- An Alliance For Community Action
- (970) 256-7650
- info@WesternColoradoAlliance.org
Thank Sen. Hickenlooper for introducing a bill to protect our public lands!
Please join us in thanking Senator John Hickenlooper! Here’s why: Our nation’s public lands, clean air, and clean water support local economies, outdoor recreation, and precious wildlife habitat. Yet, this outdoor legacy is put at risk by a decades-old backdoor practice known as noncompetitive leasing, which allows speculators to scoop up lands in backroom deals for just $1.50/acre, and hold onto those leases for up to ten years, even if they never go into production. This widespread practice encourages speculation and diverts resources away from other uses for our public lands, like outdoor recreation. Noncompetitive leasing is a prime example of government inefficiency that wastes time and taxpayer resources — that could go towards important projects like improving wildlife habitat or trail maintenance, instead of a confusing process that doesn’t benefit the American public or our public lands.
Yesterday, Sen. John Hickenlooper (D-CO) introduced — with Senator Martin Heinrich (D-NM) and Senator Jacky Rosen (D-NV) as cosponsors — the Competitive Onshore Mineral Policy via Eliminating Taxpayer-Enabled Speculation (COMPETES) Act, a commonsense, good-government bill that will end this harmful and wasteful practice, creating a more streamlined, efficient leasing system by requiring all oil & gas lease sales on public lands to be issued through a fair competitive process, instead of through the backdoor.
Now, as we act to turn this bill into law, let’s take this opportunity to let Sen. Hickenlooper know that we appreciate his efforts to protect our public lands from speculative investors, and tell him that we support legislation that will put people before profits. Click the button below to thank Senator Hickenlooper today!
Brian joined Western Colorado Alliance as a community organizer in April 2020. With a professional background in elections and the court system, Brian specializes in working with our partners to shape oil and gas policy. Having grown up on the Western Slope, he is committed to working toward a strong, sustainable future for our community. Brian also volunteers with Mesa County Library’s literacy and pathway to citizenship programs. As an avid board game enthusiast, he enjoys opportunities to strategize and build winning coalitions. Brian received his bachelor's degree in political science from Colorado Mesa University, and his master’s degree in public administration from the University of Colorado Denver’s School of Public Affairs.