[rocknrollbarbie]

Not sure if everyone has been following Butch Otter's proposal to sell off 15% of all federal lands to pay for disaster relief, following are two Idaho statesman articles that sum it up:

Sounds like Otter's proposal will be a land grab for big developers…

So for all of you who are like me and spend more time at work surfing the net, check this out, and feel free to let Mr. Otter know what you think.

http://www.idahostatesman.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20051225/IDOUT/512250318

http://www.idahostatesman.com/apps/pbcs.dll/articleAID=/20051220/NEWS01/512200350/1001/NEWS

Contact Mr. Otter here:
http://www.house.gov/otter/

 

[MTNgirl]

Off yer Holiday duffs...

Yeah, this is a load of crap. Mr. Otter heard from me. C'mon guys, I know this thread isn't about poop, beer or bike parts but please take a minute to send ol' Butch an email. He's such a toad.

Nice pics of your trip to Utah, Barbie. Looks like you, Gary and Lua had a blast. Did the disco cocker have to sit this one out? Hope to see you soon on the trails. My new pup is doing great! He got a disco 'bling-bling' dingle thingie for his collar, look for us. His bling-bling is blue and green.

 

[BelaySlave]

His office is on the first floor of our building so I will make it a point to discuss this with one of his staff.

 

[Visicypher]

Know too much about Idaho politics

There are quite a few of us here who know Idaho politics all too well...we deal with it on a first hand basis everyday. Hence the need for pooh jokes and the banter about spackle.

The question to ask Mr. Otter is what federal lands are they going to sell...if they are going to sell offices...let 'em. hehe...and if it will ever leave committee...hopefully not

Status of HR 3855:

http://www.govtrack.us/congress/bill.xpd?bill=h109-3855

If you value enjoying Idaho, ask your legislative representative and senator why is the State is cutting back on services that are supposed to help protect the environment and the people who enjoy that environment.

Can't enjoy mtn. biking if you can't breathe the air....or drink the water.

Geez...I sound serious...back to the Pooh...and mowing the lawn.

 

[TwistedCrank]

I never did trust people with names like "Butch" or "Skip" or "Chet". I have even less trust of people with last names that are the same as large rodents.

 

[garnetspur]

where or what makes up this 15%?

obviously, if it will be up for public sale...it'll be in an area that will actually sell...so it would be a popular area, etc..

further, what does idaho gain from this?

idaho has already sent tons of reserves and national guardsmen (per capita) for the war. why is/does idaho feel they need to sacrifice more to the country.

 

[rocknrollbarbie]

Hey. Good to hear from you. I have been wondering if and where you have been runnin in the mornings since the trails are supergross. I have been pushed out of the hills and onto the blacktop. Yesterday we went in the afternoon and got caught in a little flash flood with lighning. That will get your adrenaline going! PM me and let me know where you are meeting in the mornings. I want to meet up with you girls.
RRB

 

[mtnbkrid]

where or what makes up this 15%?

obviously, if it will be up for public sale...it'll be in an area that will actually sell...so it would be a popular area, etc..

further, what does idaho gain from this?

idaho has already sent tons of reserves and national guardsmen (per capita) for the war. why is/does idaho feel they need to sacrifice more to the country.

According to Butch, and I am not making this up, Idaho would gain more in property taxes by selling off the federal lands thereby helping local governments. Of course you wouldn't be able to ride your fave trail cause all the condos being built and the NO TRESPASSING signs that would be posted. What the heck,that would mean more campaign donations for the GOP. (Got Our Payola). Butch doesn't care about selling off the feds land, because he thinks he will be Governor next year and living in his ex-inlaws house. What a country!

 

[rocknrollbarbie]

If anyone still cares...

Butch decided it wasn't such a good idea after all. Heres a letter he sent to Denise, a member of the Idaho Outdoor Group.

Dear Denise,

Thank you for contacting me concerning H.R. 3855,
legislation to sell some public land to pay for
disasters. I appreciate hearing from you and having
the opportunity to respond.

I have been a strong advocate for greater access to
our federal public lands throughout my public life. I
have fought for more multiple use of our forests and
range lands, and for more control by Idahoans over
the decisions that influence access and use of these
tremendous natural resources. As an avid sportsman, a
Grand Slam member of Ducks Unlimited and a life
member of Safari Club International, I understand the
importance of public land both to our wildlife and to
the hunting and fishing public. I also understand
that too often federal policies, from "critical
habitat" and wilderness study area designations to
restrictions on motorized vehicles, have kept Idaho
citizens from fully experiencing the wonders of our
own state's public lands. I will continue to fight
for better management of, and greater access to, our
public lands for all Idahoans.

H.R. 3855 was introduced by Congressman Tom Tancredo
of Colorado and I am a co-sponsor. The legislation
would direct the Secretary of Interior and the
Secretary of Agriculture to identify 15 percent
of the nearly 550 million acres of federal land under
their jurisdiction for sale, exempting land held in
trust for Indian tribes and National Parks. The
money generated would be used to cover or defray the
costs of responding to a natural disaster or
terrorist attack in an area covered by a disaster
declaration made by the President.

Reaching the conclusion that the sale of federal
lands to local landowners here in Idaho would
necessarily mean a loss of access to sportsmen does a
disservice to the value that Idahoans place on
stewardship. It also betrays a lack of trust in the
good work of Idaho sportsmen's organizations over the
years to encourage greater access to private property
for hunting, fishing and other recreation.

In addition, Forest Service and BLM administrators
have been very careful and attentive to public
interests in recent years, when transferring federal
land to private ownership, by ensuring that
appropriate easements are included in those
agreements to guarantee the continuation of historic
uses. Nothing in H.R. 3855 prohibits such easements
for continued sportsmen's access from being included
in any sales. As consideration of the bill moves
forward, I will insist that such easements for
sportsmen's access are required as a condition of any
sale.

I find it interesting that, at a time when many local
governments are struggling to make ends meet, some
would oppose an effort to transfer to local property
tax rolls and Idaho-based stewardship some carefully
selected parcels of the nearly two-thirds of Idaho
that is controlled - and too often locked up from
multiple use - by the federal government.

Even as an absentee landlord, the federal government
has a responsibility to pay its fair share. This
proposal is a responsible option to consider when
counties in Idaho routinely are shortchanged by
millions of dollars on Payment in Lieu of Taxes
(PILT) and the government is failing to maintain such
facilities as the backcountry airstrips needed for
emergency response.

I have supported a number of measures aimed at
fulfilling the federal government's commitment to
local governments. Among them is legislation
requiring the federal government to turn over to
local counties land equivalent in value to its
shortfall in PILT payments. The goal is to help
communities provide services to Idaho residents as
well as visitors to our public lands.

Thank you again for contacting me. Please continue
to keep me informed of issues that are important to
you.

As always,
"Idaho - Esto
Perpetua"

?
C.L."Butch"
Otter
Member of
Congress

CLO/jr

 

[Wayndar]

Well, thank god he came to his senses. What a scary idea- "let's sell of 15% of the land to pay for "homeland security" and natural disasters"

 

[BelaySlave]

You guys do realize he is going to be the next Governor right?

 

[rocknrollbarbie]

good ol boys...

I know, he wants to be... God, that would really suck, even more than having temper-tantrum-throwing "My way or the highway Im gonna veto all your bills without lookin at em cause I want my highway bill to go through" Dirk. Lets tell all the 2C folk that he wants to sell their sugarbeet fields and give the profits to PETA.

 

[luvnidaho]

This Guy's a SHITBIRD!

Okay, I did go to school in Colorado, and an AG school at that, but I think that Otter's reply to Denise is politicianese to say "go piss up a rope," I'm all in favor of selling off Idaho (which I'm going to do) -- which is completely in line with Dirk's philosophy. Otter's still a co-spponsor of the bill.

Butch says: "Reaching the conclusion that the sale of federal
lands to local landowners here in Idaho would
necessarily mean a loss of access to sportsmen does a
disservice to the value that Idahoans place on
stewardship. It also betrays a lack of trust in the
good work of Idaho sportsmen's organizations over the
years to encourage greater access to private property
for hunting, fishing and other recreation.

In addition, Forest Service and BLM administrators
have been very careful and attentive to public
interests in recent years, when transferring federal
land to private ownership, by ensuring that
appropriate easements are included in those
agreements to guarantee the continuation of historic
uses. Nothing in H.R. 3855 prohibits such easements
for continued sportsmen's access from being included
in any sales. As consideration of the bill moves
forward, I will insist that such easements for
sportsmen's access are required as a condition of any
sale."
Rocknrollbarbie, In our lingo I think this says, "Trust Me! You'll still have access to your public lands, eventhough I've sold it to my buddies, ------------ for a while. We'll all be guaranteed access by the "easements" that the buyers are going to agree to -- yeah right. Any lawyer can terminate these "easements" after the fact. Barbie, I've voted Republican my entire life, but that's about to change. They (republicans) are selling off this country wholesale, or to at least the highest bidder. The Democrats aren't any better, and certainly aren't the answer. I don't know what the answer is -- maybe we need to put some Mountain Bikers in charge. It sounds like "Butch" is on your side, but he's not! Okay, time for another beer. C Ya!

 

[Earthpig]

I don't know what the answer is -- maybe we need to put some Mountain Bikers in charge.

Not sure about that - don't forget, the "Warmongering Liar in Chief" considers himself an expert mountain biker.

 

[luvnidaho]

Good Point!

Not sure about that - don't forget, the "Warmongering Liar in Chief" considers himself an expert mountain biker.

See. I told you I went to an Ag School in Colorado. I'll shut up now.

 

[Earthpig]

See. I told you I went to an Ag School in Colorado. I'll shut up now.

I can agree with your comment that it's time for another beer. I have a cold 40 of OE sitting at home right now, calling my name. I think we need more politicians that can iron our their differences while juicin' 40s.

 

[Guest]

Wtf!?!?!

If we weren't spending money like it was going out of style overseas there would be no need to supplement federal disaster relief coffers with measures such as 3855; this is treating the symptom and not the ailment. Simple fact of the matter is that W is bankrupting this country at an unprecedented rate, no two ways about it!

I for one feel the hose job abrewin' if this bill passes, as those easements (if they even make it into the verbage of the resolution) will most likely offer watered-down versions of the access we currently enjoy. Lemme tell ya something, I became a mountain biker living in southern Idaho, but now live up north. Take a look at any land owernship status map for the state; I sorely miss all that BLM and public land down south. Up here most of the good land is private; as a north Idaho mountain biker you get used to lots of closed gates, no trespass signs, and lack of truly epic rides. I'd hate like hell to see that same fate befall public lands across the country.

What's up with Sen. Simpson's White Clouds wilderness land grab, I haven't heard anything for a while about it? We'd be losing some sweet riding up there too for the exchange of federal land going into private hands up near Salmon and Challis. The same rationale is used: private lands generate more taxable income. In this case, however, those small rural communities will be able to tap into tax revenues for general infrastructure improvements to attract more businesses and grow the region (read: loss of rural communities, replaced by sprawl).

"Idaho is Forever" as Butch signs his letter? Not at this current rate of land development and good ol' boy wheelin' and dealin', unless your idea of Idaho is private country clubs, a million bucks for a 700 sq ft condo, limited access to once-public areas, and unrealistic property tax. Wait, too late, forgot about McCall, Sun Valley, (soon-to-be) Donnelly, Coeur d'Alene, and Sandpoint!!! Do I sound pissed? Well, I am. Now please put down your latte and your cell phone and shove your Hummer (precious waste of a transfer case that it is) up your fifth-point-of-contact...