How will public lands fare from this election?

[grizzly63]

Our AG just got elected to congress. He had signed SD on to the Utah land grab bill. I wonder what that cost his taxpayers back home?

 

[belshawelk]

If anyone thinks the dems are better than the republicans you will be in for a surprise. They want your guns and hunting rights. Republicans want the money and soon the dems will also to pay for stupid stuff. Both parties. Different ways same results.

 

[Wildabeest]

You don’t think Alito will retire in the next few weeks? 11% odds on Kalshi.

Let him. A democratic Senate has no obligation to confirm any new nominee. Mitch McConnell set a bad precedent in this area. Dems would be wise to shove it back in their face if they get the chance.

 

[SAJ-99]

Let him. A democratic Senate has no obligation to confirm any new nominee. Mitch McConnell set a bad precedent in this area. Dems would be wise to shove it back in their face if they get the chance.

Oh completely agree. But they don’t get sworn in until Jan 3. If they can convince him to retire, they will try to get someone through. The question then will be the loyalty of the R senators.

 

[Wildabeest]

Oh completely agree. But they don’t get sworn in until Jan 3. If they can convince him to retire, they will try to get someone through. The question then will be the loyalty of the R senators.

Gotcha. Hopefully enough R’s see that he’s now a lame duck who’s fading fast and won’t feel like they have to continue to do stupid stuff just because he wants it.

 

[Forkyfinder]

Probably nothing substantial gained and more political football, acting, and pandering.

Responsible balanced use is a dying principle.

 

[SAJ-99]

Probably nothing substantial gained and more political football, acting, and pandering.

Responsible balanced use is a dying principle.

Just curious, what changes would you like to see?

 

[Forkyfinder]

Just curious, what changes would you like to see?

Useful roles backfilled at gov agencies.

Sustainable/selective logging, oil, gas, and power develeopment.

Every damn feral horse killed.

Increased acquistion of row/easements to forest/blm thats blocked.

An act passed requiring offsetting land be acquired for any sold.

Increased local voice in management decisions.

Repealing or at least greatly reforming of the EAJA.

Grazing fee codified increase tied to inflation.

Grazing being allowed for conservation purposes (ie bison).

I could add to the not come true wishlist if you want

 

[Wildabeest]

Useful roles backfilled at gov agencies.

Sustainable/selective logging, oil, gas, and power develeopment.

Every damn feral horse killed.

Increased acquistion of row/easements to forest/blm thats blocked.

An act passed requiring offsetting land be acquired for any sold.

Increased local voice in management decisions.

Repealing or at least greatly reforming of the EAJA.

Grazing fee codified increase tied to inflation.

Grazing being allowed for conservation purposes (ie bison).

I could add to the not come true wishlist if you want

You left out “getting rid of lobbyists”.

 

[Forkyfinder]

You left out “getting rid of lobbyists”.

Lobbying is actually the oldest profession . Dont see lying for money going away anytime soon.

 

[SAJ-99]

Useful roles backfilled at gov agencies.

Sustainable/selective logging, oil, gas, and power develeopment.

Every damn feral horse killed.

Increased acquistion of row/easements to forest/blm thats blocked.

An act passed requiring offsetting land be acquired for any sold.

Increased local voice in management decisions.

Repealing or at least greatly reforming of the EAJA.

Grazing fee codified increase tied to inflation.

Grazing being allowed for conservation purposes (ie bison).

I could add to the not come true wishlist if you want

Good list. Seems like you should be happy with Tuesday's result. Have you sent your list to your Congressional Reps, both new and old?

 

[Gellar]

Oh completely agree. But they don’t get sworn in until Jan 3. If they can convince him to retire, they will try to get someone through. The question then will be the loyalty of the R senators.

If they are going to start playing those cards look for them to pressure Grassley to retire before the New Democrat Iowa governor is sworn in. Grassley is 93 and his term goes until 2029. He’s already taken out papers to run again.

 

[Gellar]

If they are going to start playing those cards look for them to pressure Grassley to retire before the New Democrat Iowa governor is sworn in. Grassley is 93 and his term goes until 2029. He’s already taken out papers to run again.

O snap! It’s already happening I guess. https://www.thedailybeast.com/repub...ley-93-shuts-down-calls-on-him-to-resign-asap

 

[Ben Lamb]

While I would wager that the doubling of health insurance, rampant inflation, price of gas, another forever war, Epstien, corruption & graft led to the changes across the board we saw Tuesday night, I don't think that public lands played as much of a role as many would like to believe. However, that doesn't mean that the new congress couldn't reverse significant policies enacted by the administration through a variety of counter-measures. Such as: If a democratic congress gets their shit in one sock after being sworn in, then I'd think the roadless rule repeal would be DOA. The administration can still move forward, but under the Congressional Review Act that repeal could be squashed. Republicans used the CRA to great effect to reduce conservation policy from the previous administration (public land rule, etc) so I would hope that the more observant operators in DC would be pursuing this strategy on Roadless and other issues to some extent. They could legislatively restore the boundaries to Bears Ears & Grand Staircase-Escalante over the objections of the UT delegation, eliminate the changes made to the ESA, increase and restore budgets for research & OTG conservation projects, etc.

Congress is a co-equal branch of government. It's time they started acting like it.

 

[Justabirdwatcher]

Watch the video. You can skip the first half where he just blathers on about how great the renovation is going. Watch the second half and tell me anything will change with this Admin. Anything. I am still betting it will get worse before it gets better.

I agree. At this point, he won't give a crap about the R's (I mean, they're "losers" now to him, right?) and even less about the future of the country. Hell, it wouldn't shock me if he moves to Russia or Venezuela to avoid prison.

 

[elkduds]

2 intertwined values motivate 47, money and power. If he does nothing for the next 2 years in office, just the interest on the $2.7 billion he has netted since taking office in '25 will keep him golfing and inhaling fast food. He can dabble in obfuscation, misdirection and defending his indefensible corruption, while he invests and scams in whichever countries he aspires to next. Rhymes with Prussia, and probably Columbia.

The new Congress should press pause on every objectionable public lands executive order via investigation and withdrawing funding, when legal. That holds opportunity for stopping the bleeding and resuscitating our living, breathing public lands treasure and legacy.

 

[Mustangs Rule]

My concern is that the party you're counting on the protect public access to government owned land is the same party that wants to prevent you from using for hunting, fishing & trapping.
I also think @Treeshark has a good point that yesterday's winners will overplay.

Hopefully in another election cycle or two the pendulum will settle more in the middle.

I do not see that current Democrats are trying to prevent you or anyone from hunting, fishing or trapping.

What I see is pressure on our public lands has been increasing to the point that regulations are just needed to prevent deterioration/damage.

Try not to take it personnal.

I used to live in Wyoming. I left when the fracking industry was cranking up. I knew what was coming. I returned some years later and there were roads everywhere in the National Forest where I used to hunt and all these roads led to a fracking well and they stopped right at the wilderness boundary.

The same protection/rules that keeps hunters out keeps the fracking industry out.

I moved away from Wyoming and found another National Forest to live near.

At some point two biologists that each worked for two huge private land trusts, each gave us presentations on what was coming to our public land under the current administration.

It was simply horrifying.

Last year I went out to spend a few weeks in a National Forest on the Pacific Ocean. I decided to drive inland to the District Headquarters. Get some maps, talk to biologist.

The district headquarters building was empty with a for sale sign on it, chain across the entrance. All the staff gone, laid off.

Inland where I live most of the forest service employees are gone and new leadership has taken over.

They were just making plans for exploitation with environmental protections discarded.

 

[bayoublaster7527]

You mean like Colorado?

Colorado is bad news bears. Dems now hold veto-proof supermajority in house and senate. Already talking about how they can overturn the result of ballot initiatives (essentially the will of the people, so much for “No Kings”). It also means attempts by GOV-elect Phil Weiser to moderate the far left impulses of the legislature are effectively neutralized. Gun ownership is this state is cooked. Hope everybody likes archery. Public lands will be fine. Whether you will be able to hunt or carry a firearm on those public lands……not looking great.

 

[bayoublaster7527]

I do not see that current Democrats are trying to prevent you or anyone from hunting, fishing or trapping.

What I see is pressure on our public lands has been increasing to the point that regulations are just needed to prevent deterioration/damage.

Try not to take it personnal.

I used to live in Wyoming. I left when the fracking industry was cranking up. I knew what was coming. I returned some years later and there were roads everywhere in the National Forest where I used to hunt and all these roads led to a fracking well and they stopped right at the wilderness boundary.

The same protection/rules that keeps hunters out keeps the fracking industry out.

I moved away from Wyoming and found another National Forest to live near.

At some point two biologists that each worked for two huge private land trusts, each gave us presentations on what was coming to our public land under the current administration.

It was simply horrifying.

Lassy year I went out to spend a few weeks in a National Forest on the Pacific Ocean. I decided to drive inland to the Distric Headquarters. Get some maps, talk to biologist.

The district headquarters was empty with a for sale sign on it, chain across the entrance. All the staff gone, laid off.

Inland where I live most of the forest service employees are gone and new leadership has taken over.

They were just making plans for exploitation with all environmental protections disgarded.

Don’t know if your statement on current Democrats rings true if you are in Colorado. The most prominent elected Colorado Democrat officials opposed Amendment 83, the amendment establishing a right to hunt and fish. I recognize that refusing to protect hunting and fishing is not the same as actively seeking to eliminate hunting and fishing. But it sure doesn’t make me feel great about their willingness to defend hunting and fishing going forward from prominent anti-hunting groups that we know have substantial political influence, at least in Colorado. YMMV.

 

[Mustangs Rule]

Don’t know if your statement on current Democrats rings true if you are in Colorado. The most prominent elected Colorado Democrat officials opposed Amendment 83, the amendment establishing a right to hunt and fish. I recognize that refusing to protect hunting and fishing is not the same as actively seeking to eliminate hunting and fishing. But it sure doesn’t make me feel great about their willingness to defend hunting and fishing going forward from prominent anti-hunting groups that we know have substantial political influence, at least in Colorado. YMMV.

A good point, THX.