Tell Fulcher to leave our public lands alone

Rep. Russ Fulcher recently sent Idahoans a survey seeking input on public lands management. Idahoans should pay close attention. The survey follows Fulcher’s suggestion late last year that transferring national public lands to state control may be imminent. 

Such a transfer would deliver a major threat to our Idaho values and way of life. It would saddle Idaho with an exploding state budget and create substantial pressure to raise taxes or sell our public land to cover those costs. 

A recent Backcountry Hunters & Anglers analysis estimated that Idaho could face an $837.7 million financial burden under this scenario. Idaho is already struggling to pay the rising cost of fighting wildfires on state lands. Taking responsibility for millions more acres would force taxpayers to choose between exploding our state budget or selling lands where we love to hunt, fish, hike and camp.

Our public lands belong to all Americans and must remain in public hands. 

Idahoans should make clear in their survey comments to Rep. Fulcher that transferring national public lands to the state or local control is not sound management. It is a path toward their eventual sale and a significant threat to our values and way of life as Idahoans. Our congressional delegation should reject that path unequivocally. Let Rep. Fulcher know we need to keep public lands in public hands at fulcher.house.gov/ProtectOurLands.

ROB MASON

Boise