When Jeb Bush appears in Reno, Nevada, on Wednesday, he’ll lay out his plan to create a “new relationship with the West”, a series of proposals that cut back on what he sees as over regulation by the federal government.
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Bush is expected to criticize the Obama administration for failing to work with states, local governments, Native tribes and private owners as “equal partners”, arguing that overregulation has weakened the trust of local communities in the federal government.
Republished with permission of The Associated Press.
He advocated reducing the time it takes for issuing permits for land uses such as mining to no more than two years; managing forests to decrease the threat of catastrophic wildfires; and redirecting a few funds for federal land acquisition to reduce the backlog of $11.5 billion in maintenance projects at national parks. “Of the 635 million acres owned and managed by the federal government, 582 million acres - 90 percent - are in the West, including Alaska”.
He also proposed what he calls “states-first” wildlife conservation policies that give more deference to governors and state legislators in determining solutions to protect animals.
“We’ve got big personalities on the stage these days, and they don’t listen – they just tell you how it’s going to be”, Bush said.
Bush calls for more state and local control of land ownership decisions.
While he opposes expanding more federal land and designating more national monuments, he showered praise on the National Park Service, which celebrates its 100th anniversary next year.
“I don’t think narrowing uses of public lands is appropriate”, he said.
“Has anybody measured the carbon emissions of a massive forest fire?”
“When presidential hopefuls from both parties visit the West, they must understand the importance of public lands to the people who live here”, said Jennifer Rokala, executive director of the Center for Western Priorities. “Efforts to bring that debate up are very healthy for the American public in general to be able to listen to where candidates stand on the issues”.
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But most Interior officials aren’t in Washington. “Vague pronouncements are a dog whistle to anti-government extremists who insist the federal government has no right to own land at all”.
