BOISE, Idaho -- Idaho's rural counties want Washington, D.C., to let the state manage federal land to boost their finances amid threats to a program that's propped up their budgets.
The Idaho Land Board including Gov. C.L. "Butch" Otter threw its support behind a pilot program to place 200,000 acres of national forests under state Department of Lands' oversight.
The Idaho Statesman (http://bit.ly/qn0vMw ) reports the state would manage the land to benefit rural counties.
For eight years, counties have been the beneficiaries of a federal law that's replaced dwindling timber sale receipts. It sends about $13.7 million annually to Idaho.
But with national debt cutting a priority, that money is in doubt.
Despite Idaho's support, environmental groups and others are skeptical the federal government will turn over national forest land to state control.
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