can find email addresses here:

http://legisweb.state.wy.us/LSOWEB/LegInfo.aspx
 
highplainsdrifter

highplainsdrifter

Very Active Member
May 4, 2011
703
128
Wyoming
This morning, SF0056 passed third reading in the House of Representatives (42 to 17). Since there is a difference between the senate version and the house version as to funding, the difference will need to be resolved. The senate calls for $100,000 for a study. The House calls for $75,000. It is very likely that this minor difference will be worked out, and the bill will be approved by both the house and the senate in the next few days.

During the House debate, one of the sponsors of the bill encouraged house members to vote for SF0056 because it is a first step. He said that, with the study done in a year or two, we will be ready to move on to the next step. Seems to me is already presuming the outcome of the study.

We now need to turn our attention to the Governor's Office. Let's encourage him to veto the legislation. We need to inundate him with emails. Please encourage everyone you know to contact him. You can send comments to the governor here:

http://governor.wyo.gov/contact-us/
 
highplainsdrifter

highplainsdrifter

Very Active Member
May 4, 2011
703
128
Wyoming
Here is the roll call vote for SF0056 (the study bill) on third reading in the House of Representatives:

Ayes: Representative(s) Allen, Baker, Barlow, Berger, Brown Speaker,
Burkhart, Campbell, Cannady, Clem, Edmonds, Edwards, Eklund, Gay,
Greear, Halverson, Harshman, Harvey, Hunt, Jaggi, Jennings, Kasperik,
Kirkbride, Kroeker, Krone, Larsen Lloyd, Laursen Dan, Lindholm,
Lockhart, Loucks, Mckim, Miller, Moniz, Northrup, Paxton, Piiparinen,
Pownall, Reeder, Sommers, Steinmetz, Stubson, Walters, Winters

Nays: Representative(s) Baldwin, Blackburn, Blake, Byrd, Connolly,
Dayton, Esquibel, Freeman, Madden, Nicholas, Pelkey, Petroff,
Schwartz, Throne, Wilson, Zwonitzer,Dn, Zwonitzer,Dv
Excused: Representative Patton

Ayes 42 Nays 17 Excused 1 Absent 0 Conflicts 0

The differences have now been worked out between the house and the senate. The final enrolled act will now go to the governor (maybe already has gone to the governor).

Please send the governor an email and ask him to veto the bill:

http://governor.wyo.gov/contact-us/
 
highplainsdrifter

highplainsdrifter

Very Active Member
May 4, 2011
703
128
Wyoming
By rule, the governor has 15 days to act on SF0056 (the study bill). He can:

1. Sign it.

2. Not sign it, and it will become law without his signature.

3. Veto it.

The clock started ticking last Thursday, March 5th (or maybe Friday depending on when the bill officially reached his desk).

There is still time to contact him, and ask him to veto it:

http://governor.wyo.gov/contact-us/
 
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highplainsdrifter

highplainsdrifter

Very Active Member
May 4, 2011
703
128
Wyoming
highplainsdrifter said:
By rule, the governor has 15 days to act on SF0056 (the study bill). He can:

1. Sign it.

2. Not sign it, and it will become law without his signature.

3. Veto it.

The clock started ticking last Thursday, March 5th (or maybe Friday depending on when the bill officially reached his desk).

There is still time to contact him, and ask him to veto it:

http://governor.wyo.gov/contact-us/
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I hope I'm wrong, but it is starting to look like the governor is going to go with option #2, (not sign it and let it become law).

I have heard he has gotten a lot of email against the study. If you haven't contacted him yet, I encourage you to do so. Maybe your email will be the one that pushes him off the fence.

http://governor.wyo.gov/contact-us/
 
Bitterroot Bulls

Bitterroot Bulls

Veteran member
Apr 25, 2011
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Montana
What a waste of Wyomingites' money.

The question now is how impartial the study will be. My guess is ALC will have their minions all over it.
 
highplainsdrifter

highplainsdrifter

Very Active Member
May 4, 2011
703
128
Wyoming
Utah lawmakers have appropriated $12 million to fund takeover of federal lands:

http://www.sltrib.com/news/2283816-155/consultants-raking-in-millions-on-utahs

Previously the Utah legislature passed, and the governor signed, legislation that required the federal government to turn over federal lands to the state by December 31, 2014. Evidently, when that didn't happen, they decided they needed a well funded war chest to help fight the upcoming legal battles.

Sounds like recreationists in Utah are being ignored just like in Wyoming. I have ATVed the Paiute Trail near Marysville several times. I may have to rethink future plans to visit the state.
 
Bitterroot Bulls

Bitterroot Bulls

Veteran member
Apr 25, 2011
2,326
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Montana
That is 12 million dollars for lobbyists to influence politicians and to "shape" public opinion.

Public money turning dark.

Here is an excerpt from Utah's state constitition (article III sec. 2):

"The people inhabiting this State do affirm and declare that they forever disclaim all right and title to the unappropriated public lands lying within the boundaries hereof, and to all lands lying within said limits owned or held by any Indian or Indian tribes, and that until the title thereto shall have been extinguished by the United States, the same shall be and remain subject to the disposition of the United States, and said Indian lands shall remain under the absolute jurisdiction and control of the Congress of the United States. The lands belonging to citizens of the United States"

It is a lost cause, gladly, but still a giant waste of Utahns' tax money.
 
highplainsdrifter

highplainsdrifter

Very Active Member
May 4, 2011
703
128
Wyoming
Bitterroot Bulls said:
That is 12 million dollars for lobbyists to influence politicians and to "shape" public opinion.

Public money turning dark.

Here is an excerpt from Utah's state constitition (article III sec. 2):

"The people inhabiting this State do affirm and declare that they forever disclaim all right and title to the unappropriated public lands lying within the boundaries hereof, and to all lands lying within said limits owned or held by any Indian or Indian tribes, and that until the title thereto shall have been extinguished by the United States, the same shall be and remain subject to the disposition of the United States, and said Indian lands shall remain under the absolute jurisdiction and control of the Congress of the United States. The lands belonging to citizens of the United States"

It is a lost cause, gladly, but still a giant waste of Utahns' tax money.
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Wyoming has a similar clause in its constitution: Article 21, Section 26 states: The people inhabiting this state do agree and declare that they forever disclaim all right and title to the unappropriated public lands lying within the boundaries thereof...

I am not so much worried about states such as Utah and Wyoming forcing the federal government to turn over federal lands, as I am worried that the federal government might willingly give up federal lands. I see this shaping up as more of political battle than a legal battle.
 
Bitterroot Bulls

Bitterroot Bulls

Veteran member
Apr 25, 2011
2,326
0
Montana
highplainsdrifter said:
I am not so much worried about states such as Utah and Wyoming forcing the federal government to turn over federal lands, as I am worried that the federal government might willingly give up federal lands. I see this shaping up as more of political battle than a legal battle.
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Yeah, I hear you, HPD.

Still, Utah in particular is pursuing this forced takeover right now.

I agree with you that when the forced takeover doesn't work, the next step would be trying to work politics on the national level for the voluntary turnover. I understand they will try this, but I am pretty confident that on a national level, that idea will never come to fruition, as long as you, me, and the other public land advocates stay vigilant and vocal in opposition.
 
In God We Trust

In God We Trust

Very Active Member
Mar 10, 2011
805
0
Colorado
I am pretty disappointed in the Republican party because of this. Paul Ryan's plan to balance the budget calls for a sell off of millions of acres of BLM and NF. I wrote the same guys I voted for frequently to remind them that the majority of the hunting population votes for the Republican party and it would be wise to remember who helps them get elected. This is a disgusting example of political corruption where the politicians return favors to special interest groups for campaign donations. Keep up the good fight guys.
 
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