Rep. Gosar Pitches Lasso Act to Fund Social Security with Public Land Revenue

Public Land Funds for Social Security

• 💡 Representative Paul Gosar introduced the Lasso Act (HR34), proposing to deposit 10% of revenues generated from public lands into the Social Security trust fund.
• 🎯 This initiative aims to put the public back in public lands and provide oversight to the people of the United States.
• 📈 The Congressional Budget Office (CBO) estimates this act could generate $15-16 billion over 10 years, with potential for growth through better utilization of public lands.
• 💰 Gosar believes this would alleviate financial problems by leveraging assets that belong to the American people.

Public Land Use and Management

• ⚠️ Gosar questioned Secretary Bergam about the Biden administration's conservation of landscape health rule, suggesting it conflicts with the multiple use doctrine of federal land management policy.
• 🎯 Bergam agreed that some Biden administration proposals were in direct conflict with the multiple use mandates.

Mexican Wolf Population Management

• 🐺 Gosar raised concerns about the experimental 10J Mexican wolf population in Arizona and New Mexico, which he stated terrorizes ranchers.
• 💰 The federal government spent approximately $9 million managing this population between 2019 and 2021, with about $1.6 million potentially spent on livestock losses.
• ⚖️ Gosar plans to introduce legislation to delist and delink the Mexican wolf to protect western ranchers.

Tribal Organizations and Fentanyl Crisis

• 🔍 Gosar highlighted an investigation into transnational organized crime cartels operating on tribal lands, including in Montana.
• 🤝 He referenced President Trump's Executive Order 14157 to designate cartels as foreign terrorist organizations, expressing hope for collaboration to tackle the fentanyl crisis.

Indian Water Rights and Sovereignty

• 💧 Gosar acknowledged the importance of Indian water right settlements and the issue of sovereignty for Native Americans.
• 🌱 He expressed a belief that the future of the country will involve Native American aspects and that problems need to be remedied.