Political Quotes

James Oberstar: “These lands: national forests, national wilderness areas, national parks, scenic waterways, are held in trust for all…”

On the recordJuly 21, 1998
These lands: national forests, national wilderness areas, national parks, scenic waterways, are held in trust for all Americans to use and enjoy. But what about the neighbors to those wonderful national treasures, the neighbors, the communities, the people that live next to them who have to support the services provided for all those national treasures? Take a look in my own district. Cook County is 82 percent in public ownership. Lake County is 92 percent in public ownership. St. Louis County, which is about the size of the State of Massachusetts, is 62 percent public ownership. That remaining small amount of land held in private hands has to provide the property taxes to support the services for all those 6-million-plus people who come from all over America to see these great national treasures.
Said by
James Oberstar
Democratic · Minnesota
Source
govinfo.gov

Editor's note · Context

Discussing the impact of public land ownership on local communities and property taxes.

Share

Share on XShare on FacebookEmail this quote

More from James Oberstar

Nov 18, 2019

the diverse water resources challenges throughout the United States are often studied, planned, and managed in individual 'silos,' independently of other water areas and projects.

congress.gov
Sep 28, 2010

I agree that the Coast Guard should not conduct its business in this manner. It should recognize the contributions of the City of Marquette in exercising this conveyance, and we will continue to work with the gentleman throughout the…

govinfo.gov
Sep 20, 2010

We must move away from complete reliance on public funding for infrastructure and forge a new, stronger connection between private capital and infrastructure needs.

congress.gov
Jul 30, 2010

I, too, have natural resources--national forests, national parks, wildlife refuges. When fire, as it does regularly, strikes the national forest, that land regenerates. The oil destroys. It likely cannot be restored by itself or by human…

govinfo.gov
View all James Oberstar quotes

Other voices in this conversation