(C) Idaho Capital Sun
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Public lands are a part of Idaho's identity. We need elected officials who will protect them. • Idaho Capital Sun [1]

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Date: 2025-09-01

Public opinion in Idaho strongly opposes the sale of public lands, with a recent poll showing 96% of registered voters believe public lands should remain public, a sentiment shared across both Democratic and Republican parties. This opposition stems from concerns about losing access, damaging the natural infrastructure that supports the economy, and harming wildlife, with the public actively holding elected officials accountable on the issue.

U.S. Sen. Jim Risch , R-Idaho, has stated, after reviewing the Senate Energy and Natural Resources reconciliation language: I do not support the proposed provision to sell public lands.

U.S. Sens. Risch and Mike Crapo, R-Idaho, have made statements opposing the sale of more than three million acres of public land as part of the federal budget reconciliation bill. The land-sale provision was stripped from the House version of the spending bill thanks to opposition from legislators including U.S. Rep. Mike Simpson, R-Idaho.

Simpson supports efforts to preserve Idaho’s public lands from being sold or transferred and to maintain multiple-use access for recreation, grazing, and ranching, opposing federal rules he believes undermine the “multiple use” mandate and advocating for bills that keep these lands in public hands. He cosponsored the Public Lands in Public Hands Act to ban the sale or transfer of most public lands and is a vice-chairman of the Bipartisan Public Lands Caucus.

Idaho state legislators from both parties celebrated the death of a federal proposal that would have made millions of acres of public lands, including in Idaho, available to be sold off. On June 30, 43 Republican Idaho state legislators signed a letter thanking Simpson, Crapo and Risch for protecting access to public lands during the recent federal budget reconciliation process.

In July 2025, U.S. Rep. Russ Fulcher, R-Idaho, voted against the Public Lands in Public Hands Act and a related amendment to block the sale of federal lands in Nevada and Utah. This was the only “no” vote from Idaho’s congressional delegation.

He was not included in a thank you letter from Idaho Republican lawmakers for protecting public lands.

“Public lands and access to those lands are a cornerstone of Idaho’s identity,” the letter states. “Thanks to your efforts, these amazing spaces will remain in public hands. By ensuring access to hunting, fishing, grazing, and outdoor recreation, Idaho will continue to look like the Idaho we all know and love.”

We, the Idaho public need to initiate a process to elect a new 1st District representative who will wholeheartedly keep Idaho public lands and access as a cornerstone of Idaho’s identity. Furthermore, elect a 1st District representative who opposes the sale of Idaho lands and keep Idaho’s amazing spaces in public hands.

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[1] Url: https://idahocapitalsun.com/2025/09/01/public-lands-are-a-part-of-idahos-identity-we-need-elected-officials-who-will-protect-them/

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