House panel OKs illegal lands bill

After a contentious hearing in which many people heatedly objected to opening any door to selloff of Idaho’s prized public lands, the House Resources Committee has voted 12-3 in favor of HB 582 , legislation from Rep. Judy Boyle, R-Midvale, called the “Idaho Multiple Use Sustained Yield Act.” Only the committee’s three minority Democrats voted against the bill. It argues that the state should get title to the federal public lands within its borders, and declares that if it does, it’ll manage them for “multiple use and sustained yield in relation to timber production and harvest, livestock range, mineral exploration and development, watershed, fish and wildlife and outdoor recreation”/ Betsy Russell , Eye on Boise. More here.

Question: The state attorney general has opined that the premise that the state should get title to public lands has “no support in the law.” Yet, Republican legislators jump on board a bandwagon that isn’t supported by the citizens of Idaho. Maybe we should lock all the doors of the Statehouse and turn it into an institution for the goofy. Thoughts?