Post by Logan on Mar 16, 2016 19:57:47 GMT -6
Idaho lawmakers who want to force or convince the federal government to transfer public lands ran into a surly crowd of hunters and anglers dressed in camouflage, hunting vests and fishing shirts in February.
The outdoors lovers had come to a Feb. 29 presentation by Utah lawmakers and an attorney, and their presence sent the message they want the public lands left in federal hands. Sporting groups like the Idaho Wildlife Federation, Trout Unlimited, Backcountry Hunters and Anglers, and others had quickly organized the crowd to challenge the argument from the Utah lawmakers that Idaho should join the legal fight to give Western states “equal rights” with Eastern, Midwestern and Southern states.
“There wasn’t a Birkenstock in sight,” said Jonathan Oppenheimer of the Idaho Conservation League.
The joint meeting between the House and Senate resource committees was the beginning of a series of hearings on a host of bills and initiatives before the Legislature this session aimed at changing management on the 60 percent of Idaho managed by the federal government. Hearings on two bills are scheduled Tuesday that support the legal views of conservative lawmakers that the state would manage the federal lands better.
Read more here: www.idahostatesman.com/news/local/news-columns-blogs/letters-from-the-west/article66101532.html
The outdoors lovers had come to a Feb. 29 presentation by Utah lawmakers and an attorney, and their presence sent the message they want the public lands left in federal hands. Sporting groups like the Idaho Wildlife Federation, Trout Unlimited, Backcountry Hunters and Anglers, and others had quickly organized the crowd to challenge the argument from the Utah lawmakers that Idaho should join the legal fight to give Western states “equal rights” with Eastern, Midwestern and Southern states.
“There wasn’t a Birkenstock in sight,” said Jonathan Oppenheimer of the Idaho Conservation League.
The joint meeting between the House and Senate resource committees was the beginning of a series of hearings on a host of bills and initiatives before the Legislature this session aimed at changing management on the 60 percent of Idaho managed by the federal government. Hearings on two bills are scheduled Tuesday that support the legal views of conservative lawmakers that the state would manage the federal lands better.
Read more here: www.idahostatesman.com/news/local/news-columns-blogs/letters-from-the-west/article66101532.html