Republicans OK $14M land-transfer lawsuit, say Utah must regain sovereignty
Source: Salt Lake Tribune
The federal government has no constitutional authority to permanently retain millions of acres in Western states, latecomers to the federal union that have thus been relegated to "second-class" status instead of sovereigns on equal footing with the older states to the east of the 100th meridian.
That's the conclusion of a 145-page legal analysis submitted Wednesday to the Utah Legislature by a team of outside lawyers hired to weigh Utah's legal prospects in its public lands fight with the federal government. The team urged Utah to go to court, estimating the cost at $14 million.
... Citing the consultants' conclusions, the Utah Commission for the Stewardship of Public Lands on Wednesday voted to direct them to prepare a complaint asserting a claim to 31 million acres of public land. It would be left up to Utah Attorney General Sean Reyes to decide whether such a case would be filed, mostly likely as a petition for original jurisdiction before the U.S. Supreme Court.
The commission's Republican members, however, made it clear they support litigating the question, even though the consultants cautioned that the suit carries a stiff price tag and its course and outcome would be fraught with uncertainty.
Read more: http://www.sltrib.com/news/3287281-155/republicans-ok-14m-land-transfer-lawsuit-say
ErikJ
(6,335 posts)They'd love to get their hands on the coal /mineral/oil rights.
Docreed2003
(16,869 posts)I fear that we will forever lose some of the most majestic land in the entire US. Development and resource utilization seems to be trumping preservation daily...
cstanleytech
(26,305 posts)vanamonde
(165 posts)iemitsu
(3,888 posts)States rights is a curse not a blessing.
sofa king
(10,857 posts)Wellstone ruled
(34,661 posts)Nothing more and nothing less.
Shrike47
(6,913 posts)They gave up any claim to it when they joined the Union.
Downwinder
(12,869 posts)The land was captured from Mexico. Were there land grants like California and Texas or were the settlers just squatters?
Xolodno
(6,398 posts)It's a legal nightmare born from the US-Mexican (recognized government) war. On the US side......."we won, so suck it". On the Mexican side.....will never forget. US courts sided with...well....you know. And brought resentment.
Graffiti, wrote on a wall as I left Mexicali, "The invasion is on, Coca Cola, etc." They don't view things as them invading...but rather us imposing on them.
Response to Downwinder (Reply #8)
Shrike47 This message was self-deleted by its author.
cstanleytech
(26,305 posts)Turbineguy
(37,359 posts)the hallmark of the republican method.