Editor,

In the “Transfer of Public Lands Act”, Utah is missing a vital point: Land within its borders belong to Utah, not to the federal government. An honest reading of the U.S. Constitution shows the federal government can only control two types of lands: Washington, D.C. and military sites “purchased” from the States. (Article I, Section 8, Clause 17). Court rulings based upon the “Property Clause” (Article 4, Section 3, Clause 2) utilize the words, “Territory or other Property belonging to the United States” which actually refers to U.S. land before that land became a state.

Think of it. It does not make sense for any of the 13 original states to have portions of their state be under federal control. States gave land to the federal government, not the other way around. But, don’t expect the federal government to give up lands it has controlled for decades, especially when the Dept. of Interior is controlled by liberals, because their basic philosophy is for more and more centralized control. Look at all of the regulations and spending since 2006, especially in the Obama Administration!

Don Olson,

Bountiful