BILLINGS, Mont. (AP) — More than 2 million acres of federal lands would be sold to states or other entities under a budget proposal from Utah Republican Sen. Mike Lee.
The draft provision in the GOP’s sweeping tax cut package comes after after a similar proposal was narrowly defeated in the House.
Montana Sen. Steve Daines said in response that he opposes public land sales.
Lee says the sales would target isolated parcels that could be used for housing or infrastructure.
Conservation groups reacted with outrage, saying it would set a precedent to fast-track the handover of cherished lands to developers.
Reporting by Matthew Brown, Associated Press
Banner image: A view of the suburbs of Las Vegas from atop the Stratosphere tower looking west down Sahara Ave., towards the Spring Mountains, Feb. 9, 2005. (AP Photo/Joe Cavaretta, File)
