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
Twice, in fact!
Kurt, maybe third time's a charm. We'll have to wait a couple of days to find out.
Speaking of immigratin, just finished an excellent book on the history of California (California: a History, by Kevin Starr). The population explosion out here is amazing. A couple hundred thousand people around 1850, about a million in early 1900s, roughly 7 million around WWII and 38 million now. And projections are showing 60 million people by 2050. So, the west is getting crowded.
Well if the Sagebrushers succeed in taking over the Teton's, I'd like first dibbs on that old broken down barn that sits out there in the front-- I'm sure no one else is interested?
"I'm not going to drill in Yellowstone."
You mean you'd actually trust a politician?
Trust - but verify.
Ah yes. The Russian proverb stolen by Ronald Reagan and widely attributed to be an original thought by the great man. (Or one of his speech writers.)
Доверяй, но проверяй
Trouble is that if verification of Haynes' promise is ever needed it will be too late when the drill rig is setting up on Old Faithful's dome.
;-}
Stolen? If someone says something no one else can say it again with it being "stolen". I guess i stole it too. As far as I know Reagan never claimed it was his original thought.
Lee, you really will go out of your way to try to disparage any conservative figure.
BTW - if you don't believe anything a politician says, why do you bother listening to them?