McCluskey letter: Public lands
On Feb. 25, Rep. Linden Bateman, R-Idaho Falls, asked his fellow legislators why his constituents don’t trust him or his colleagues. “Over the last several years, there’s been quite a bit of support (in the Legislature) for the theory that at least some federal lands should be managed by the states,” Bateman said. “But most of the feedback I get is in opposition. It’s almost like people aren’t conscious of their own citizenship. They don’t trust the people they elect; they’re more inclined to trust federal bureaucrats.”
Dear Representative Bateman: Your constituents trust federal bureaucrats more than they trust legislators because they know those employees work for them and all Americans and not a handful of wealthy businesspeople or special interests. As employees, they have sworn to uphold and enforce federal laws that govern the management of public lands. They have devoted careers to ensuring that those lands are handed to future generations for their use and enjoyment, and yes, some have even lost their lives protecting those lands. I think if you got to know some of your constituents that work for natural resource agencies in Idaho, you would be pleasantly surprised.
Cal McCluskey, McCall
This story was originally published March 30, 2016 at 6:32 PM with the headline "McCluskey letter: Public lands."