Resolution Requesting that the Obama Administration Confer and Consult with the States on Management of Public Lands and Energy Resources Exposed

The Resolution Requesting that the Obama Administration Confer and Consult with the States on Management of Public Lands and Energy Resources was considered by ALEC's Energy, Environment and Agriculture Task Force at the 2011 States and Nation Policy Summit on November 30, 2011. This bill was part of the ALEC task force agenda between 2010 and 2012, but due to incomplete information, it is not known if the bill passed in a vote by legislators and lobbyists at ALEC task force meetings, if ALEC sought to distance itself from the bill as the public increased scrutiny of its pay-to-play activities, or if key operative language from the bill has been introduced by an ALEC legislator in a state legislature in the ensuing period or became binding law.

ALEC Draft Bill Text

Whereas, Management of public lands and energy resources has a direct fiscal impact on state economies and state budgets; and

Whereas, Public lands should be managed to encourage environmentally responsible energy development and further restrictions to energy development on public lands are not only unnecessary, but also increase the United States’ reliance on foreign energy sources; and

Whereas, State governments and regulatory agencies are best positioned to address the unique management needs of local resources; and

Whereas, Cost-benefit and job-impact analyses are required in many states before new state rules or regulations are adopted; and

Whereas, Regulations and federal mandates are stifling the economy, resulting in lost opportunities to create jobs; and

Whereas, Court settlements between the Obama Administration and environmental groups are severely limiting the ability for states to manage lands and resources within their borders; and

Whereas, Seventeen Governors have voiced their concerns to President Obama about the over-reaching nature of proposed rules and draft guidance that erodes traditional state authority;

Therefore be it resolved: The American Legislative Exchange Council requests Congress and the Administration to acknowledge and respect the role of states in a federal constitutional republic.

The United States Congress, which represents the interests of the states individually and collectively, is the appropriate public body to determine management of resources within a state’s borders.

ALEC further calls on Congress and the Administration to commit to greater consultation with the states and to recognize cost-benefit and job-impact analyses must be addressed in order to understand how federal regulations impact states and their respective citizens.