The Colorado House stood tall this week in opposition to the ill- considered federal plan to sell off chunks of national forests and other public lands.
Fully two-thirds of the state’s representatives signed on as co-sponsors to a resolution opposing the land sale plan, and it passed without dissent. A companion measure is pending in the state Senate, where it also has bipartisan support.
While not legally binding, HJR 1018 shows the depth of concern over the proposed land sales. It’s primary authors are Republican Reps. Rob Witwer of Jefferson County and Mark Larsen of Archuleta County, and Sens. Kiki Traylor, R-Jefferson County, and Lois Tochtrop, D-Adams County.
The resolution spotlights how important federal lands are to Colorado, a state which makes maximum use of open spaces and outdoor recreation. The resolution notes that already, the demand for state open-space money outpaces the available funds by more than 3 to 1.
While the Bush administration says state and local governments would get first dibs on buying any federal parcels, “the use of state and local government funds to help purchase these United States Forest Service parcels would deplete dollars” needed to meet other open goals, the resolution said.
The resolution sums up why the proposed sales has so alarmed Westerners: “Colorado’s federal, state and locally protected lands are an invaluable asset that provide an open space, recreation, tourism and economic resource that defines us as a state.”
