A bill that would ban the federal government from selling public lands died today at the Montana Legislature, mostly because opponents said it is unconstitutional.
Republican Senator Jennifer Fielder is carrying seven bills this session dealing with the sale of public lands, and this one, Senate Bill 274, is one of the biggest. Fielder says the government will sell open lands to “the highest bidder” in order to pay for the national debt.
“Congress is $18 trillion in debt, and Congress has full power to dispose public lands.”
Many land and wildlife conservation groups share the same argument against the bill: it’s unconstitutional to tell the government what to do with their lands. Republican Senator Scott Sales chairs the committee that killed the bill and says he voted it down for that reason.
“As long as the land’s in their possession, which it has been since Louisiana Purchase, I can’t support the bill.”
The bill died on a five to seven vote.