Barker: Public Land Grab Loses Steam

The movement by Western states to legally wrest control of public lands is losing its juice. In the past two weeks, legislative committees studying the issue in the states of Montana and Nevada have taken legal action off the table. They have instead put together alternative proposals to give states more say in management of the huge federal estates within their borders. Even Utah, where the Legislature demanded the federal government turn over all of its lands by Dec. 31 this year, is slowing things down. Attorney General Sean Reyes told a new Commission on the Stewardship of Public Lands last month he had not chosen a legal strategy and would not have a complaint ready by the deadline. In Idaho, the Legislature’s Interim Committee on Public Lands is holding a series of hearings around the state on the 2012 memorial that made the same demand as Utah did/ Rocky Barker , Idaho Statesman. More here.

Question: Any legislator who tries to tell you that the state can legally take over federal lands is selling snake oil. Thoughts?