4 days ago
- Politics
- Wall Street Journal
A Second Push for Mike Lee's Land Sales
Getting the GOP's disagreeing factions to yes on the final 'big beautiful bill' was no easy feat, and negotiations always involve trade-offs. But a good policy idea that Republicans shouldn't leave on the cutting room floor forever was Utah Sen. Mike Lee's plan to sell a sliver of federal land to states and developers who commit to build homes. Maybe there's a deregulatory approach.
Mr. Lee's proposal was axed, making the reconciliation package less big and less beautiful, after a group of GOP Senators came out against it. 'We do NOT support the sale of our public land to the highest bidder,' fumed Idaho Sen. Jim Risch. Like Mr. Risch, most of the critics are from Western states where the federal government owns between 29% and 80% of the land, though Mr. Lee is also from out West.
