by Sen. Doug Whitsett
The United States government owns more than 55 percent of all the acreage in Oregon. A total of more than 53,000 square miles, or 34 million acres, is held in federal title. Oregon has the fifth highest federal ownership percentage among all of the 13 Western states.
So what is wrong with this massive federal ownership of Oregon land and how did it happen?
The United States Constitution prohibits the states from imposing or collecting taxes on property owned by the federal government. More than half of the landmass of the state of Oregon is thereby excluded from Oregon’s taxing authority. Any existing or potential improvements located on that 53,000 square miles of federal land is also exempt from property taxation. This situation obviously creates a huge barrier to the adequate funding for Oregon’s schools, public safety, transportation infrastructure, and care for our most vulnerable citizens.
Further, the federal ownership of more than half of the landmass of Oregon functionally excludes it from economic development. Virtually all of Oregon’s businesses, jobs, wealth and infrastructure are found on the 40 percent of Oregon’s landmass that is privately owned. Conversely, virtually none is found on the 34 million acres of federally owned land. The burden of the cost of State and local government in Oregon is borne by the taxation of less than half of the lands of the state.
Natural Resources Committee--State Forests Management Superior to Federal Forests
Federal Register taking comments on hunting in The Bandon Marsh
The Nature Conservancy---Oregon Grasslands: Crucial for Wildlife Survival
The Bandon Marsh Mosquito Farm
CCT---The Mosquito Survey of Impacts and Damages
CCT---Bandon Marsh Mosquito Meeting September 21, 2013
USFWS---Public Responses to the Bandon Marsh Mosquito Invasion
Letter to Mr. Lowe of the USFWS about the Bandon Marsh Mosquitoe Problem
Department of Interior---Land Buy-Back Program for Tribal Nations AKA The Coquilles
USFS---Federal land buries rural economies in WA & OR
ODFW---A bright outlook for ocean salmon seasons
EPA---Victims of Government: The Case of Steve Lathrop, Sounds Fimiliar
Action Alert:---State Legislation HB2173---Updated 3/13/2013
Congressman Peter DeFazio & The Land and Water Conservation Fund
USFWS---Three Articles relevant to the LWCF and the NFWF
Senators Wyden and Reid Planning 2013 Omnibus Federal Lands Bill
USFWS & USDOT---North Bank Lane Project
Coos County Today---Sign the "NO Bandon Marsh Petition"
USFWS---Oregon Islands National Wildlife Refuge
American Policy Center---news on more Federal Land grabs
The National Fish & Wildlife Foundation