Newest US Senate Land Sale Amendment

[Big Fin]

I am headed to DC this weekend to do more lobbying on public land issues next week. I just finished some calls/texts with folks who are "in the know" about the proposal Senator Lee (R-UT) promised would be coming this week as part of the Senate budget version.

Details as I understand will become known in the next couple days, likely at the last minute so as to avoid the ability to mount much resistance:

• 2-3 Million acres to be sold for "affordable housing."
• Will include a lot of USFS lands, not just Dept of Interior lands as in the House amendment and FLTFA.
• Proceeds used to offset budget gaps, not replacement lands as per FLTFA.
• Lee's language has Montana exempted from any land sales in hopes he can gain the votes of Daines & Sheehy, votes needed to move it forward.

I hope my source is not correct, but this source has never been wrong before. This person has been in a position for decades to know what goes on in that committee.

Lee has been holding back his amendment until he knew he had the votes to get it passed through his committee and not have his land sale amendment kill the "Big Beautiful Bill.'

Fuggin' idgits.

Contact your Senator here. And do is now - https://www.senate.gov/senators/senators-contact.htm

 

[INMT]

Thanks for the heads up. Calling Daines and Sheehy and reminding them they said they would oppose this.

 

[Southern Elk]

I will be letting Daines and Sheehy know that a vote to sell public lands outside of Montana is as damning as a vote to sell land in Montana. I expect them to keep their word and protect all public lands.

 

[Forkyfinder]

Could the house undo the amendment?

How does that work - doesnt the house have an opportunity to change it after it gets changed in the senate?

 

[KingOfTagSoup]

Lee just won't take the hint on this one. Melt the phone lines people. And regardless of where you live, but especially if you live in UT, keep his phone ringing, he needs to know how many people oppose this.

 

[Big Fin]

Could the house undo the amendment?

How does that work - doesnt the house have an opportunity to change it after it gets changed in the senate?

Yes, but the Senate leadership wants to come up with a bill that the House will also agree on and that they know will pass the House. The President wants this bill passed soon and he's told both chambers to figure it out.

Lee is Chairman of the Senate Energy and Natural Resource Committee. He's using that position/power to leverage the pressure being felt by Republican members to get the President his bill in a manner that contains Senator Lee's dream - public land disposal.

 

[kansasdad]

Senators Marshall, Moran and Congressman Estes emailed.

PS: shot one off to Lee as well

 

[Forkyfinder]

Take Action

Backcountry Hunters & Anglers is the voice for our wild public lands, waters and wildlife.

www.backcountryhunters.org

Really easy to send this. A few clicks by a lot people can make a difference.

 

[Oak]

Link

Starts on page 30.

 

[NVDesertHunter]

https://www.energy.senate.gov/services/files/DF7B7FBE-9866-4B69-8ACA-C661A4F18096

Here is the Senate Proposal if you have not seen it yet.

Quick Summary:

• Mentions a mandatory sell off of 0.50-0.75% of BLM and Forest Service land in AK, AZ, CA, CO, ID, NV, NM, OR, UT, WA and WY
  • Approximately 2-3 million acres in total
• 90% of the revenue generated for the sale goes to the US Treasury
  • 5% local government
  • 5% to address maintenance backlog
• Local governments and the state Governor will have “final” say on the lands being sold
• All lands must be sold within 5 years
• States have first refusal to purchase the land
• Priority consideration will be used based on:
  • Lands nominated by state/local governments
  • Adjacent to existing development
  • Access to infrastructure
  • Suitable for housing
  • Reduce checkboard land patterns
  • Isolated tracts that are inefficient to manage (I would like to know what this means)

 

[VMHunter]

email sent.

 

[hank4elk]

NM Senate and Legislature against this!
Sen. Tester has had folks on his Grounded podcast talking against it lately. You MT folks screwed the pooch and lost a good one.

 

[Jwill]

Where is Don Jr. when we need him?

 

[VMHunter]

Not sure Don Jr. relies on public land. But, for the sake of hunting he should support it.

I’m in Texas with pretty much no public land. You don’t want this.

I’m still emailing my congressmen even though I know how they’ll vote.

 

[mukbowhunt]

I called both my senators offices last night and asked them to vote against this. I suspected they would anyway but wanted to let them know.

Did the BHA action alert today.

 

[Forkyfinder]

 

[Caseknife]

email sent

 

[utah400elk]

The Utah trash (Lee) is hell bent on selling public land. This is an end run to his goal and is only the start. Emails sent.

 

[Horseman]

I sent my letters of opposition to Daines and Sheehy. I guess this is their opportunity to prove they are the public land advocates that they loudly claim to be. Everyone will know who’s side you’re on after this one.

 

[Straight Arrow]

Strong messages sent to Sen Daines and Sen Sheehy of Montana.
My wife calles them weekly to express what is good, what is bad, and what is just butt ugly!