Lands too expensive for Idaho

Our state Legislature is studying the taking back of land from the federal government. Respected legal opinions show Idaho can’t win and is wasting tax money.

Success could cost Idaho taxpayers $400 million a year: a lose-lose proposition. There’s nothing to take back. The state never owned the U.S. Forest Service or Bureau of Land Management lands in Idaho. Some on the fringe contend that the United States has a duty to dispose of its lands. There is no such duty, says Idaho Attorney General David Wasden.

Utah’s legislature has demanded 30 million acres from the federal government. Even that bill’s architect concedes that Utah will not pursue it in court. Our Idaho Legislature is paying an attorney $410 an hour to study the same thing. Why?

In 2012, an average fire year, managing and protecting these lands cost $392 million. If Idaho had to pay these costs, that money would come from the already-strapped education and roadway budgets. If we couldn’t afford to own the lands, Idaho would have to sell them to pay the bills. So, the lands we cherish to hunt, fish, hike, ride and bike would be gone forever, with no gain. Why are we playing this expensive game that we can’t win?

Ken Meyers

Sagle, Idaho