Fact Check: Sen. Mike Lee's proposal could sell over 3 million acres of public land.

Fact Check: "Sen. Mike Lee's proposal could sell over 3 million acres of public land."

What We Know

Senator Mike Lee, a Republican from Utah, proposed a plan that aimed to sell between 2.2 million and 3.3 million acres of federally owned land across 11 states in the West, as part of a larger tax and spending cut bill. This proposal was intended to address housing shortages in areas where federal land is prevalent, such as Colorado and Utah (AP News, Deseret News).

The proposal faced significant backlash and was ultimately ruled out of the reconciliation bill by the Senate parliamentarian, who determined it violated Senate rules (AP News, New York Times). Despite this setback, Lee indicated he would continue to pursue a revised version of the proposal, which would exclude national forests and limit sales to land within five miles of population centers (AP News, Utah News Dispatch).

Analysis

The claim that Sen. Mike Lee's proposal could sell over 3 million acres of public land is substantiated by multiple sources. The 3.3 million acres figure is mentioned explicitly in reports discussing the original proposal (Deseret News, Politico). The proposal's intent to sell a significant portion of federal land aligns with Lee's long-standing advocacy for transferring public lands to state or local control, a position that has garnered both support and opposition from various stakeholders (AP News, New York Times).

However, the reliability of the sources reporting on this proposal varies. The Associated Press and New York Times are established news organizations known for their journalistic standards, making their reports credible. In contrast, less prominent sources may not carry the same weight in terms of reliability. The Deseret News and Politico also provide detailed coverage, but their perspectives may be influenced by regional political dynamics, particularly given that they are based in states with significant Republican representation.

The backlash against Lee's proposal highlights a complex political landscape where even within the Republican Party, there are divisions regarding the sale of public lands. Some GOP senators from states like Montana and Idaho have expressed strong opposition to such measures, indicating that the proposal is contentious and not universally supported (AP News, New York Times).

Conclusion

Verdict: True. The claim that Sen. Mike Lee's proposal could sell over 3 million acres of public land is accurate based on the evidence presented in multiple credible sources. The proposal explicitly aimed to sell between 2.2 million and 3.3 million acres, and while it has faced significant political hurdles, the initial intent and figures are well-documented.

Fact Check: Sen. Mike Lee's proposal could sell over 3 million acres of public land.