After spending the evening with a lot of angry white Aberdonians afraid that The Brown Man is coming to take their land (and listening to one Red Aberdonian remind them that all the rest of us are illegal immigrants), I came home to learn that the U.S. Board on Geographic Names voted 12–0 to change the name of Harney Peak to Black Elk Peak.
Boy, Neal Tapio, now’s the time to bring Donald Trump to South Dakota to make the colonialists feel great again.
South Dakota’s highest point shall now be known by the name of a Lakota holy man in whose spirituality that granite crest plays a central role. South Dakota’s Board on Geographic Names declined last year to strike from the tallest Black Hill the name of a massacring white general who probably never set foot on the mountain. But even the threat of replacing Harney (a name given in the 1850s but officially approved only 110 years ago) with Black Elk drove Watertown Rep. Lee Schoenbeck (again, Watertown!?) to kill our state geographic naming board. (The Legislature settled for hamstringing the board’s authority to act only when instructed by the Legislature.)
South Dakota’s Republican leaders aren’t accepting the new name graciously. Governor Dennis Daugaard grouses:
I am surprised by this decision, as I have heard very little support in South Dakota for renaming Harney Peak. This federal decision will cause unnecessary expense and confusion. I suspect very few people know the history of either Harney or Black Elk [Governor Dennis Daugaard, press release, 2016.08.11].
Heard very little support? Um, Pennington County Democrats? South Dakota Democrats? John Tsitrian? Representative Shawn Bordeaux? A majority of Dakota Free Press readers?
Expense? Come on, Dennis! Think economic development and entrepreneurial opportunity! Smart Black Hills vendors will mark up those Harney Peak t-shirts and tchotchkes 200% for the Trump/Nugent fans clearing out of the Rally this weekend. Then souvenir sellers will be able to tap a whole new market of people looking to update their gear with new Black Elk Peak logos! Plus, this decision puts the Black Hills and South Dakota in the national news! Don’t be a sourpuss—ride the wave! Celebrate the name change, and instead of poo-pooing the history, use your position to educate everyone and encourage everyone to come to South Dakota to learn this important history!
Senator John Thune is mad:
I’m surprised and upset by the U.S. Board on Geographic Names’ unilateral decision to rename Harney Peak, one of South Dakota’s most well-known landmarks…. The national board’s choice to reject the state’s recommendation to leave the name as-is defies logic, since it was state officials who so carefully solicited public feedback and ultimately came to their decision. I’m also disappointed the board grossly misled my office with respect to the timeline of its decision, which wasn’t expected until next year” [Senator John Thune, press release, 2016.08.11].
A unilateral decision, made by a board authorized by federal law to make such decisions—sure, Senator, keep griping.
Senator Thune went on KSOO yesterday to complain that there was “no transparency, and no input from us…. it’s our state… I know it’s federal land, but still…. there was no input or consultation from South Dakota.” Senator Thune ignores the fact that the “Black Elk” suggestion came from Basil Brave Heart, a Lakota elder born on Pine Ridge, which, like it or not, is part of South Dakota.
USBGN passed on Thunder Peak, an alternative offered as a compromise to satisfy Harney opponents and avoid provoking non-Natives.
The USGS Geographic Names Information System already lists “Black Elk Peak” as the official name of South Dakota’s highest point, as of yesterday;
The mountain is still the mountain, beautiful, some would say sacred, and worth the hike and a long, contemplative pause at the top. Its new name is an invitation to meditate further during that hike and at the summit about that landmark, the land it surveys, and the history of the peoples who have looked up to that peak.
Oh noes. Poor widdle wingnuts. First its a mountain. Next thing you know they’ll give the Black Hills some Indian name.
Paha Sapa?
Thune is surprised and upset about this….. but never never never mad enough to pull his support from a bigoted and reckless man who is running for President?
Gov D thinks this is unnecessary and will cause unnecessary expense. Whatever expense this may be, will it cost the state more than what it is costing the state right now by refusing to expand Medicaid? (Hey Gov D. If it involves reprinting brochures and so-forth, just give the print job to some of your buds)
Just a head shaker that this is what causes these people to blow a gasket. And their reasoning for that blown gasket is ridiculous.
Don’t Governor Daugaard and Senator Thune has better things to do than whine about a name change?
Who. Gives. A. Damn.
Peking is now Beijing, Bombay is now Mumbai, Puff Daddy is now P. Diddy or just Diddy or who knows. When will the madness stop?
The fear of loosing stolen land runs deep in South Dakota. That is why Bill Janklow was so revered as the “Indian Fighter”. Rubes will be rubes so there is really nothing to be gained by disparaging them. Thanks to the custodians of the Black Hills for having the foresight to rename this place so that visitors can see that this is really a destination place to come for viewing along with the experience. I have not heard anything from South Dakota tourism on this name change but after seeing low numbers for the rally this year, I am thinking they may be in favor of anything that will help to drive tourism to western South Dakota. This moaning from the governor and his henchmen is all the more reason to make the change in the legislature. Send some money to the down ticket and especially to those that will help change the direction of our state. Roger does that, I do that, lets all do that. Clean House!
Thank you to the dedicated volunteers who worked diligently to achieve this result! It is not insignificant – it was time to remove Harney’s name from that holy place. “Black Elk” was the most suitable name to be chosen as a replacement and it is to the Board of Geo Names credit that they saw fit to enact it. The easy path would have been to leave Harney’s name on the peak, but sometimes the easy route is not the wisest.
It should be noted that Black Elk Peak is not only the highest point in SD, but the most prominent feature in the long-established Black Elk Wilderness. Long live Black Elk!
Between Harney and Black Elk peak I’ll go along with Black Elk.
Why should we celebrate a man who massacred natives. The Black Hills are sacred to the tribes and is government land. Mr Thune you have a lot more to worry about then this.
Yay for So Dakota, it’s a much prettier name. It fits the majestic Black Hills much better also. .
I’m not surprised that Thune would be on the side of the white man.
The Native Americans just can’t be thoughtfully respected at all in So Dak can they?
Thune and Daugaard are just coming off as sounding like whiners.
Right after my post, Doug Wiken comes along and gives the Black Hills an Indian name. I WARNED you!
Wingnuts freaked when Obama changed the name of Mount Denali to Mount Denali. Ohioans seemed to be particularly upset that the carpetbagging McKinley’s name was changed back to the original Denali. Rumour has it McKinley never set foot in Alaska. Obama has.
pep0le are gonna be confused
I’m just sayin
Bernie Hunhof said, a “Lakota told us in Pierre last legislative session that naming the sacred mountain after Harney would be like naming a Vietnam village Calley, for the man responsible for the My Lai Massacre.”
According to my Native Studies prof. Black Elk along with General Harney, also never set foot on top of “the tallest peak east of the Rockies”, he only stood at the “center of the world” in his vision. But, no matter, I’m afraid that we locals will continue to call it Harney, just “Harney”, it may take a generation or two to finally call it Black Elk Peak, the sad reality is the Mountain Pine Beetle has taken a toll on the entire Black Hills region and also the trail and area around the peak are heavily impacted by human traffic and overuse. What the Black Hills really needs is time alone to heal its self, but sadly tourism dollars are very much depended on in this area of S.D. so that will never happen.
pep0le are gonna be confused
They already are confused. That is why they are known as wingnuts. No law in the state or world will force them to say Black Elk Peak instead of slaughterman Harney.
Mark my word, in this years legislature the Republican majority will pass a law directing all state agencies to ignore this federal directive. General Harney will be honored as a great leader and humanitarian.
Maybe the Feds should also rename Custer Peak, Terry Peak and Lake Sheridan, geographic locations all named after military leaders involved in the Sioux Wars. I mean to remain consistent and all with their political correctness.
Capital idea Don Coyote! Now your thinking. You do know that Custer was a republican, so there is that. Trump has kind of exposed your tent, this would be your chance at redemption to a small degree.
“This recent renaming decision is going to cost a lot of money and stomp all over local rights. Feds are gonna have to raise taxes, confiscate guns, and reduce freedom nationwide to rename that mountain. When I think of the huge number of babies we will need to murder, just to uphold this renaming, makes me just want to vomit.” -Conservative #63964
My heartfelt thanks is extended to my lifetime friend Basil Brave Heart for his long time effort to bring about change, change can happen even in South Dakota.
Of course I would be remiss to not thank so many others like Shawn Bordeaux, Kevin Killer, Cory and Dakota Free Press readers and advocates. Thank you all.
South Dakota will make the change difficult, we can count on that, but in time they will hopefully recognize the change.
The significance of this change was almost immediate. A friend of mine that lives in California and visits the reservations and Paha Sapa every year said she never has visited the former Harney Peak, she now plans to make a pilgrimage to Black Elk Peak in the very near future.
If the state had the sense God gave a goose they would embrace people like my friend and encourage them to come see our new mountain.
Who won the “Indian Wars”? To the victors go the naming rights. Changing of historical names is ridiculous exercise in nonsensical political correctness.
Better to put up a substantial cast brass memorial information “monument” that explains what Harney was and what he did with information from Native American perspective that tells their story. Changing the name won’t add anything but controversy for many years.
El Rayo X you forgot Puffy.
How dare they rename the mountain in Denali National Park, Denali instead of Mt. McKinley! Mountains on federal land should be named after white guys who were never there. Maybe the names can go back and forth. When the GOP party is in control it can rename the mountains after the white guys, and when the Democratic Party is in control it can rename the mountains after the natives. Following that theme, GOP party whiners could escalate the battle by changing the name of Mauna Kea in Hawaii to Cook Mountain to honor Captain Cook who at least stopped nearby on the big island. That’s just one example how the GOP party could honor undeserving white guys. Surely the GOP could come up with many more examples if they put their minds to it.
Is Calvin Broadus going by Snoop Dog these days, or Snoop Lion?
I think it is right, given Black Elk’s powerful vision. I hiked up the peak at least once a year (often more) when I lived in Rapid, and I always felt Black Elk’s presence. Sometimes when an afternoon thunderstorm would build in the distance, I felt Black Elk was telling this white man in a rumbling voice that it was time to leave. He wasn’t saying it in a mean way, just being protective.
I’m totally with you, Mr. Wiken, as you can see from my comment above. President Obama won, so he gets to rename Black Elk Peak and Denali. President Trump gets to re-rename them. Henceforth, Japan is known as MacArthurland. Germany is composed mostly of white guys so we’ll just keep calling it Germany.
Seems to me the Indians won the battle at Greasy Grass-not the fool the battlefield is named for.
I believe Paul S is right. Next year the SD GOP legislature will waste time trying to overturn and dictate to the Fed Govt about how the real name really is Harney Peak. I hope to god the SD legislature won’t do this but you know they will.
The Fed Govt is horrible, you can’t trust them coming in and changing names, how dare they. But, SD will still have their hands out when it comes to taking subsidies.
Today Stace Nelson is busy drafting a toothless resolution urging the federal government to return to the name Harney Peak. Mr. Nelson is the king of toothless resolutions.
Rorschach, isnt that cute! Your insecurities manifesting in such a public fashion! A lessor man would be embarrassed or intimidated by your latent obsessions with this ugly old Marine. Only a fool prattles that resolutions are worthless. The USA declared its independence and was founded on a resolution. Then again, if you don’t have the stones or resolve to post your idiotic personal attacks with your own name, how could we expect you to understand the History and legislative aignificance of legislative resolutions… Now scurry back to your little hole and get back to gnashing your rodentia incisors. ?
For the record, while I disagree with the Feds sticking their nose into SD’s business, I personally like the new name and would be hard pressed to sign on to anything that would send the wrong message. I love South Dakota’s rich Lakota heritage, and my fellow South Dakotans that claim that heritage.
And Mt. McKinley is now (and for centuries before European invasion) Denali (The Great One), as it always was to Alaskan natives. Thune thinks the “removal” of Native Americans was progress, and the perpetrators thereof are and should remain our heroes. Some of us think–not so much. He also seems to think Trump is not so much to be admired, but just “endorsed”. Whatever that means.
I, personally, disagree with the state of South Dakota sticking its nose in Federal business (ie. fighting the renaming of Federal land).
“South Dakota’s business” my ass.
I see my comment hit a bit too close to home, Mr. Nelson. My comment wasn’t a personal attack. We already established that in your brief time in office you brought almost as many toothless resolutions as all 104 other state legislators combined. That’s a fact. How many resolutions do you already have planned for next year? 50 or so?
One thing I wish they would straighten out is whether it is ISIS, ISIL or Daesh. Obama says, “ISIL.” Kerry says “Daesh.” The Republicans just call it GOF, for Group Obama Founded. Thank you. Thank you very much.
@mia: “Seems to me the Indians won the battle at Greasy Grass-not the fool the battlefield is named for.”
The Little Bighorn Battlefield is named for Custer? Imagine that. And all this time I thought it was named for it’s proximity to the Little Bighorn river.
Gnarly Coyote- I was going according to Custer Battlefield Museum, etc. Which is also referred to Little Bighorn Museum. Indians won they can call it what they want.
From the NYT- Managed by the service since the 1940s, it was once called the Custer Battlefield National Monument, and it draws about 300,000 visitors.
Maybe you get out more, Coyote. Leave the pack behind and visit a liberry or something.
If Trump were to win the presidency, we wouldn’t have to worry about these naming controversies. Trump would take care of it the Trump way: sell naming rights; let the market take care of this issue and make some real dough while we are at to pay for tax breaks for the rich.
Yellowstone National Park for instance is passe’. Exxon Mobil Park has a ring to it-cha ching! While they are renaming the park they could get some oil wells dug in there among the wildlife.
In fact, we have all of these monuments lying around without corporate sponsorship. This is an opportunity that Trump would not waste. Why not have the Washington/Trump monument; it’s going to be huge! (No, he’s not overcompensating for certain perceived shortcomings.) The Jefferson memorial could be the Jefferson Davis memorial sponsored by the KKK. The Lincoln memorial would obviously be sponsored by Ford/Lincoln automobiles. So many wasted marketing deals that could be made and Trump is the man to negotiate the deals, believe me, believe me.
If the feds quit sticking their nose in South Dakota business, South Dakota wouldn’t be a welfare state, they would be bankrupt.
Good on Stace Nelson for taking a strong position on Black Elk Peak, I hope he can reason with his fellow republicans and leave it all alone.
@Adam Show me in the US Constitution where the federal government has the authority to own any part of the states that gave it life. While state ownership of property is a Communist tent, it is not a US Constitutional one.
@Rorschach If something is worthless or of no consequence, it does not rise to the level of contempt or notice. Your panties in a bunch over my successful record proves my point. Continuing to spout your ignorance about resolutions does not give it any more standing than when you spewed it the first time. https://www.ourdocuments.gov/doc.php?flash=true&doc=1 Resolutions have significant historic and legal importance in the legislative process in the US. Happy to compare my legislative record with your lack of record on anything in life, any time.
Stace, first, you show me where it says (in the U.S. Constitution) that states can own Federal land and/or dictate how it’s used or what it’s called.
With that argument, Stace wants to get rid of all Federal buildings, Post Offices, National Parks, wildlife refuges etc.
And, heck, we should even be allowed to have any military bases on our homeland with Stace’s argument.
Stace forgets that the Federal Government purchased a large proportion of the United States as we know it today. I guess it didn’t have authority to do that either. Nor did it have the right to fight the wars that resulted in more territory and resulting states.
Stace, you might want to check out the “property clause” at Article 4, Section 3, Clause 2 of the United States Constitution. It provides:
“The Congress shall have Power to dispose of and make all needful Rules and Regulations respecting the Territory or other Property belonging to the United States; and nothing in this Constitution shall be so construed as to Prejudice any Claims of the United States, or of any particular State.”
The reference to “Property belonging to the United States” seems to answer your question.
Funny, isn’t it, that one little move (vote) by 12 people of an obscure Federal gov’t agency can so upset some people so much! Blaming the ‘Feds’ for ALL evil things is common scapegoating among SD politicians–even as they are first in line at the hog-trough of everyone else’s money (taxes) when the pork comes down…. Daugaard, Thune and the rest including next yrs legislature could view this as an ‘opportunity’ not a ‘problem’ but I’m sure they won’t , will they?
Stace is in agreement with the Cliven Bundy clan that had the standoff with the feds over federal land. The Supreme Court does not agree and most everyone else does not agree.
https://thinkprogress.org/inside-the-backwards-ideology-driving-the-right-wing-militiamen-who-captured-a-federal-building-efeaed31de0f#.ki52xd3d0
@Anonymous Adam This isn’t a case of which came first, the chicken or the egg. The states begot the federal government. Our whole government structure was designed to keep the federal beast in check, not allow it to become the tyrant that it has bloated itself into.
@Darin I have forgotten nothing. The United States of America purchased territories and those territories became states. FYI, The US is not an imperial country.
@BCB The states are NOT property of the US government. Once that territory became a state, the federal government was to operate within that state within the confines of the US Constitution.
That’s what I love about rabid liberals. Biting at anything that moves as long as it has an (R) attached in some way. Some idiot throws my name out claiming idiotically that I am going to do something that you liberals oppose, I point out the nonsense of that notion and my lack of support for the ignorance proposed… and liberals still attack. :-D
Sorry for interrupting your worshipping at the nanny state federal government alter, carry on.
I am a liberal and support your vets issues but your way off this Stace like photo op Thune.
Stace, I am not sure who has argued that the states are the property of the federal government. I thought the question was whether the federal government could own land that was within a state’s borders. And it seems pretty clear that you, I and the federal government can each own land within a state’s borders.
While a state has the power to regulate your land and mine, the state lacks the power to regulate land owned by the federal government absent the feds’ consent. The Constitution’s supremacy clause makes that point pretty clear, wouldn’t you agree:
@whateverstace. Your nanny state pays you pretty well for you badmouthing it. Your kind gets the payments on all that is there and then you whine about how the country is run because there are others, much like you, that are deservng of the same. Blame liberals? Hardly man. This is a joint adventure of which you have played a big part in. BTW, I also get a check from Sam, just like you do and I also get healthcare, but I don’t bite the hand that gives to me, the taxpayer, of which I also am. I actually do laugh out loud when I see you bellowing about being a conservatve. That beast was downed some time ago and now all you have left is the orangeman for you to idol.
Jerry and BCB. Wait for it, wait for it
Stace, I think the Federal Government has a roll of keeping its states in line as well as preserving a certain amount of their sovereignty. You can’t claim that you love this country if all you love is the fact that we have states.
Stace Nelson, are you on drugs?
I don’t consider getting yourself kicked out of caucus, burning bridges with the local sheriff of your own party and same-district legislators of your own party, or getting your ample rear handed to you in a US senate primary by a deeply flawed candidate who hid for most of the race to be successful, Stacey. Keep clinging to office in your gerrymandered district to convince yourself otherwise as you support yourself on the dole of both state and federal taxpayers.
@stacey You asked Adam to produce a constitutional provision, and Darin obliged. Now it’s your turn to support your cockeyed beliefs. Show me where in the constitution it says that the federal government must surrender its property to the states that the federal government created. Put up or take your seat, buuddy.
What are the Democrats saying about the name change?
Stace must not read or comprehend or both.
This Liberal Democrat thanked him for taking a strong position for supporting the name change and promising not to sign on to any legislation that would change Black Elk Peak back Harney Peak.
I presume there was a comment period about the name change. I would like Senator Thune and Governor Daugaard to provide the local media with their comments in opposition to the name change. Also, this is an economic development opportunity as maps will need to be upgraded and sold.
the BGN “got it”, dicta. did you? SDPR Victoria Wicks, 8.11.16
RCJ, Seth Tupper’s employer stoked the hate flames in today’s paper. that newspaper’s, front page, and p.6 headlines, claimed the state could ignore the feds. perhaps dicta could enlighten us/them on pre-emption he glibly mentioned a few days ago.
cory, thx for the coverage of this vital issue.
SD Democratic Party and Pennington Democrats both formally supported the name change.
@Rorschach if you repeat a lie often out of it just might take root! You repeat the same old tired worn-out BS that is been spread for the last five years. You have Zero credibility. But you keep hiding and telling yourself you’re important . It’s always those that have no accomplishments that I’ve never done anything that Mock those who have ?
An anonymous troll questioning whether I love my country, that’s rich. Our country is 19 trillion in debt because of the irresponsible, unconstitutional, and unpatriotic willingness by Republicans and Democrats to spend this country into a Bolivian. The inept management of our country by Republicans and Democratic politicians is to blame. As proof to my point in regards to the federal government owning portions of states, I would challenge any of you to look at the 13 original states and identify significant portions of those states owned by the federal government. I’ll save you the time none of them
Wiken-“ridiculous exercise in nonsensical political correctness”. you are missing something my friend. Trump couldn’t however have said it better himself.
coyote, obviously you know Sheridan, custer and terry points of reference aren’t sacred. and terry has evolved as nothing more than is a goldmine under a ski slope in the drinking water basins of the northern and central hills. custer is a memeorial to custer’s grizzley he or his Indian guide shot. Sheridan is a non functional Reclamation or COE algae infested lake built for white ranchers in Spring Creek. wuff
its been a bad week for dazed and confused Daugaard. I’m surprised the Red Men moniker is also being abandoned in his state!!
Look man, you faught for our Federal government, and I really appreciate that. Thank you for your service!
I just don’t know how people who talk about loving this country so much hate the very framework that it is comprised of. The United States is the Federal government. Our states are just segments of the whole.
I was just using a sort of figure of speech. I didn’t mean to denigrate the amount you love your country, just the limited scope of what you love.
If you look at a map of South Dakota you will see significant areas that are owned by tribes and tribal members and protected by the U.S. Government as tribal trust land.
Go figure, huh?
Let’s see. Darin’s constitutional authority vs. Stacey’s lack of constitutional authority. Darin wins. Stacey Nelson has zero credibility on the constitution. He can’t even cite a provision to support his assertions – because there is none.
A constitutional scholar you are not, Nelson. A smarter person would understand the limits of his knowledge. Khizr Khan could just as well have been waiving that pocket constitution at Stacey Nelson. Have you ever read that thing? Read it and enlighten us about the authority for your scheme that the federal government is landless. I’m not letting you change the subject. Cite your authority.
doesn’t the constitution, as amended say “the public debt shall not be questioned”? I think it does, but I, probably like stace have not deternmined the depth of the phrase as interpreted. i’m sure the GOP strongly contends it means what it says.
we will get the budget back in control Stace. We dems will have an unobstructed congress to a greater extent this next 8 years, god willing and the seas don’t rise.
Thank the good sense of voters to prevent Nelson from ever becoming a federal representative of us. We suffer enough with the three clods we presently have. Hard to imagine a worse case, but then, there you go.
A balanced budget is the worse thing that can happen. Debt is good, balanced budget means your actually broke. Your bonds mean nothing then as no one will buy them. I hope that we can get the idea through to take on even more debt so that we can reduce it with tax income to strengthen both social security and our infrastructure. 19 trillion is just a number that has about as much meaning as a cloudy day in the big scheme of things. How many trillion are we worth? Take a look at that then you will know that this is just a number. Here is the idea behind a banker loaning you money on your place, 40% debt load is as much as they want you to have to keep your ability to pay. Here is where we are more or less https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Financial_position_of_the_United_States Nelson is not a conservative, he thinks he is though, but factually, President Jimmy Carter is more conservative than the big feller is. http://www.ontheissues.org/Jimmy_Carter.htm Life is funny like that sometimes
A Bolivian? I believe the word you sought was oblivion.
I don’t want to be a Bolivian! I like being an American!
We can steal the money needed to fight this name change by sleight of hand at state hand out subsidy time. Daugaard and crew are good at this maneuver to “balance” the books to give the rubes reason to believe they actually do a job. That also gives Jackley and Thune something to do to establish their chops as an Indian fighters. In the meantime, the mountain will get its deserved name change while all can see how petty the republican regime is in Pierre and how racist they all are.
I don’t follow Dakota Free Press much anymore because the responses stray from topic and provide mostly personal attacks and little dialogue with reasonable solutions.
Nice job staying on topic, Francis.
Mr. Nelson’s infatuation with pumping up his self-perceived “effectiveness” by introducing useless and worthless resolutions aside, I firmly believe this name change was initiated by the Pope and that the Indians are just a pawn in the Pope’s bigger game.
It is unfortunate that the Governor did not support the name change. He says he is trying to improve race relations in the state of SD, yet, he makes statements that are sure to drive a wedge even further between everyone involved.
When in a Bolivian, bomb ’em.
http://www.commondreams.org/views/2016/05/17/privatizing-americas-public-land
Gunmen from the Oath Keepers, for instance, obstructed federal officials from shutting down mines violating environmental regulations in both Oregon and Montana. According to the Southern Poverty Law Center, the current, rapid growth of militia groups is unprecedented and appears to have been spurred by the 2014 standoff at the Bundy ranch. Notices for “meet-ups” among “patriots” to show support for the incarcerated Bundys and the “martyred” Finicum are abundant on social media.
A similar virus has infected several western state legislatures, including those of Montana, Oregon, Wyoming, and Nevada.*** lawmakers approved legislation in March that authorized and partly funded the state’s attorney general to sue the federal government for title to approximately 30 million acres of Utah public lands. The suit would pursue strategies advanced via a study produced by a New Orleans law firm outlining “legitimate legal theories” that, it contended, might lead to the wholesale transfer of lands to the state.
The expected cost of the litigation has been estimated at $14 million and Utah has sought allies among other western states. So far, they’ve found no takers willing to join the suit, possibly because other attorneys general have concluded that the legal theories behind it are rubbish.
Utah has also exported its anti-federalism to Capitol Hill. One of its congressmen, Rob Bishop, currently chairs the House Natural Resources Committee and sympathetically held hearings in February on several bills, introduced by representatives from Alaska, Idaho, and Utah, that would place federal lands under state control.