Newest US Senate Land Sale Amendment

[Nameless Range]

This article from Wes Siler says the amendment to sell off public lands was co-written by Steve Daines. Is that right? Doesn’t seem like it would be.

"An amendment to the budget reconciliation package written by Mike Lee (R-Utah) and Steve Daines (R-Montana) authorizes the sale of 258 million acres of BLM and National Forest land across 10 western states and Alaska. The move comes after a provision exempting land used for grazing from the sale was removed."

Lee, Daines Up Public Land Sell Off To 258 Million Acres

The Senate's budget reconciliation package includes provision to sell off 40 percent of all public land

wessiler.substack.com

 

[hank4elk]

This article from Wes Siler says the amendment to sell off public lands was co-written by Steve Daines. Is that right? Doesn’t seem like it would be.

"An amendment to the budget reconciliation package written by Mike Lee (R-Utah) and Steve Daines (R-Montana) authorizes the sale of 258 million acres of BLM and National Forest land across 10 western states and Alaska. The move comes after a provision exempting land used for grazing from the sale was removed."

Lee, Daines Up Public Land Sell Off To 258 Million Acres

The Senate's budget reconciliation package includes provision to sell off 40 percent of all public land

wessiler.substack.com

I too read last week he had.

 

[Straight Arrow]

This article from Wes Siler says the amendment to sell off public lands was co-written by Steve Daines. Is that right? Doesn’t seem like it would be.

"An amendment to the budget reconciliation package written by Mike Lee (R-Utah) and Steve Daines (R-Montana) authorizes the sale of 258 million acres of BLM and National Forest land across 10 western states and Alaska. The move comes after a provision exempting land used for grazing from the sale was removed."

Lee, Daines Up Public Land Sell Off To 258 Million Acres

The Senate's budget reconciliation package includes provision to sell off 40 percent of all public land

wessiler.substack.com

Steve Daines did so apparently to remove Montana from the potential loss of federal public lands, but in a ploy IMO which is just "smoke & mirrors". Unfortunately, my Senator, Daines, seems much more loyal to the MAGA Republican Party than to Montana or to federal public lands.
The big hope is that Congressman Zinke, who is much more staunch in his commitment to "public lands stay in public hands", will squash this amendment on the House side.

 

[golfer]

Thanks @Big Fin for all the work you’ve done on this and are continuing to do on this. The wife was surprised to run into you this morning out there. Thanks for taking time outta your day to inquire about the group Montana kids currently out there.

 

[Chama Grande]

Local NM news (CBS/FOX) lead in, "Rage over sale of public lands."
Finally!
Rep. Vasques at a rally in support of our Public lands. NMWF rally this weekend.
Several places named that could be sold, affordable housing and Nat. Debt is excuse from state R's.....reply being formed.
In Gila, Santa Fe, Organ Mtns........others.

In one of the online maps I noticed a Lower Gila Box polygon and I sent it to a few people who were avidly against the Gila Diversion Project a few years ago. Hopefully they're still pissed off enough to rattle some chains. I'll be in Santa Fe on the day of the rally, I kinda groan at the Sierra Club style of folks but I think I'll try to sneak over anyway

We ♥️ Public Lands Rally in Santa Fe: Interior Secretary Burgum is in town!

Event in Santa Fe, NM by New Mexico Wildlife Federation and 2 others on Monday, June 23 2025 with 531 people interested and 69 people going. 5 posts in the discussion.

www.facebook.com

 

[SAJ-99]

I'm ready for this to go to the floor for a vote. Talk is cheap. We need to figure out who is principled and who is just talking crap. The debate is "pushing on a string" - not enough cuts, not enough tax credits, too many cuts, blah, blah. I notice in the articles I read that no one is a 'No' because of the land sales.

Paul and Johnson are 'No' because cuts aren't big enough.
Hawley, Collins, Murkowski, and Justice are 'No' because of Medicaid cuts
Tillis and Curtis are 'No' due to Renewable energy tax credits.
Sheehy and Daines aren't talked about anywhere. Draw from the what you will.

The only definite 'No' is Paul. The tax credits will be extended and Medicaid cuts will be adjusted.

None of this even takes into account House members who want a higher SALT deductions. I called the offices of two members of the Public Lands Caucus (R's not named Zinke) and both staff acted like they had no idea Lee put public land sales in the Senate version.

 

[Treeshark]

Paul and Johnson are 'No' because cuts aren't big enough.

Johnson is always just a 30-second phone call from flipping. He’s spineless.

 

[Big Fin]

This article from Wes Siler says the amendment to sell off public lands was co-written by Steve Daines. Is that right? Doesn’t seem like it would be.

"An amendment to the budget reconciliation package written by Mike Lee (R-Utah) and Steve Daines (R-Montana) authorizes the sale of 258 million acres of BLM and National Forest land across 10 western states and Alaska. The move comes after a provision exempting land used for grazing from the sale was removed."

Lee, Daines Up Public Land Sell Off To 258 Million Acres

The Senate's budget reconciliation package includes provision to sell off 40 percent of all public land

wessiler.substack.com

I like Wes, but he’s completely wrong on this one. I’ve met with Ds and Rs this week. Here’s what I’ve heard from both sides.

Daines tried to work with Lee on something more sane, similar to what the Southen Nevada Land Management Act provides for the Vegas area. Daines wanted something concise that addressed the problems claimed by UT and NV delegations. They couldn’t come to an agreement.

Lee, being the difficult guy he is, came up with this proposal all on his own. He put the Montana exemption in there to try box in Daines and Sheehy. Lee’s strategy being that if Daines tried to lobby other Senators to kill the provision he would have a hard time swaying other Senators, given his state, Montana, was exempted.

Daines did not ask for that MT exemption. He’s trying to get it dropped or reeled in. As he told me yesterday, “These lands belong to all Americans, not just Montanans or Utah folks.”

When Ds tell me that Mike Lee is trying to make Daines’ life difficult, I have no reason to doubt it. The Senate is the chamber of decorum and respectful communication, so Daines is not going to call out Lee publicly. I will.

Ask any lobbyist here, from either side of the aisle, ask any Committee staffer in private, and the answer will be the same - Mike Lee doesn’t give two shits about anyone else and he views this as his one time where the planets have aligned.

Lee is known as a very smart guy. A cunning guy who keeps a “shit list” of people who have pissed him off. He doesn’t care if you're in his party of not, he’s accustomed to getting his way. If he views you as obstructing that path, your name goes on his shit list.

You’ll never hear that come from a Senator or a staffer, as decorum is highly appreciated in the Senate. Lee knows that and isn’t above taking advantage of that. If all 100 Senators were on a sinking ship, I doubt any of them, on either side, would offer Mike Lee a seat in their lifeboat.

Wes is wrong, as are most the Dem-centric critics back in Montana. Ask anyone who works these issues on the Hill where our best opportunity exists and who our best allies are in the Republican Party, as it relates to stopping Lee’s efforts. Two names come up without any hesitation; Daines in the Senate and Zinke in the House.

That might not be what some want to hear. But, right now, hacking on Daines and Zinke is not helpful to the cause of getting this shit killed or amended down to something far smaller and specific to Utah and Nevada.

I’ve been getting flooded with texts while back here. I wish those folks would actually come back here and build relationships on both sides. The world of public land advocacy would be far better off if people dealt in facts they learned while being here, rather than biased “news” reports from outlets that need to sell ads based on clicks/likes/shares.

I’m going to do a video about this when I get home tomorrow. I know it won’t be popular, but I’m here to win this issue, not support/blast one party or another. I used these platforms to defend Tester when false/stupid shit was stated about him, and I will defend Daines and Zinke when the same is happening to them.

 

[Big Fin]

Thanks @Big Fin for all the work you’ve done on this and are continuing to do on this. The wife was surprised to run into you this morning out there. Thanks for taking time outta your day to inquire about the group Montana kids currently out there.

Was she with a group of high school students? If so, she was super polite and professional. She’s doing great work that we all benefit from.

 

[golfer]

Was she with a group of high school students? If so, she was super polite and professional. She’s doing great work that we all benefit from.

That would have been her.

 

[TheTone]

Smart or not Lee is taking a well deserved beating in the media the last few days over his comments regarding the Minnesota shootings.

 

[SAJ-99]

When Ds tell me that Mike Lee is trying to make Daines’ life difficult, I have no reason to doubt it. The Senate is the chamber of decorum and respectful communication, so Daines is not going to call out Lee publicly. I will.

I know you have a close relationship with Daines, and I respect that, but it is clear he hasn't learned much in the time he has been there. Sheehy is new and probably is still learning where the bathrooms are, so I give him a pass. Daines has no excuse. Daines could easily pick the medicaid cuts and voice his "concern" on that and then toss in the "the lack of constraints on public land sales". There are ways to voice concerns publicly (and while some may disagree, I think they SHOULD be voiced publicly in this media-driven world). Other senators have had no problem voicing their position on things while following the unwritten "decorum" rules. He can't go quiet. It looks like he tucked his tail between his legs and went off to the corner. Lee is enjoying it. Sometimes you have to piss people off in life to gain respect.

 

[whatnot]

Senator John Curtis, Ut.

801-524-4380

As of 5min ago, Curtis is still hiding in the shadows.

Utah started this crap, he doesnt get to hide.

 

[Big Fin]

I know you have a close relationship with Daines, and I respect that, but it is clear he hasn't learned much in the time he has been there. Sheehy is new and probably is still learning where the bathrooms are, so I give him a pass. Daines has no excuse. Daines could easily pick the medicaid cuts and voice his "concern" on that and then toss in the "the lack of constraints on public land sales". There are ways to voice concerns publicly (and while some may disagree, I think they SHOULD be voiced publicly in this media-driven world). Other senators have had no problem voicing their position on things while following the unwritten "decorum" rules. He can't go quiet. It looks like he tucked his tail between his legs and went off to the corner. Lee is enjoying it. Sometimes you have to piss people off in life to gain respect.

That doesn't reflect reality of the situation. He could pick Medicaid cuts and be shoulder to shoulder with Murkowski. Because Medicare/caid is a high priority issue. Far higher priority than public lands.

The Wyoming delegation was invited by Lee to cut a deal. They did. Look at a Senate map and tell me who else could help Daines in this situation. The only remaining Rs are in Idaho. They are getting a ton of pressure and hopefully they will listen. Murkowski has been approached, as she is normally moderate and works with others she sees as moderate. Yet, her primary effort will be Medicare/caid, so she has declined to use her "at bats" to the cause of public lands. Just a function of priorities in the larger electorate.

Daines is the only remaining Senator who is willing to do it. Sheehy will likely follow Daines lead. So, that is two of the four needed. That's the reality we face.

"Pissing people off to gain respect" might feel good. But, it isn't going to solve this issue. Daines calling out Lee isn't going to accomplish anything, other than give Lee more ammo to proclaim he gave Daines an "out" by exempting Montana. Might allow Daines to get some things off his chest, but it won't move the ball. If anything, it will isolate him among the R Senators, as it relates to this issue.

When Senators do voice things publicly, it is calculated and done when they know it has benefit. A lot of that is "performative politics." In this case, when you have a vindictive person like Lee, that is not an effective tactic.

The question fro me is, "Am I here to win or am I here to pitch a fit?" I'm here to win. I don't give a rat's ass who can help me do that, so long as we win. I will hammer anyone against us, Lee and friends, and I will support anyone helping us.

 

[Ben Lamb]

I know you have a close relationship with Daines, and I respect that, but it is clear he hasn't learned much in the time he has been there. Sheehy is new and probably is still learning where the bathrooms are, so I give him a pass. Daines has no excuse. Daines could easily pick the medicaid cuts and voice his "concern" on that and then toss in the "the lack of constraints on public land sales". There are ways to voice concerns publicly (and while some may disagree, I think they SHOULD be voiced publicly in this media-driven world). Other senators have had no problem voicing their position on things while following the unwritten "decorum" rules. He can't go quiet. It looks like he tucked his tail between his legs and went off to the corner. Lee is enjoying it. Sometimes you have to piss people off in life to gain respect.

Accountability on elected officials is a cornerstone of the democratic experiment. So is knowing when to keep your powder dry, from a gov't relations standpoint.

If you're in a fox hole with a guy who banged your wife, he's still not your immediate enemy. It's the jackasses across the wire that are trying to put lead into you.

 

[longbow51]

Had this same discussion with an old friend of mine last night. You'll never persuade anyone by ranting; if anything, they'll just dig their heels in, or, as said, "put you on their shit list".

 

[Oak]

@Big Fin, does the fact that SFW came out in opposition to this sway Lee at all?

 

[nrpate05]

I like Wes, but he’s completely wrong on this one. I’ve met with Ds and Rs this week. Here’s what I’ve heard from both sides.

Daines tried to work with Lee on something more sane, similar to what the Southen Nevada Land Management Act provides for the Vegas area. Daines wanted something concise that addressed the problems claimed by UT and NV delegations. They couldn’t come to an agreement.

Lee, being the difficult guy he is, came up with this proposal all on his own. He put the Montana exemption in there to try box in Daines and Sheehy. Lee’s strategy being that if Daines tried to lobby other Senators to kill the provision he would have a hard time swaying other Senators, given his state, Montana, was exempted.

Daines did not ask for that MT exemption. He’s trying to get it dropped or reeled in. As he told me yesterday, “These lands belong to all Americans, not just Montanans or Utah folks.”

When Ds tell me that Mike Lee is trying to make Daines’ life difficult, I have no reason to doubt it. The Senate is the chamber of decorum and respectful communication, so Daines is not going to call out Lee publicly. I will.

Ask any lobbyist here, from either side of the aisle, ask any Committee staffer in private, and the answer will be the same - Mike Lee doesn’t give two shits about anyone else and he views this as his one time where the planets have aligned.

Lee is known as a very smart guy. A cunning guy who keeps a “shit list” of people who have pissed him off. He doesn’t care if you're in his party of not, he’s accustomed to getting his way. If he views you as obstructing that path, your name goes on his shit list.

You’ll never hear that come from a Senator or a staffer, as decorum is highly appreciated in the Senate. Lee knows that and isn’t above taking advantage of that. If all 100 Senators were on a sinking ship, I doubt any of them, on either side, would offer Mike Lee a seat in their lifeboat.

Wes is wrong, as are most the Dem-centric critics back in Montana. Ask anyone who works these issues on the Hill where our best opportunity exists and who our best allies are in the Republican Party, as it relates to stopping Lee’s efforts. Two names come up without any hesitation; Daines in the Senate and Zinke in the House.

That might not be what some want to hear. But, right now, hacking on Daines and Zinke is not helpful to the cause of getting this shit killed or amended down to something far smaller and specific to Utah and Nevada.

I’ve been getting flooded with texts while back here. I wish those folks would actually come back here and build relationships on both sides. The world of public land advocacy would be far better off if people dealt in facts they learned while being here, rather than biased “news” reports from outlets that need to sell ads based on clicks/likes/shares.

I’m going to do a video about this when I get home tomorrow. I know it won’t be popular, but I’m here to win this issue, not support/blast one party or another. I used these platforms to defend Tester when false/stupid shit was stated about him, and I will defend Daines and Zinke when the same is happening to them.

Interesting to hear. I like Wes too, but he like to cast blame and get clicks/be inflammatory. You can't really call him out either or he'll just yell at you. Good point about Daines being a necessary ally in this fight. Any further insight on the deal cut with the Wyoming delegation, just mostly excluding the grazing lease areas? Thanks for your efforts on this, Randy. DC needs a good sportsmen advocate to keep them in line.

 

[brymoore]

The only remaining Rs are in Idaho. They are getting a ton of pressure and hopefully they will listen.

I called both my Idaho senators this morning. I’ve sent a few emails previously.

Risch’s office took down my information to validate I was an Idahoan. They said thank you afterwards.

Crapo’s office did the same routine. However, after my statement the office staff said that Sen Crapo does not support transferring public lands into private hands. Whatever that means.

 

[Big Fin]

I called both my Idaho senators this morning. I’ve sent a few emails previously.

Risch’s office took down my information to validate I was an Idahoan. They said thank you afterwards.

Carlo’s office did the same routine. However, after my statement the office staff said that Sen Crapo does not support transferring public lands into private hands. Whatever that means.

Thanks for doing that. If the Idaho senators hear from people, they might join Daines to go to Thune and request Thune force Lee’s hand. That’s best path in the Senate, as nobody wants to vote on an amendment where they can be painted as slowing down the BBB.

Unfortunately it is the politics of our day. Within parties the jockeying for position, or maybe better states as avoiding the wrath of the MAGA media machine, makes the quiet path a more viable path.

I can’t overstate how important of a role Idaho hunters will be in the Senate. And again in the House if this bill gets included in the Senate version that is sent back to the House.