Utah to Use Eminent Domain to Seize Federal Land

This is interesting.

In a bit of turnabout is fair play, the state of Utah is planning to try to use Eminent Domain to take land from the Federal Government to be developed by private ownership.

Utah to Use Eminent Domain to Seize Federal Land

For years government has been using declarations of eminent domain to seize private property and use it, supposedly, for the public good. It's a practice that has been abused, and is almost always controversial.

Now, one state proposes an entirely new use of eminent domain: take land from the federal government so that it can be developed by private ownership and investment.

The move comes in the state of Utah, where sixty percent of the state's land is owned by the federal government. Writing for journalist Steve Farrell's new pro-liberty news site, The Moral Liberal, Henry Lamb, author of The rise of Global Governance and chairman of Sovereignty International, noted that the measure, introduced in the Utah state legislator by Representative Christopher Herrod, was motivated by the failure of the U.S. government to live up to its obligations to the state of Utah:

As a condition of statehood, the citizens of Utah were required to “…forever disclaim right and title to unappropriated public lands.” In the same July 16, 1894 Enabling Act, the federal government agreed to grant four sections of every township, and various other grants of land, to the state to provide permanent funding for schools and other government purposes.

Herrod, and his backers, contend that the federal government has not lived up to its end of the bargain, and its failure has imposed economic hardship on Utah.

That hardship is being measured in spending on education. According to the Washington Post, "Utah spends less per student than any other state [on education] and has the nation's largest class sizes."

Read more: The New American

Looks like the states are getting more unruly by the day. I say it's about time!

Well at least you have some fight left. If your state legislature does not fight with the pen,then you are doomed to civil unrest and possibly civil war.

[edit on 29-3-2010 by TaxpayersUnleashed]

This should be really interesting with the Kelo ruling. I have a feeling this is just the start of what is about to come as far as States getting fed up with the fed.

I say it's about time.

This is a good thing, I hope Utah succeeds and if not, they could always secede!!
The condition of feeling 'fed up with' the federal government is spreading from state to state. Bob Dylan even wrote the theme song for this movement LINK




[edit on 29-3-2010 by seataka]

This is very interesting to me, as i am from utah.

I hope we can pull this off. I support it.

UPDATE

It's not just talk anymore, it looks like this has actually been signed into law by the Utah state legislature.

Utah governor signs bills to seize federal land
Two measures approved by Gov. Gary R. Herbert would allow use of eminent domain to take valuable sites. A long court fight is likely.

Salt Lake City - Utah Gov. Gary R. Herbert has signed two bills authorizing the state to use eminent domain to seize some of the federal government's most valuable land.

Supporters hope the bills, which the Republican governor signed Saturday, will trigger a flood of similar legislation throughout the West and, eventually, a Supreme Court battle that they hope to win -- against long odds.

More than 60% of Utah is owned by the U.S. government, and policymakers complain that federal ownership hinders their ability to generate tax revenue and adequately fund public schools. Governments use eminent domain to take private property for public use.

Initially, the state would target three areas, including the Kaiparowits plateau in Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument, which is home to large coal reserves. Eminent domain would also be used on parcels where Interior Secretary Ken Salazar scrapped 77 oil and gas leases last year.

LA Times

Edit to add: I LOVE IT! They're taking back the land the Feds stole to lock up their coal and oil reserves.

[size=12]HA - HA!

I'm sure the Feds will fight this tooth and nail. My hopes and prayers go with the people of Utah on this one!

[edit on 4/6/10 by FortAnthem]