Reps. Gabe Vasquez and Ryan Zinke are teaming up to launch a bipartisan public lands caucus as Republicans eye selling off federal land as a possible revenue raiser in their mega budget reconciliation bill.
The duo hopes the bipartisan show of force helps squash any potential GOP effort to sell any public lands — located mostly in the West — to help build more affordable housing to address a nationwide shortage. They are launching the caucus of more than 10 members, most of whom represent Western states and districts.
Reps. Debbie Dingell (D-Mich.) and Mike Simpson (R-Idaho) are co-chairs of the caucus, which has the support of the League of Conservation Voters, the Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership, the Outdoor Recreation Roundtable and other conservation groups.
“This is going to be a way for us to show a unified and bipartisan front to push back on any potential sell off or transfer of public lands to the states or private entities as a pay-for to offset tax cuts,” Vasquez, a second-term New Mexico Democrat who represents a battleground district, told POLITICO in an interview ahead of the caucus’ official launch planned for next week.
