Federal Lands

The US Federal Government “owns” and controls 28% of the US Land Mass.  Most of this land is in 12 Western States.

Nevada 84.5%

Alaska 69.1%

Utah 57.4%

Oregon 53.1%

Idaho 50.2%

Arizona 48.1%

California 45.3%

Wyoming 42.3%

New Mexico 41.8%

Colorado 36.6%

Washington 30.3%

Montana 29.9%

https://www.vox.com/2015/2/16/8046349/federal-government-land-by-state

The case for returning Federal Lands to the States is that the US Constitution restricts federal land ownership to necessary government facilities like military bases and government offices. Federal Lands were established in violation of the Constitution because no Amendments expanding federal enumerated powers to own land for tourism were filed or ratified.  If Congress had filed Amendments in 1872, States would not have ratified them and Yellowstone would be a complex of State Parks.

The practical reasons for returning federal lands to the States are that States compete with each other and excessive federal land holdings prevent economic development in the States where federal land ownership is excessive. Another reason is that the US Interior Department Agencies do a poor job of maintaining these lands and the federal government needs to be downsized.

The Interior Department was formed to ensure waterways were clear for shipping of goods to markets and roads and roads were built to do the same. Nationalizing tourism was not a reason to bother the federal government. Progressive politicians started this and as we all know now, they were Communists.

The Annual US Forest Fire and Mud Slide Festivals could be reduced in size dramatically if these forests were owned by millions of family owned tree farmers who would live on-site, with good fire-fighting capability, tree harvesting and maintenance of underbrush.

One reason to delay the wholesale transfer of federal land to the States is the number of “rogue” Liberal States developing in the West like California, Oregon, Washington and others. These rogue States would use their ownership to stop commerce and for political purposes. This could include State laws banning oil drilling, mineral extraction and overseas shipments.  It’s best to deal with this issue on a State by State basis. Trump already ceded land back to Utah based on their request.

Norb Leahy, Dunwoody GA Tea Party Leader