On Wednesday, House Republicans killed a concurrent resolution honoring the 50th anniversary of the Sawtooth National Recreation Area in a 22-45 vote.
House Concurrent Resolution 51 celebrated the federal act that officially preserved the 760,000-acre land in 1972. An earlier resolution, Senate Concurrent Resolution 117, was killed in the House on an 18-51 vote March 10 after unanimously passing the Senate several weeks prior. Both were sponsored by Sen. Michelle Stennett (D-Ketchum) and Reps. Ned Burns (D-Bellevue) and Sally Toone (D-Gooding), all of whom represent District 26.
“We were just trying to honor the fine, hard-working people who’ve worked there for the last 50 years and recognize some beautiful land in our state,” Burns said. “Politics got in the way both times. It’s incredibly disappointing. I thank the representatives, particularly those in the Magic Valley, who rose above the political games to celebrate this remarkable area.”
Burns reintroduced HCR 51 on Monday in the House Ways and Means Committee, and removed language House Republicans objected to when it first came to the floor. This time, they took issue with the resolution because the land is managed by the federal government — and has been long before 1972, dating back to the 1890s, which Burns pointed out.
“The SNRA is truly one of the greatest gems in our state,” Toone said. “The federal act has helped ensure that land stays pristine and Idahoans can continue to enjoy it. That deserves recognition.”
“The Senate recognizes the extraordinary beauty in the SNRA and its economic benefit to many Idahoans who live and work in and around its boundaries. Without this act, it would have been privatized and Idahoans would have lost the amazing access they now enjoy,” Stennett said. “It mystifies me why the House does not also recognize its importance. HCR 51 was a 50-year anniversary celebration of a universally loved place.”