Political Quotes

“our amendment is as simple as it is fair and logical. It simply says that if the Federal Government already owns more than one-half of our State, then before it can buy any more private land in that State, the State will have an opportunity to simply have a say in the matter. In fact, the elected legislators and the governor will have a say as to whether or not the Federal Government will take even more land out of private property ownership and put it into Federal ownership. Why is this important? Because as we have heard over and over tonight, many of us represent districts that have enormous amounts of lands off the tax rolls already and under Federal control. The Federal Government controls more than 55 percent of Oregon, nearly 56 percent of my district. My district, pictured here, overlaid the East Coast to give Members a dramatic view of just how large it is, it is larger than 31 States. Larger than 31 States. And so to put that in perspective, I have created this map here. As we can see from New Jersey to Ohio it would stretch. Half of this is already under Federal control. Half of it is already under Federal control. In fact, the Federal Government controls 34 million acres in the State of Oregon. To put that in perspective, in Maryland the Federal Government controls 131,000 acres. 34 million versus 131,000. I would wager we lose more in mapping errors in Oregon than Maryland has under Federal land. Think about it.…”