‘Victory’: Environmental Groups Win Decision in Blow to GOP
- President Donald Trump at Manhattan state court in New York City
- Sen. Mike Lee at Draper Park Middle School
- The Wilderness Society President Tracy Stone-Manning
- Tracy Stone-Manning during an interview in Phoenix
- Sen. Mike Lee and Congressman Chris Stewart at Vernon Worthen Park
- U.S. Sen. Martin Heinrich joins Las Cruces community leaders
- U.S. Sen. Martin Heinrich speaks during the PowerUp Conference
President Donald Trump at Manhattan state court in New York City
Senate Parliamentarian Elizabeth MacDonough has rejected a Republican lawmaker's proposal to sell 3 million acres of federal land to help fund President Donald Trump's $4.2 trillion tax cut. She ruled the plan doesn't meet the fiscal standards for fast-track budget reconciliation. Environmental groups have called the decision a significant win.
Sen. Mike Lee at Draper Park Middle School
Sen. Mike Lee (R-UT) has backed the land sale for housing relief. He is reportedly attempted revising the plan to apply only to Bureau of Land Management areas, but it was not included in the final budget bill.
The Wilderness Society President Tracy Stone-Manning
The Wilderness Society President Tracy Stone-Manning said, “This is a victory for the American public, who were loud and clear: Public lands belong in public hands.”
Tracy Stone-Manning during an interview in Phoenix
Stone-Manning added, “We trust the next politician who wants to sell off public lands will remember that people of all stripes will stand against that idea.”
Sen. Mike Lee and Congressman Chris Stewart at Vernon Worthen Park
Lee's revised proposal mandated that land be used solely for housing or related infrastructure within five miles of urban centers. While the budget reconciliation process enables legislation to bypass a filibuster if focused on revenue and spending, other parts of the Senate bill do not meet those criteria.
Sen. Jeff Merkley during grand opening of the University of Oregon’s Portland Campus
Sen. Jeff Merkley (D-OR) said, “Democrats continue to show up and fight every provision of this Big, Beautiful Betrayal of a bill, because this bill is an attack on workers and families everywhere.”
U.S. Sen. Martin Heinrich joins Las Cruces community leaders
Sen. Martin Heinrich (D-NM) said, "Lands like these are supposed to belong to every single American."
U.S. Sen. Martin Heinrich speaks during the PowerUp Conference
Heinrich added, "Some of my colleagues are very serious about taking these places away and giving them to someone else…we will not let them sell our birthright to build luxury condos or second homes or to pay for tax cuts."
Jennifer White covers U.S. politics & news for content partner Modern Newsstand LLC.
