Senate approves bill to condemn federal land

The Utah Senate has agreed to challenge Washington by condemning federal lands that the state needs to access state school-trust lands for mineral developments. HB143 strikes at what proponents say is an uncaring federal government that's increasingly restrictive on land uses. Lawmakers acknowledged a tough court fight if the state claims federal land, but backers said it's worth the estimated $3 million legal bill for potentially billions in mineral revenues that would help fund education. "There is phenomenal wealth that is in our ground that could be enjoyed by the children of this state if only we could get to it, said Sen. Steve Urquhart, R-St. George. But the Senate also passed a companion bill, HB324, dedicating money from a state land-exchange fund for the legal costs, and some Democrats objected. "That $3 million would be so much better expended at a million dollars a year in our public education now," said Sen. Gene Davis, D-Salt Lake City. Lawmakers who want to condemn federal land say Congress reneged on a deal at statehood that offered 5 percent of the revenues from sales of federal lands. Sen. John Valentine, R-Orem, said that argument won't hold up in court because Utah also agreed to give up any claims to the federal lands as a condition of statehood. Nonetheless, he voted for the bills because, he said, there may be a legitimate constitutional claim that Utah did not come into the Union on equal footing with other states because of land restrictions...read more