November 15, 2024
Doug Burgum, Secretary of the Interior.
This is again an interesting choice. Only 3.9% of North Dakota is Federal land. However, users of Federal land in the West might take some cautious optimism out of this as Western politicians, completely contrary to the views of those they serve, have taken on the land grabbing mindset illustrated by Utah's effort to grab Federal lands in court, which has been sadly supported by Wyoming.
Last edition:
Wyoming Catholic Cowboys - raw and real: St. Hubert: 55 miles south of Buffalo is the mission church of St. Hubert's. Located near Sussex WY, Mass has been celebrated around these parts sin...
I've been so busy I missed St. Hubert's saint day.
St. Hubert is the patron saint of hunters, and I usually note the day.
Lex Anteinternet: World War Two U.S. Vehicle Livery: National Museum...:The father of the Dodge Power Wagon, the 1/2 ton truck, a fair number of examples of which can be found in the Rocky Mountain West in spite of the small number produced, was in addition to being too light, too top heavy.
Wyoming Joins Idaho, Alaska in Support of Utah’s Federal Public Lands Claim
CHEYENNE, Wyo. – Governor Mark Gordon has announced that the State of Wyoming has filed an amicus brief in support of Utah on their federal public lands claims pending before the US Supreme Court. Wyoming joined with the states of Idaho and Alaska, as well as the Arizona Legislature in the Amicus.
The Governor issued the following statement:
“Federal ownership of unappropriated land negatively impacts Western states’ ability to regulate local land uses. I consistently preach that the best land management policies are developed by those who live close to the lands. As we have seen with the Rock Springs and Buffalo Resource Management Plans, the whims of the current Administration can have immense impacts on the states where those lands are located.
The well-established legal principle of multiple-use of public lands is sacred to Wyoming citizens, and that concept is something we have lost in this era of Washington, DC constantly curtailing their uses. Wyoming believes it is essential for the states to be recognized as the primary authority when it comes to unappropriated lands within our borders. The Federal government’s indefinite retention of millions of acres of land is a critical question that impacts all Western states, which is why Wyoming has filed this amicus.”
The brief may be found here.
Utah is going to lose, and deserves to. There's no excuse whatsoever for Wyoming joining with Utah in this effort.
Cont:
Wyoming politicians signing on to this land grabbing effort:
Governor Mark Gordon.
Congressman Harriet Hageman.
Senators
Bo Biteman (R-Ranchester), Brian Boner (R-Douglas),
Tim French (R-Powell), Larry Hicks (R-Baggs), Bob Ide (R-Casper), John Kolb (R-Rock Springs), Dan Laursen (R-Powell), Troy McKeown (R-Gillette), Tim Salazar (R-Riverton), Cheri Steinmetz (R-Lingle).
Representatives
Bill Allemand (R-Midwest), John Bear (R-Gillette), Jeremy Haroldson (R-Wheatland), Scott Heiner (R-Green River), Ben Hornok (R-Cheyenne), Christopher Knapp (R-Gillette), Chip Neiman (R-Hulett), Pepper Ottman (R-Riverton), Sarah Penn (R-Lander), Rachel Rodriguez-Williams (R-Cody), Daniel Singh (R-Cheyenne), Allen Slagle (R-Newcastle), Scott Smith (R-Lingle), Tomi Strock (R-Douglas), Jeanette Ward (R-Casper), John Winter (R-Thermopolis)
Wyoming Joins Idaho, Alaska in Support of Utah’s Federal Public Lands Claim
CHEYENNE, Wyo. – Governor Mark Gordon has announced that the State of Wyoming has filed an amicus brief in support of Utah on their federal public lands claims pending before the US Supreme Court. Wyoming joined with the states of Idaho and Alaska, as well as the Arizona Legislature in the Amicus.
The Governor issued the following statement:
“Federal ownership of unappropriated land negatively impacts Western states’ ability to regulate local land uses. I consistently preach that the best land management policies are developed by those who live close to the lands. As we have seen with the Rock Springs and Buffalo Resource Management Plans, the whims of the current Administration can have immense impacts on the states where those lands are located.
The well-established legal principle of multiple-use of public lands is sacred to Wyoming citizens, and that concept is something we have lost in this era of Washington, DC constantly curtailing their uses. Wyoming believes it is essential for the states to be recognized as the primary authority when it comes to unappropriated lands within our borders. The Federal government’s indefinite retention of millions of acres of land is a critical question that impacts all Western states, which is why Wyoming has filed this amicus.”
The brief may be found here.
Utah is going to lose, and deserves to. There's no excuse whatsoever for Wyoming joining with Utah in this effort.
Be careful what you wish for, lest it come true!
Aesop.
Washington, DC – Today, Congresswoman Harriet Hageman voted in favor of H.R. 9494 - Continuing Appropriations and Other Matters Act, 2025 (CR) that would keep the federal government open through March 28, 2025 and include the SAVE Act. The SAVE Act, cosponsored by Rep. Hageman and passed earlier this year by the House of Representatives with bipartisan support, would require states to obtain proof of citizenship—in person—when registering an individual to vote and require states to remove non-citizens from existing voter rolls. The bill failed 220-202.Representative Hageman stated, “Safeguarding our election process is critically important, especially with the open border policies of the Biden-Harris administration that have allowed over 11 million illegals to enter our country. By including the SAVE Act with government funding and extending the funding into 2025, when Republicans have a strong chance of controlling the House, Senate, and White House, America wins. We will be able to craft responsible appropriations bills that slash wasteful spending, stop the current administration’s radical climate agenda, and eliminate woke DEI programs from federal agencies – at the same time, we can ensure that only American citizens vote in federal elections.
“I am disappointed that the House was unable to pass H.R. 9494 today. While Continuing Resolutions are never ideal, securing our elections and creating an opportunity to pass conservative spending bills in 2025 created a unique opportunity. I will not support a CR that fails to include the SAVE Act.”
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And quite frankly, there are going to be more to come.
The Elk Fire near Dayton and Sheridan is now up to 75,000 and is only 10% contained as of this morning. A forest fire broke out in this county yesterday afternoon.*
These fires aren't stopping until it snows, and daily temperatures are freakishly high for October.
Let's discuss subsidiarity.
Subsidiarity on this site is defined in the Catholic sense. It is an organizing principle that things (problems, matters, politics, economics) ought to be handled by the smallest, lowest or least centralized competent authority.
Least centralized competent authority, not the least centralized authority.
The most centralized competent authority can indeed be the Federal government for large disasters, particularly multistate disasters, and ones which require large sums of money that cannot be locally obtained.
That latter is particularly the case for Wyoming.
We can't afford these disasters on our own. We can't afford to fight them. We can't address what they destroy.
Wyomingites are on social media right now complaining that the country is ignoring us. Well, attention works two ways.
This upcoming 2025 Legislature is likely to see the House controlled by the "Wyoming" Freedom Caucus. The "Wyoming" Freedom Caucus basically wants to give the Federal Government the middle finger salute. But nobody in the state wants to tell Washington "no thanks, you keep your FEMA, Highway, FAA money, we'll do it on our own".
There's a word for lashing out when you don't get what you want, and see yourself as the center of things.
A tantrum, angry outburst, temper tantrum, lash out, meltdown, fit, or hissy fit is an emotional outburst, usually associated with those in emotional distress. It is typically characterized by stubbornness, crying, screaming, violence, defiance, angry ranting, a resistance to attempts at pacification, and, in some cases, hitting and other physically violent behavior. Physical control may be lost; the person may be unable to remain still; and even if the "goal" of the person is met, they may not be calmed. Throwing a temper tantrum can lead to a child getting detention or being suspended from school for older school age children, and can result in a timeout or grounding, complete with room or corner time, at home. A tantrum may be expressed in a tirade: a protracted, angry speech.
Wikipedia.
“Be careful what you wish for, lest it come true!”, Aesop counseled, and for a reason. And Sappho counseled "don't bite the hand that feeds you".
And, of course:
Pride goes before disaster, and a haughty spirit before a fall.
Proverbs 16:18.
We've been pretty proud here recently.
Footnotes:
*A message from the Game and Fish:
Sheridan – The Wyoming Game and Fish Department advises hunters that the Elk Fire in Sheridan County continues to grow, impacting wildlife habitat and access to certain hunt areas.
Hunt areas impacted by the fire or associated public access closures are currently located within Elk Hunt Areas 37 and 38 and Deer Hunt Areas 24 and 25. This is an active fire situation and these areas may change. Game and Fish is maintaining a fire information page for hunters and updating it regularly.
As of Oct. 5, 2024, the following Access Yes areas have been closed until further notice:
- PK Lane Hunter Management Area.
Sheridan County Walk in Areas #8 and #12.
Game and Fish personnel are assisting public safety officials and fire suppression efforts as requested.
Personnel will assess impacts to Commission-owned properties and wildlife habitat when it is safe to do so.
Members of the public should be extra vigilant in watching for wildlife on roadways to avoid collisions, as animals may relocate to new areas where they usually aren’t expected.
Wildlife are generally adept at moving away from wildfires and the department has not received reports of injured animals at this time. Members of the public who see an injured animal can report the location to the Stop Poaching Hotline at 1-877-WGFD-TIP. The hotline operates 24 hours a day and reports are sent to the nearest wildlife manager to respond.
Hunters should consult the Bighorn National Forest website and Facebook page for the most current information on fire conditions and public access closures.
Other resources for information about the fire, current road closures and other impacts include the Sheridan County Emergency Management Department and Wyoming Department of Transportation.
Hunters can call the Sheridan Regional Office at 307-672-7418 for more information.
2020s, 2024, Aesop, Disaster, Donald Trump, Government, Politics, Populism, Sic transit Gloria Mundi, Subsidiarity, The Wyoming Fires of 2024, Weather, Wyoming, Wyoming Freedom Caucus
Going Feral: Illegal Sheep Cloning attempt.: Arthur “Jack” Schubarth of Vaughn, Montana, age 81, is being sentenced today for illegally using tissue and testicles from Central Asian Mar...
Six months and $20,000.
Arthur “Jack” Schubarth of Vaughn, Montana, age 81, is being sentenced today for illegally using tissue and testicles from Central Asian Marco Polo sheep and Big Horn Sheep to attempt to create hybrid sheep for captive trophy hunting in Texas and Minnesota, a violation of the Lacey Act.
For some reason, prosecutors are not seeking prison time. His attorneys are claiming the event has ruined his “life, reputation and family.”
So on this Sunday, 2024, I worked, contrary to God's injunction, like on so many others. As a result, I didn't really catch up with the horrific plight of Appalachia in the wake of Hurricane Helene.
It's awful.
Which makes this the worst, and best, time to note this.
We're headed into a legislative session, and an election season, in which the far right espouses a hatride of the Federal Government. If you are in Appalachia, and vote for the populists, you are voting to handle this disaster on your own. If you are in Wyoming, and voting populists, the same is true of the horrible fires we've experienced and are yet to.
If that is your view, don't ask for help, as stupid and cold as not asking for help would be.
We here are distributists, a philosophy that holds things should devolve to the lowest level possible. Here, that level is the Federal government. Distributism works up, as well as down.
Additionally, how long will we choose to ignore the signs? We've waited longer than we should have as it is. There's still time to act, no matter how much it impacts your temrporary pocket books, with you being temporary as it is.
