–By Amy Brunvand
Only 26% of Westerns support selling federal public lands to reduce the deficit. Not even a majority of Republicans support a sell-off.
There is a big disconnect on public land issues between what Utah voters want and what Utah politicians, deliver, according to the sixth annual “Conservation in the West” poll, released in January. The poll surveyed voters in seven western states (AZ,CO, MT, NV, NM, UT, WY) and found that only 26% of Westerners support selling federal public lands to reduce the deficit and that there is no sub-group of voters (not even Republicans) in which a majority supported a sell-off.
Similarly, 87% of Utah voters agree that “elected officials and state leaders should work together and seek common ground” (as opposed to “should not compromise if there are differences”). The survey notes that last year 95% of Western voters visited public lands managed by U.S. government agencies and they have a strong sense that public lands benefit both quality of life and the economy.
Conservation in the West poll: HTTP://BIT.LY/1P6KNKF