Wednesday, August 20, 2008

Allard to carry bill enabling Pinon land buys U.S. Sen. Wayne Allard plans to propose a law barring the U.S. Army from seizing land to expand Fort Carson's Pinon Canyon Maneuver Site, but would clear the way for land purchases, a spokesman said. Allard, a lame-duck Republican who is leaving office after the November election, is working with Army officials on the measure to erase fears that the Army will use federal land seizure laws to displace ranchers from the 100,000 acres it wants to add to its training area east of Trinidad. He'll push the measure when the Senate reconvenes next month. Spokesman Steve Wymer said Allard will fight a funding ban that could prevent the Army from buying land from owners who want to sell. "Property rights go both ways. A landowner should have the right to either keep or sell their land if they so choose," Allard said in a statement. "If there are willing sellers in the area of the proposed expansion, the win-win situation we have all sought can be realized."....Another Republican for increasing the size of the federal estate. The feds already have 653 million acres, but just can't seem to find room to train the military.

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