Simpson and Public Lands

I often do stories on U.S. Rep. Mike Simpson of Idaho on the agriculture side but let me tell you why representative Simpson is so good for sportsmen. He recently told a House committee hearing on the U.S. Forest Service budget why public lands matter to Idahoans. "Let me tell you why people live in Idaho," he said during a recent House committee hearing on the U.S. Forest Service budget. "They live in Idaho because they love their public lands. They like access to them for recreation, for hunting and fishing, or all the activities they do on public lands."

On the other hand, Idaho Rep. Raul Labrador views public lands as an onerous burden, an under-utilized resource that should be transferred to the states for management or even disposal. Guess what happens if you dispose of your rights to public lands. Again, Mr. Simpson.

Let me tell you what happens when you sell those public lands. We just sold 30,000 acres in Idaho to a couple of Texans. That was fun. All of a sudden they denied access. All of a sudden people can't access their favorite fishing hole or hunting grounds and in Idaho, that doesn't mean you just go around 30,000 acres you have to get in a helicopter and go over it or come in from the Montana side.