Jason Chaffetz Pulls Bill Aiming to Sell Off Public Lands

Last Tuesday, Jason Chaffetz (R-UT) introduced two bills, H.R. 621 and H.R. 622. The first had the explicit aim to sell Federal lands; the second, to "terminate the law enforcement functions of the Forest Service and the Bureau of Land Management." Today, after ongoing public outcry —including rallies in state houses across the West — Chaffetz announced, by way of an Instagram post (see above), that he is walking back on the first bill. "I am withdrawing HR 621," Chaffetz writes. "I'm a proud gun owner, hunter and love our public lands. The bill would have disposed of small parcels of lands Pres. Clinton identified as serving no public purpose but groups I support and care about fear it sends the wrong message."...more