Wednesday, February 14, 2018

Lex Anteinternet: The 2018 Wyoming Legislative Session. At What Point Is Enough, Enough?

I'm already running a thread on the 2018 Wyoming Legislative Session, which is supposed to be a budget session.  That thread is here:
Lex Anteinternet: The 2018 Wyoming Legislative Session.: Another one of our trailing posts. It hardly seems possible, but the 2018 Wyoming Legislative session is soon to begin and bills are n...
But I'm adding this short comment as at some point, enough should be enough.

Once again, in spite of massive public opposition to it, some hardcore right wing legislators are trying to lay the groundwork for a proposal that's actually banned by the Wyoming Constitution; that being acquiring land from the Federal Government.  The post above addresses that here:
keep-it-public-files_main-graphic

And here we go yet again.


Yet another misguided effort to get the Federal domain transferred to the state.

HOUSE BILL NO. HB0094
State lands-net gain in acreage.
Sponsored by: Representative(s) Jennings, Clem, Edwards, Halverson, Lone, Miller, Stith and Winters and Senator(s) Hicks
A BILL
for
AN ACT relating to state lands; providing that the acquisition of lands from the federal government may increase total trust land acreage; and providing for an effective date.
Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Wyoming:
Section 1.  W.S. 36‑2‑111 is created to read:
362111.  Acquisition of trust lands.
Subject to any other limitations as provided by law, the board is authorized to acquire land from the federal government or any federal agency that would increase total trust land acreage held by the state.  Any land acquired under this section shall not be included in any rule, policy or formula that limits the total trust land acreage which is or can be held by the state.
Section 2.  This act is effective July 1, 2018.
This one the sponsors managed to sneak in somehow without much notice.  Boo Hiss.

This will go to the floor this morning, February 14, 2018.   Call your legislature and leave a message.  Enough of this.

To make sure we keep public lands in public hands, call the the House Floor receptionist before 10 a.m.—307.777.7852—and tell your legislator to VOTE NO on HB 94.
This proposal is illegal.

Illegal.

The Wyoming Constitution prohibits this and the public doesn't want it.

Regarding that public, it's interesting to note that one of the legislators proposing this was appointed to his position and was sued as he doesn't even live in his disctrict.

I mean, come on.

Likewise there's this:

In other bills, Chuck Gray has proposed a bill to bypass the Attorney General of Wyoming and allow the legislature to hire an attorney to sue the State of Washington over coal terminals. This is a really bad idea and it won't go anywhere.

If it were to pass, it would fund some lawyer for an expensive suit that would surely fail.  It would be more productive to simply burn the cash.
This is a horrifically bad ideal. The lawsuit would lose.  It has no chance  whatsoever of success.  Everyone ought to know that.

That a few gadfly bills get in every year is, I suppose, not surprise.  But attacking the will of the people on public lands, again, is appalling.

And the right wing elements of the legislature that have become so enamored with filing lawsuits ought to step back and realizes that what they do, is lose.

Come on guys.  If you want to be in court all the time, go to law school and become a public defender.  You'll be in it constantly.  And if you the idea of the Federal Government owning public land. . .New York is calling you.

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