Sonoran Desert National Monument.
Earlier this week, Republican Sen. Mike Lee from Utah vowed to change his provision to sell off up to 3 million acres of public lands after the Senate Parliamentarian ruled that his provision violated reconciliation law under the Byrd Rule.
But, some are not convinced that his revision is any better.
Laiken Jordahl with the Center for Biological Diversity says after resounding public opposition towards Lee’s first proposal, his new plan is still almost as bad.
“It would still liquidate over a million acres of our cherished public lands, specifically targeting Bureau of Land Management land, which are a lot of places that folks in Southern Arizona go to,” Jordahl said.
Jordahl noted areas around Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument, Sonoran Desert National Monument and the Sky Island Mountain ranges in southern Arizona could be eligible and vulnerable for sale.
Forest Service lands are spared in Lee’s revision but Jordahl says people should still call their senators to weigh in about their public lands.
“ It spares our national forest lands which is good, but it still seeks to sell off lands near the Chiricahuas and the Huachucas, the Dragoons — areas that are beloved by Arizonans,” Jordahl said.
He added that although it’s hard to speculate what the Senate will decide, people nationwide should still call their senators to weigh in about their public lands.
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