Legislators celebrate end of plan to sell off public lands

Idaho state legislators from both parties celebrated the death of a federal proposal that would have made millions of acres of public lands, including in Idaho, available to be sold off.

On June 30, 43 Republican Idaho state legislators signed a letter thanking U.S. Rep. Mike Simpson and U.S. Sens. Mike Crapo and Jim Risch, all R-Idaho, for protecting access to public lands during the recent federal budget reconciliation process.

“Public lands and access to those lands are a cornerstone of Idaho’s identity,” the letter states. “Thanks to your efforts, these amazing spaces will remain in public hands. By ensuring access to hunting, fishing, grazing and outdoor recreation, Idaho will continue to look like the Idaho we all know and love.”

Idaho’s fourth member of Congress, U.S. Rep. Russ Fulcher, R-Idaho, did not receive a letter and voted to oppose the Public Lands in Public Hands Act, the Utah News Dispatch previously reported.

More than 60% of the land in Idaho is public land of some sort, and outdoor recreation on public lands is a major driver of the state’s economy and a lifeblood for businesses and workers in some small communities located near recreational areas.

Rep. Rod Furniss, R-Rigby, signed the public lands letter and posted a photo of it to social media July 1 with a caption stating “No selling of public lands in Idaho!”

In a phone interview Monday with the Idaho Capital Sun, Furniss said there was a “groundswell of grassroots support” from the public for keeping public land public.

“When this came out my mailbox exploded again,” Furniss said. “I heard Idahoans all over the state say they are against any public land being sold.” 

Only Republicans were asked to sign the June 30 public lands letter, with signers including House Speaker Mike Moyle, R-Star; Senate President Pro Tem Kelly Anthon, R-Burley; House Majority Leader Jason Monks, R-Meridian; and Senate Majority Leader Lori Den Hartog, R-Meridian.

At issue was a proposal included in an earlier version of the so-called “Big Beautiful Bill.” Before he removed the proposal, U.S. Sen Mike Lee, R-Utah, led efforts to include a proposal that would have allowed millions of acres of public land to be sold in the West, including in Idaho, States Newsroom and the Washington State Standard previously reported.

Simpson, Crapo and Risch provided public Republican opposition to the public lands sell-off, with Simpson co-sponsoring the federal Public Lands in Public Hands Act and Crapo and Risch announcing their public opposition June 20 to the public lands sell off component of the budget reconciliation process.

    Risch