Standard-Examiner: Counties Could Seize Federal Land Under Proposed Utah Law

Something of which to make note, O Gentle Weber County Readers and voters, come November, when these folks are standing for re-election and touting their "fiscal prudence," in an election year when each GOP candidate seems hell-bent to prove that he or she is the craziest of all

When it comes to public lands, I consider it a badge of honor to have a constitutional note.

Rep. Ken Sumsion, R-American Fork
Utah House panel OKs bill to let cities seize fed land
February 16, 2012

Entering into such a court fight is ridiculous, especially at a time when budgets are flat and economic concerns linger. The resulting lawsuit could cost "millions and millions of dollars" to argue claims that will almost surely be lost.
"Our legislative counsel isn’t here to make a ruling on whether something is constitutional," King said. "They’re just trying to keep us out of trouble ... and it’s highly probable this whole argument will go down in flames."

Rep. Brian King, D-Salt Lake City
Counties could seize federal land under proposed Utah law
February 27, 2012

 Despite our earlier warning, i.e., that "pickin' a court fight with the feds is an expensive battle that Utah taxpayers are bound to lose," and also notwithstanding the strong "cautions" of legislative counsel that "the bill has is very likely unconstitutional, " the Standard-Examiner reports this morning that nutcase Rep. Sumsion's HB511 has cleared the Utah House, by a 57-14 vote. The bill, which "would [theoretically] give the counties [of Utah] eminent domain power over federal lands," now moves on to the Senate, according this morning's S-E story:

• Counties could seize federal land under proposed Utah law

Being the curious type, we Googled, just to find out how many of our Weber County-based Utah House Representatives gulped the Koolaid, and voted for this knuckle-headed legislation which is sure to cost Utah taxpayers millions of dollars before it goes down in flames, the first time it's tested in Federal Court. Checking yesterday's vote tally we find, sadly, that ALL Weber County State House legislators gave it their thumbs-up.

That's right, folks. House Representatives Brad Dee, Gage Froerer, Richard Greenwood, Brad Galvez, Jeremy Peterson, Dixon Pitcher and Ryan Wilcox ALL fell into line on this madness. Maybe they think it'd be a good idea to condemn that dastardly federal boondoggle, Hill Air Force base, we dunno. The way things are developing however, HAFB looks likely to fall into state hands one way or the other anyway, regardless of happens with HB511, we suppose. Maybe thewy decided it would be wise to get into the base closure and land transfer early on.

Something of which to make note, O Gentle Weber County Readers and voters, come November, when these folks are standing for re-election and touting their "fiscal prudence," in an election year when each and every GOP candidate, locally and nationally, also seems simultaneously hell-bent to prove that he or she is the craziest of them all.

Update 2/28/12 12:00 p.m: Trentelman again chimes in on the issue this morning, in the wake of his earlier Wasatch Rambler column, which was fairly "scathing," in re Utah House Rep. Mike Noel. Here's Trentelman's latest pro-Noel puffpiece, however, wherein he cuts Rep. Noel what we at WCF consider to be undesereved political slack:

• Rep. Mike Noel's take on Utah's federal land lawsuit

So what about it, gentle readers? Did Trentelman back down and "cut Mike Noel a pass," with his most recent journalistic "effort," so-called?