OPINION: Public lands unite us — if we let them

Idaho is home to something truly rare: vast, open, wild space. With nearly two-thirds of our state made up of public lands, Idaho is the kind of place people dream about when they feel boxed in by busy lives, traffic, or concrete. These are the places where we hunt, where we fish, where we make memories that last a lifetime. There’s something deeply grounding about stepping into nature. Our public lands remind us that some things transcend politics.

Until now. 

The Senate budget reconciliation bill backed by the Trump Administration, would put over 40% of Idaho’s public lands on the auction block-including the Coeur d’Alene National Forest. These lands, held in trust for the people of Idaho, could be lost forever to private developers and corporate interests.

As Kootenai County Democrats, we refuse to stand by while the places that shape our way of life are sold off piece by piece.

This part of the Republican’s Big Blundering Bill threatens to do what Idahoans across the political spectrum have long resisted: open the door to large-scale commercialization of public lands.

The rationale used by the provision’s sponsor, Sen. Mike Lee (R-of Utah), is that the government needs to achieve the “highest and best use” for America’s open space. Lee’s definition of “highest and best use” is commercial gain —  getting the most financial return possible.

However, most Americans disagree with Sen. Lee’s opinion about how we should use that land.

The measure would eliminate critical protections for more than 23 million acres across the West. Sen. Lee calls it “just a little land.” But to those of us who live here, love these lands, and depend on them for our economy and identity, this is insulting. 

The place you go to hunt, fish, and be outside isn’t just a little land — it’s a piece of your family’s story. 

The fight for public lands doesn’t have to fall into the partisan traps that define so many other issues. I have heard concerns on this issue from both Republicans and Democrats. Amazingly, many of their sentiments are the same — despite these people being on very different sides of the political aisle.

Last week, Kootenai Democrats put out a call to contact Sens. Crapo and Risch — and people across Idaho heeded that call. On Friday, both legislators issued statements saying they, “do not support the proposed provision to sell public lands.”

Voters won’t let this one slide. As Democrats, we will empower Idahoans at the ballot box to hold Sen. Risch and Sen. Crapo accountable to their promises.

These bipartisan conversations about public lands echo a time when protecting nature united us in Idaho. Idaho has a long and proud history of leaders from both parties standing up to protect our natural resources. 

When we work together across party lines, we can protect what matters most. The moment we allow one party — any party — to claim sole ownership over public lands policy, we all lose.

We must continue to raise our voices on the issues that matter most to all of us — not in opposition to each other, but in unison. Let’s remind our elected officials that Idahoans value public lands. Let’s insist that what makes our state extraordinary stays that way — not parceled off, paved over, or privatized.

Because once it’s gone, we don’t get it back.

And in a world that often feels like it’s moving too fast, too loud, and too divided, Idaho’s public lands are one of the few things that still bring us together. Protecting our public lands creates a more perfect union.

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Sarah Martin is chairman of the Kootenai County Democrats.