In decades past, Idahoans elected leaders who worked to preserve public lands for future generations. Sixty-two years ago, Democratic Senator Frank Church helped pass the Wilderness Act, the most significant land protection law in American history. It now safeguards more than 111 million acres nationwide.

Democratic Governor Cecil Andrus helped secure the Sawtooth Wilderness and later protected more land as Secretary of the Interior. Democratic Congressman Larry LaRocco passed legislation establishing the Morley Nelson Snake River Birds of Prey National Conservation Area.

Today, too many politicians are abandoning the places where people hunt, fish, and recreate.

Last year, Republicans in Congress tried to use their disastrous budget bill to put millions of acres of public land up for sale. One Senate proposal would have sold up to 3.3 million acres. Mike Crapo and Jim Risch voted against an amendment to prevent those sales. They retreated only after outraged Idahoans mounted fierce opposition.

In the House, Russ Fulcher opposed the bipartisan Public Lands in Public Hands Act, voted against an amendment to block federal land sales, and backed a committee package that included selling hundreds of thousands of acres in Utah and Nevada.

Trump has also acted outside Congress to dismantle protections, with no pushback from Idaho Republicans.

He slashed Bears Ears and Grand Staircase-Escalante national monuments in Utah by nearly 3 million acres through a legally disputed action. Clear majorities of Utah voters wanted both monuments left intact. These lands can now be opened to development and potential sales. Trump is also moving to repeal the Roadless Rule, removing protections from roughly 45 million acres of national forest.

Trump has also installed people in key positions who put private interests ahead of the lands we all share.

Steve Pearce now leads the Bureau of Land Management. His record of supporting public land sales prompted hunters, anglers, conservation groups, and other Idahoans to oppose his nomination. Crapo and Risch backed him anyway.

Trump also put Idaho billionaire Michael Boren in charge of the U.S. Forest Service. This summer, Boren pressed for extra federal firefighting resources when a small fire burned near his ranch. Nine aircraft responded, far more than expected, while more threatening fires burned across the region. Congressional Democrats are investigating whether he misused public resources.

Idaho Democrats are using public office differently. Senator James Ruchti helped advance Senate Joint Memorial 111 opposing large-scale public land sales and transfers. Democratic Leader Ilana Rubel pushed bipartisan legislation to preserve tens of millions of dollars for replacing state lands sold into private ownership.

Democrats have shown what Idahoans can make possible. This November, Idahoans can elect leaders who share their commitment to public lands for the generations still to come.

Onward,

Lauren Necochea
Idaho Democratic Party Chair