Wyoming long has had an independent streak in its right-leaning politics, but a position on federal lands staked out by a Republican gubernatorial candidate still might cause some in the state to catch their breath: Taylor Haynes would open Yellowstone National Park to mining and grazing.
Mr. Haynes, whose diverse background includes degrees in urology and mechanical engineering and time spent ranching, said if elected one of his first tasks would be to send letters to the federal land-management agencies telling them to turn their lands over to the state and get their operations out of Wyoming.
“Then, in whichever county they attempt to have any official activity, they will be arrested for impersonating a law enforcement officer in Wyoming,” he told the Casper Star-Tribune last week.
The 68-year-old Republican bases his plan on the grounds that the U.S. Constitution allows the federal government to own just 10 miles of land, in Washington, D.C., for offices and operations, and that the state could do a much better job of managing the federal lands.
How successful would Mr. Haynes' proposal be in terms of the state's tourism industry? Yellowstone and Grand Teton national parks likely would fare well for their iconic status. But other park units in the state? Do you remember Shoshone Cavern National Monument? The site outside Cody, Wyoming, was designated in 1909 by presidential proclamation, and given to Cody in 1954. Have you heard of it?
Before Mr. Haynes can put his plan to work, he has to win the GOP gubernatorial nomination next month (current Gov. Matt Mead, a Republican, is seeking re-election), and then the general election in November.
Comments
Ideally, here at the Traveler we'd like to interview a number of political candidates this year to explore their views on public lands. But that's an ambitious project, and would require some substantial monetary resources to commission the writers to generate the interviews. Figure a minimum of $500 per story. We could create a special fund-raising drive if there's enough interest (both in the stories and in contributing to the cause).
Of course. Since you are a realtor, you would profit off the exchange of titles from those lands. Some of us want to see beyond such greed and see lakes, valleys, and mountains protected from the onslaught of misguided development. Let's hope the west never fully turns into what happened east of the Mississippi.
I wish people wouldn't refer to other people as trolls. It adds nothing useful to the discussion.
Moreover, ec is not a troll, even if such characterizations were warranted generally. He has a point of view and if he expresses it vigorously, as far as I recall he does so reasonably.
Let's please desist from the name-calling.
I agree Gary.
Gary,
The chances of me profiting off the sales of state land are zero. And, in fact, I endorse many policies that would be negative for Realtors, i.e I would get rid of the mortgage tax deduction as part of comprehensive tax reform; i am against federal flood insurance; I don't contrubute to the local realtor PAC because I don't endorse many of their positions and I protest the mandatory PAC fees charged by NAR for the same reason. But keep throwing out those strawmen, they make for your best arguments.
Yes Smokies, I do see the irony. Yet, I dont sense so much that they are looking for us to treat them as royalty. I believe the problem is that we have different visions. Rather than respecting that differance and rationally discussing it, their inability to put forth valid arguments leaves them only the tactic of slandering their opponents ethics, morals or motivations.
EC, Don't you find it ironic that someone who makes their living off the NPS is lecturing you on what they think you would do if the opportunity arose? Then another NPS employee calls people "trolls" and anyone who questions the NPS has an "entitlement mentality". What a cabal here. Last I checked this magazine is called National Parks Traveler, not National Parks Employee Advocate and the best example of entitlement mentality I have seen is this attitude from NPS employees expecting us to treat them like the royalty they perceive themselves to be. Forgive us self employed, taxpaying citizens for having an opinion. And you wonder why folks question this bureaucracy with a pervasive mindset typified here. Hello pot, meet kettle.
Oh, and for the record, if Haynes truly wants to open Yellowstone to development or sell it off to private interests, I would be totally against it. I just don't see where he has ever advocated that position and believe he is being unfairly castigated for a position he doesn't hold solely because he is a conservative.