A recent primary election in Idaho highlighted the role of conservation in politics. The PAC for Public Lands, a new Idaho-based group, targeted candidate Kelly Golden for her comments on public lands. Golden suggested giving young people land to build homes on, which the PAC criticized as giving away public lands.
Public Lands Debate
The PAC for Public Lands was launched by four Idaho residents with experience in politics and conservation. They aim to support candidates who protect public lands and oppose those who don’t. The group’s founders believe that protection of public lands is an issue that can draw support from both parties.
In Idaho, the federal government owns nearly 62% of the state’s land. The Idaho Republican Party platform calls for reducing this amount and having the state manage and administer the land. Golden’s comments on public lands were seen as a threat to this goal, and the PAC for Public Lands targeted her for defeat.
The concept of building affordable housing on repurposed federal land has been a policy goal of the Trump administration. However, it is a politically controversial concept, and the PAC for Public Lands used Golden’s comments to criticize her stance on public lands.
Original reporting: KTBS 3 (Shreveport) — read the source article.
