On Monday, the House State Affairs Committee ran out of time
to take testimony from all who signed up to testify on House Concurrent Resolution
22, demanding that the federal government imminently transfer title to all of
the public lands within Idaho’s borders directly to the state of Idaho. The
Chairman allowed two to testify who had traveled from out of the area so that
they would not have to return on Tuesday.
An Idaho County Commissioner testified on the devastating
effects on forest health and wildlife habitat under federal agencies management
policies. He asked the committee to
imagine what the landscape on federal lands will look like in 100 years. A Payette resident urged the support HCR22.
The committee this morning continued with testimony
regarding the two resolutions, HCR 22 and also HCR 21, which would implement a
study team to make recommendations on implementation. Both are sponsored by
Representative Lawrence Denney.
A representative of the Idaho Conservation League (ICL)
testified against both resolutions. He said
that federal lands belong to the people of the country—not just Idaho. He discussed various collaborative efforts in
which ICL has participated which allow management decisions to include local
values and more emphasis on federal lands for wildlife and fish habitat. This brings local work to reduce fuel loads
and other local efforts into the federal process. He stated during questioning that working
with the National Environmental Policy Act allows for more public input. It gives locals more of a voice than some of
the state processes.
Mike Medberry who has participated in some of the
collaborative efforts opened his testimony singing a few lines of “This Land is
Your Land” and reminding the committee members that the land in question
belongs to the people of Idaho. It came
with promise from the federal government that it would be available to all
Idahoans including hikers, motorcyclists, ATV riders, snow mobile riders.
Wally Butler, a natural resource specialist for the Idaho
Farm Bureau testified in favor of the two resolutions and pointed out that
previous testimony seemed to miss the point of the two pieces of legislation.
Former U.S. Attorney Betty Richardson testified on the issue
of law enforcement on federal lands. She
was concerned about the unintended consequences regarding the burden to the
state of law enforcement if the state and counties had to take over law
enforcement and court expenses. She
pointed out the efforts by federal, state and local law enforcement that
discovered illegal marijuana growing on federal laws. She also mentioned the federal Payment in
Lieu of Taxes funds which would no longer be paid under state management.
Members of the committee voted along party lines to send
both resolutions to the House with a do-pass recommendation. The committee’s
three Democrats voted against both measures.
