Opportunity for Action in Idaho: SnakeOil Salesman from UT Has a Bill Sponsor IDLeg

• [email protected]
• or at (208) 313-6405
• 
  [email protected]
  District 32
  House Seat B
  7th term
  (Served 8 terms, House 1986-2002)
  1357 Bone Road, Iona, 83427
  Home (208) 522-3072
  Farmer/Rancher

Public lands transfer backers seek convention of states to amend Constitution

SALT LAKE CITY — A leader in the effort to force the transfer of Western federal lands to state control believes calling a convention of states to change the U.S. Constitution is the best path forward.

Utah state Rep. Ken Ivory, R*West Jordan, said states’ rights advocates are already laying the groundwork for a convention.

The federal government owns nearly half of the land in the West, which Ivory believes has tied up resources and put the region’s states at an economic disadvantage. He contends public lands are also in poor health due to federal neglect.

Under Article 5 of the Constitution, two*thirds of states may call a convention, and proposed amendments must be ratified by three*fourths of state legislatures. Eight states have already passed resolutions calling for a convention. Idaho has a bill in the works to join the list. Thus far, the constitution has been revised only through congressional action.

“Now millions of people are working to convene a convention of states,” said Ivory, who is a lawyer and was picked as the first senior legislative adviser to the Convention of States Project. The project has volunteers working in all 50 states to “restore the checks and balances that were put in place on our federal government.”

Ivory and Idaho Rep. Tom Loertscher, R-*Iona, participated in a simulated convention of states last September in Virginia, addressing a host of perceived federal overreaches.

Loertscher said the bill he’s drafting to codify Idaho’s support of a convention should easily pass the House of Representatives, and he’s seeking help in the Senate. He said the bill endorses a convention to address “fiscal matters, overreach of the federal government and term limits,” and it could encompass public lands transfer.

“With all of the federal lands in Idaho, we’re operating with one hand tied behind our back,” Loertscher said. “We don’t have the tax base for all of that land.”

Ivory’s home state is also pursuing litigation and congressional action to force land transfers. Utah has conducted a legal analysis and set aside $5 million for a federal court battle, and Ivory hopes to “see a much more constitutionally focused Supreme Court.”

Ivory believes President*elect Donald Trump’s selection of Ryan Zinke, R*Mont., for Secretary of Interior signifies a roadblock toward a congressional solution. Zinke, an avid hunter, has publicly opposed transferring federal lands.
“(Zinke) walked out on the Republican National Committee and declined to become a delegate because the transfer of public land was part of the GOP platform,” Ivory said.

Brian Brooks, executive director of Idaho Wildlife Foundation, believes Idaho sportsmen overwhelmingly oppose public lands transfer, due to the threat of lost public access and the potential for states to sell the land. Idaho has sold 41 percent of its former state lands, he said. Brooks believes any avenue toward forcing a public lands sale is a long shot, but he’s taking the threat seriously, as advocates of the concept are well financed.

“I feel like there are interests who do not represent the majority of Americans who are going to surround Zinke,” Brooks said.
Do

Click to expand...

Southern Elk said:

A constitutional convention...are you kidding me!?!? They are really grasping for straws here.

Click to expand...

Oneye said:

I know isn't it great how desperate he's looking? Nonetheless, I would ask anyone interested to give the guy in Idaho a call. I thought according to Ivory the constitution already said these lands should be returned? Why does it need to be ratified then? And why the hell is my state setting aside millions for a lawsuit not even Ivory believes in? Anyway, we all must continue to apply the pressure and block this stupid idea at every turn.

Click to expand...

Oneye said:

I mean he hangs out with Ivory, what could you expect. I left him a message he didn't answer my call last night. There are some not worth the energy, but you gotta try.

Click to expand...

RunWilderness said:

I had a little chat with him this afternoon. Apparently "my group" is misinformed. He is pro public land. He has always been pro public land. He only wants to amend the federal constitution to stop government regulation. What regulation? Well, that's a bit less clear. It seems the EPA is out of control. But I'm sure he's right, if we just amend the constitution to disallow "government regulation", I'm sure we'll have a perfect compromise on environmental regulations with no unintended consequences.

I can say it was obvious that the calls touched a nerve. If he keeps it up, so shall I.

Click to expand...

RunWilderness said:

I had a little chat with him this afternoon. Apparently "my group" is misinformed. He is pro public land. He has always been pro public land. He only wants to amend the federal constitution to stop government regulation. What regulation? Well, that's a bit less clear. It seems the EPA is out of control. But I'm sure he's right, if we just amend the constitution to disallow "government regulation", I'm sure we'll have a perfect compromise on environmental regulations with no unintended consequences.

I can say it was obvious that the calls touched a nerve. If he keeps it up, so shall I.

Click to expand...

BuzzH said:

One thing that had me laughing, he said that "The Federal Government is trying to keep hunters out of wilderness areas, that's how bad the over-reach is"...

Click to expand...