host of Backwoods University on MeatEater podcast network. onX Hunt. conservationist, Hunter, lover of Wild things and wild places. instagram: lakepickle
SCOOP: Huge news for western states. The Senate parliamentarian has ruled that Sen. Mike Lee’s proposal to allow the sale of millions of acres of federal land fails to comply with the Byrd Rule. Montana/Idaho GOP senators have said they oppose it as well.
I’m told this decision will be included in the batch of Byrd rulings slated to be released overnight tonight.
Some opponents of my lands bill are taking an absolutist approach, insisting that the total acreage of federal land must *never* diminish—even by a fraction of one percent & even if the land in question is connected to established, residential neighborhoods
Is that reasonable?
@DissidentClint@chamath@SenMikeLee Sell America’s best assets because we have an incompetent congress that can’t balance a checkbook on their own. Yeah. Makes sense.
@chamath@SenMikeLee How is this a win-win? If you get top dollar for any of this it would not be a drop in the bucket of the national debt. it does not include protections for many areas that the average American uses for their favorite place to hunt,fish, bike, etc. this is a disgusting land grab.
@Skyking581@BasedMikeLee Because it’s selling off the average Americans’ favorite hunting, fishing, hiking, outdoor recreation spots to help balance a budget for an incompetent congress that can’t balance their own checkbook. Keep it public.
@RichardHanania You’re missing the point. That’s not the Federal government’s land. That land belongs to the American public, and we don’t want it screwed with.
@swflslimjim@BasedMikeLee This is disgusting. Comparing someone who opposes public land sales to a communist. Are you kidding me right now? These are the favorite hunting and fishing spots of average Americans you’re talking about selling off here, and to oppose that is communist!? Get out of here.
@glennbeck@BasedMikeLee No one thinks it’s Yellowstone. You are playing adventures in missing the point @glennbeck . This is about places where the average American likes to hunt, fish, hike, get solidarity. Stop gaslighting us.
@SenMikeLee If you want be completely clear, put up maps of eligible lands! we know it’s not national parks. We are worried about national forest and BLM lands where the average American likes to hunt, fish, hike, and get some solidarity. Development doesn’t equal value, Senator.
@SenMikeLee Why has consolidation of checkerboard lands never been brought up in a bill until now? Right after corner crossing was made legal in 10th circuit court where Utah is under? Why are you so vaguely defining under utilized lands? Why are you gaslighting your own constituents?
"But we're not selling National Parks! We're only selling 3 million acres of National Forests and Bureau of Land Management, where Americans love to hunt, fish, hike, and ski!"
- the current best argument they have
@SenMikeLee NO ONE is worried about National parks. We are worried about the very vaguely defined “under utilized lands”.
Also, what about the special provision for purchasing more than two tracts if you already own land bordering the some checkerboard pattern lands? Stop gaslighting us.