House Republicans Move To Sell Off 3.3 Million Acres Of Public Lands

[n2doc]

BY JESSICA GOAD, GUEST BLOGGER

The U.S. government remains shut down, thanks to House Republicans’ refusal to fund the government without defunding the Affordable Care Act. Meanwhile, 401 national parks across the country are closed to tourists and vacationers, provoking “pretty livid” responses.

But the fact that the government and parks are closed hasn’t stopped Congress from holding hearings, including one Thursday in the House Natural Resources Committee on a bill that would force a fire sale of 3.3 million acres of public lands.

The Disposal of Excess Federal Lands Act of 2013 (H.R. 2657) from Rep. Jason Chaffetz (R-UT) would mandate that public lands Arizona, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Utah, and Wyoming to be sold off to the highest bidder as a way of reducing the deficit. The areas to be sold are based on an outdated report from 1997, although the bill directs the Secretary of the Interior to “update” that report.

However, evidence shows not only that voters oppose selling off public lands, but that they are incredibly important economically. This is especially true for the state of Utah, which is losing $4.4 million every day because its five national parks are shutdown. Tourists and visitors to these parks are being turned away, and reports of the potentially devastating economic impacts are already coming in.

more
http://thinkprogress.org/climate/2013/10/03/2724281/shutdown-parks-republicans-public-lands/

[City Lights]

1. I'd be okay with selling off Republicans.

Public lands, notsomuch.

[hobbit709]

2. But toxic waste doesn't sell for much.

Usually you have to pay someone to haul it off and dispose of it properly.

[City Lights]

7. It's all in the Marketing! nt

[Eleanors38]

9. Not a dime for the blind eels I just sent swirling down the porcelain.

[dgibby]

10. That's a losing deal. You'd have to pay somebody to take them. n/t

[Avalux]

3. We have to get rid of these treasonous bastards somehow. n/t

[Art_from_Ark]

4. These House Republicans are truly, certifiably nuts

[Scuba]

5. NO!

[Andy823]

6. I have a better plan

Stop giving oil companies subsidies and tax breaks. Stop giving corporate farms subsidies. Go after those who have millions stashed in off shore accounts. Tax those companies that outsource jobs overseas. I am sure there are a lot more ways to put money in the treasury to help the deficit.

And lets not forget that what the republicans are doing right now with the shutdown is costing millions every day!

They don't give a damn about this country or they wouldn't be doing what they are doing right now. Boehner is sacrificing this country so he can gain favor with the tea party nuts in hopes that they will back him come election time instead of the guy that is challenging him in the primaries. Boehner could end this any time. There are enough republicans that would vote on a clean bill along with democrats to end this, but he won't do it. It's all about him, not the country, and not the people who are suffering because of this insane shutdown!

[KansDem]

8. Agreed...

I often wonder how a political party that rushed us into a war of choice costing $1.5 trillion we didn't have could be so adamant about reducing the deficit...

[Robb]

11. Without knowing what lands they're talking about in the specific, I'm not moved to be upset (yet).

Reading about them seems to suggest these might be good deals for the BLM and other agencies -- divesting themselves of public land that is, for example, bordered by private land on every side with no road in.

The conservationist in me would prefer 100-year leases to outright sales, but I know those aren't as popular as they used to be.

[progressoid]

12. A drop in the ocean.

The sale of these lands will hardly make a dent in the deficit.