Senate Parliamentarian Blocks Large-Scale Federal Land Sale Proposal
In a significant decision from the Senate, a proposal to sell over 3,200 square miles of federal land will not proceed as part of the Republicans’ extensive tax and spending reduction bill. The plan, introduced by Senate Energy Chairman Mike Lee, a Republican from Utah, was deemed to breach Senate regulations, according to a determination by Senate Parliamentarian Elizabeth MacDonough. The proposal’s objective was to transfer vast areas of public land in the West to state control or other entities for development purposes, such as housing and infrastructure.
The proposal had faced a varied response from Western state governors. While New Mexico Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham, a Democrat, expressed concerns over the impact on local residents who are closely connected to these lands, Wyoming Gov. Mark Gordon, a Republican, supported a more selective approach to land transfers, emphasizing policy development that considers community needs.
Reacting to the setback, Lee stated via social media that he remains committed to addressing issues like high housing costs preventing young Americans from residing in their hometowns. He outlined a revised plan focusing on limiting sales to lands near population centers and excluding U.S. Forest Service lands altogether.
Environmental groups welcomed MacDonough’s decision, viewing it as a preservation of public lands. Tracy Stone-Manning, president of The Wilderness Society, declared the ruling “a victory for the American public,” while Carrie Besnette Hauser of the Trust for Public Land emphasized the ongoing threat to public lands and the need for vigilance against similar proposals.
In addition to the land sale proposal, other Republican initiatives, such as constructing a mining road in Alaska and expediting oil and gas lease approvals, were also dismissed by the parliamentarian. Although her rulings are advisory, they are typically respected by lawmakers. The current legislative agenda seeks to pass a tax-cut package without encountering a Senate filibuster, aiming for completion by July Fourth.
Sen. Martin Heinrich, a Democrat from New Mexico, criticized Lee’s plan for potentially depriving Americans of cherished recreational areas. He questioned the effectiveness of the proposal in actually increasing affordable housing opportunities, noting the potential loss of access to important cultural and economic sites.
Lee’s proposal highlighted existing divisions among Republicans, with some advocating for federal land transfers to promote development and revenue, while others firmly oppose such measures. The proposal would have affected land in 11 Western states, with Montana exempted after local opposition. In states like Utah and Nevada, federal ownership of land is a contentious issue, seen by some as a barrier to growth.
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