Bitterroot Star

Bitterroot Valley's best source for local news!

Public lands

by

by Wayne Adair, Hamilton

Public lands going to the highest bidder?

Well, folks, they said they wouldn’t do it – they promised they wouldn’t do it – but they just did it.

“They” are Republicans in Congress; “it” is opening the door to selling our public lands.

Donald Trump’s so-called big, beautiful bill now contains a provision added in the dark of night by representatives from Utah and Nevada in early May. According to the Associated Press, the provision includes 460,000 acres in Nevada and Utah to be sold or transferred to local governments or private entities. Another 100,000 acres in western Nevada could be sold to private companies with mining claims or associated infrastructure. 

To be fair, for sale signs aren’t going up in the Bitterroot yet, but don’t kid yourself — this is the first step onto a very steep and slippery slope. If Trump and his minions have their way, our cherished public lands will be available to the highest bidder, another sacrificial lamb on the altar of tax cuts for Elon Musk and his billionaire pals.

Republicans lied about their commitment to protecting public lands. So, what else is new?

Share this:

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Bill Cavanaugh says

    More fear mongering. In October, Biden’s handlers, gifted $20Million in fed land to Clark County for $2K, as an election bribe. also in 2024 NV Dems Jacky Rosen and Susie Lee passed laws to sell more government land in NV. The Fact that you actually believe The AP is still a legitimate source for news is hysterical.
    There’s a lot of “ifs” and “Coulds” in your weak take Wayne. So you can pedal fear and anger I guess.

    • WMA says

      Curious, Bill, if you don’t trust the Associated Press, what news organization do you trust?

      • Bill Cavanaugh says

        Easy. Anyone who didn’t tell me Biden was fit to be our president, the covid vaccine was safe/effective, the border was secure, or that Nancy Pelosi is just a “shrewd” stock trader. AP failed every one of those criteria.

          • Bill Cavanaugh says

            Unlike you Propagandists, I use a variety and do not rely on any one source. It’s called Trust but verify, You should try it, it’ll open your eyes.