As a constituent of Sen. Ellen Roberts, I was disappointed to hear of her vote in favor of Senate Bill 232 – a failed bill, which would have studied the transfer of public lands in Colorado from the federal government to the state.

Colorado is not entitled to America’s public lands – they belong, equally, to all Americans. President Grant’s proclamation that admitted Colorado to the Union in 1876 expressly stated: “... the people inhabiting said territory do agree and declare that they forever disclaim all right and title to the unappropriated public lands lying within said territory and that the same shall be and remain at the sole and entire disposition of the United States.”

There is no ambiguity in this statement – leaving federal lands federal was a condition of our joining the United States! Further, “disposition” does not mean state ownership: It means sale to the highest bidder – an even more frightening prospect.

Though the bill died, what it intended to do is unnecessary. Idaho studied land transfer and found it costs more to manage federal lands than they are capable of producing.

Economists from three public universities in Utah also studied transfer, and in order to make the numbers work, Utah would have to aggressively drill for oil in many places highly valued by the public – like just outside Arches and Canyonlands. Even under authors’ most optimistic scenario (based on perpetually high oil prices), Utah’s education system would still be $1 billion in the red in 20 years – not to mention the existing $100 million backlog in deferred maintenance costs for everything from roads to campgrounds.

Our public lands are the chief economic draw to our state. Bills such as SB 232 threaten our global brand; poll after poll shows that the majority of Coloradans oppose state ownership.

These lands are all of ours to enjoy, and we owe it to future generations to keep our public lands public.

Instead of wasting time and money on “message bills,” the assembly needs to get to work on real issues like fracking and education.

Tim D. Peterson

Durango