3/7/2014

My view: History lesson: 'Taking back' federal lands | Deseret News

47

Search

Deseret News

NATIONAL EDITION

Advertisewithus

Reportthisad

My view: History lesson: 'Taking back' federal lands

ByJ.MarkWard FortheDeseretNews Published:Friday,March7201412:00a.m.MST Updated:17hoursago
Share
31

WhatYouMayHaveMissed
Thefatherfactor:Whathappenswhen dadisnowheretobefound? 'SonofGod'coproducerRomaDowney hopesmovieinspiresnewinterestand faithinJesus Utahteen'slifeandlegacyinspires ImagineDragonstocreatefoundation

Print

Font[+][]

8Comments

Share

29

Tweet

Federal land transfer issues can be complicated. Still, public dialogue should be factually correct. The Bennett editorial characterizes Utahs past position as a barrier to the current lands movement. Derns testimony corrects this mispercept
ReedSaxon,AP Enlargephoto

Signupfornewsupdates
EmailAddress

Summary
Federallandtransferissuescan becomplicated.Still,public dialogueshouldbefactually correct.TheBennetteditorial characterizesUtahspastposition asabarriertothecurrentlands movement.Dernstestimony correctsthismispercept

Robert Bennett, in his editorial Utah unlikely to take back federal lands, (Feb. 17) tells a story he heard that President Hoover offered to transfer federal lands to the states, but Western states, led by Utah Gov. George Dern, said no. Bennett concludes an offer like that wont happen again because, We had the chance and turned it down. This implies Utahs leaders then and now must be a bunch of buffoons on this issue. Some fact checks are in order: First, there was no federal offer of substance. It was a bill Congress never passed. Second, Gov. Dern opposed the bill because it gave states onlysurfacerightstoland, retaining all mineral rights (oil, gas, coal, etc.), for the federal government. He testified to the U.S. House Committee on Public Lands in February 1932 that he opposed a land transfer with everything else taken out that is worth anything at all so that we will have nothing but the skin of a squeezed lemon, and if we cannot get immediate control and rehabilitation of our public domain, we are against this whole proposition.

Advertisewithus

Reportthisad

MostPopular
In Opinion Across Site

Inouropinion:BoyScoutsofAmericaand... SenatedefeatsObamainJusticenod Sen.TedCruzopens2014CPACwith... Letter:Religiousfreedom DougRobinson:Utahmandiscoverspowerful... Inouropinion:Maintainingbalance Myview:Adoptionlegislation:Children... Myview:Historylesson:'Takingback'...

Get The Deseret News Everywhere

Subscribe

Mobile

Facebook

Twitter

RSS

Email

MostCommented
In Opinion
Letter:MinimumWageinsufficient

Across Site
65 62 60

HasObama'sforeignpolicyemboldened... JayEvensen:Obamacoulduseadoseof... Letter:Religiousfreedom 46

Third, Dern lamented the loss of funding for highways Obama'sbiggesttest:Ukraine 33 and other projects that would result from federal lands RobertBennett:Keystone:What... 32 transferring to Utah, but he plainly still supported a MichaelGerson:TheGOPneedsto... 22 transfer ifthemineralrightswereincluded: http://www.deseretnews.com/article/865598096/History-lesson-Taking-back-federal-lands.html?pg=all#EWiGXoMmQSMzvspv.03

1/4

3/7/2014

My view: History lesson: 'Taking back' federal lands | Deseret News

transfer ifthemineralrightswereincluded: If this proposed gift included all the public lands except the national parks and if it carried with it all the minerals therein contained, I am sure we would all rise up and rejoice over an act of justice long deferred. Leaving legalistic technicalities out of consideration, the States of the West have always felt that every State that is admitted into the Union on an equal footing with the original thirteen States is the rightful sovereign over all the lands within its borders, including everything above and beneath the surface. The question was posed to Gov. Dern: Mr. Yon: If this Congress should pass a bill turning over to the States all of the unappropriated lands and their resources, on the surface and under the surface, and if those lands were given to the States would that be a satisfactory gift under these provisions? Gov. Dern: "I think so. I think most of the states would be satisfied if that were done . There has been much agitation for regulation and control of the public domain; and furthermore, there has been much contention between the Federal Government and the public-lands States with respect to public lands matters for all these years, and a lot of disharmony that ought to be straightened out, and moreover there has been much complaint about bureaucratic management. I think all those things may have induced the President [Hoover] to feel that he would like to relieve the States of some of this bureaucratic management and give them a chance to run their own affairs a little more. This all comes from a record of a federal hearing,Bills proposingtograntVacant,Unreserved, UnappropriatedLandstoAcceptingStatesandfor OtherPurposes. Federal land transfer issues can be complicated. Still, public dialogue should be factually correct. Bennett's editorial characterizes Utahs past position as a barrier to the current lands movement. Derns testimony corrects this misperception of Utahs past, showing Utahs position then squares with Utahs today: Barrier removed. Let us reclaim Gov. Derns good name by reporting well Derns position then and Utahs current position now. J.MarkWardisaseniorpolicyanalystandpublic landscounselwiththeUtahAssociationofCounties.
Share
31

MichaelGerson:TheGOPneedsto... Sen.TedCruzopens2014CPACwith...

22 22

Advertisewithus

Reportthisad

Share

29

Tweet

Popular Comments
Esquire Springville,UT

Seeall8comments

Please, drop it. Utah receives more benefit from federal lands than it would otherwise. The quality of life is better for the whole of us. We have generally free access to the land, which would not be the case if the lands were turned over to the More..
6:59a.m.March7,2014 Topcomment

http://www.deseretnews.com/article/865598096/History-lesson-Taking-back-federal-lands.html?pg=all#EWiGXoMmQSMzvspv.03

liberal larry saltlakeCity,utah

2/4

3/7/2014

liberal larry saltlakeCity,utah

My view: History lesson: 'Taking back' federal lands | Deseret News

It is important to keep federal land out of the hands of state and local governments! Local entities are just to weak to resist the power that special interests such as big oil, wield. Federal control is keeping much of our Western lands More..
7:36a.m.March7,2014 Topcomment

Ultra Bob CottonwoodHeights,UT

How do you take back something you never owned in the first place? Why do conservatives refuse to recognize that our national government is the American People and not some evil monster lording it over the poor, sovereign, states made up More..
7:57a.m.March7,2014 Topcomment Leaveacomment

Comments

DeseretNews.comencouragesacivildialogueamongitsreaders.Wewelcomeyourthoughtfulcomments. Aboutcomments

TRENDINGAROUNDTHEWEB

ADVERTISEMENT

ShopBrilliant Earthsbeyond conflictfree diamondrings, antiquerings,and finejewelry!

Advertisewithus

Shocking!Here's WhatHappened WhenWeTested TheTopProbiotics

Havea$500,000 portfolio?Ken Fisher,a27year Forbescolumnist, hasaretirement guideforyou!

UtahWillthisstock explode?Canyou turn$1,000into $100,000?

TheFDAhas approvedasolution forsnoring&sleep apnea...

Reportthisad

http://www.deseretnews.com/article/865598096/History-lesson-Taking-back-federal-lands.html?pg=all#EWiGXoMmQSMzvspv.03

3/4

3/7/2014

My view: History lesson: 'Taking back' federal lands | Deseret News

SponsoredResults $800OnlineIn2Days Limited1000Spots!AsSeenInCNN& BusinessInsider!
BlackToroMedia.iljmp.com
Advertisewithus

MakeMoneyOnlineEASY! LearnhowaSimple3StepSystemcan fattenyourbank

www.teamgforce.com

$69/HrPaidInstantly NoScam,Realistic$69PerHour,No Boss,GreatPay,

www.paidinstantly.com

Reportthisad

Home
Home
Blogs Topics Lists Movies

Utah

U.S.&World

Sports

Moneywise

Opinion
Sports
UtahJazz SportsPicks BYUCougars UtahUtes

Faith

Family

Obituaries
Opinion
Editorials OpEds Letters PoliticalCartoons

Signupformorningorafternoonupdates

Utah
Politics Business Education SaltLakeCounty UtahCounty DavisCounty Police/Courts Legislature Weather Immigration UtahWire

Family
Marriage&Parenting FamilyMedia MovieGuide Calendar TVListings FamilyLifeWire

Columnists WatchIt

UtahStateAggies RealSaltLake SaltLakeBees Highschoolsports Rock Harmon WatchIt ScoresandStats OnTV NFL

Faith
FeaturedFaiths MormonTimes LDSChurchNews MissionReunions FaithWire

Special Sections
EducationWeek LDSGeneralConference MormonsinAmerica Olympics OutdoorRetailer Rugby SportsPicks SundanceFilmFestival UtahBlaze UtahGrizzlies

DownloadourMobileApps

MLB WeberStateWildcats Grizzlies UtahValleyWolverines SouthernUtahUniversity SportsWire

PrintSubscription Aboutus Contactus FAQ Feedback Jobs RSS EEdition Privacypolicy TermsofUse Legalnotices Advertisewithus MobileApps

Advertisewithus

Reportthisad

http://www.deseretnews.com/article/865598096/History-lesson-Taking-back-federal-lands.html?pg=all#EWiGXoMmQSMzvspv.03

4/4