OPINION: Politicians snub Army
U.S. Rep. John Salazar boasted this week about his work to trip up expansion of the Piñon Canyon Maneuver Site. The Colorado Democrat said the chairman of the Military Construction and Veterans Affairs Appropriations Subcommittee reassured him a two-year ban on expansion won't be lifted.
Meanwhile, Gov. Bill Ritter has secured his anti-Colorado Springs credentials with the rest of the state by signing a bill that prevents Colorado from selling or leasing state land to the Army. The state owns about 20 percent of the land the Army wants.
The Army's desire to expand Piñon Canyon was understandably controversial when eminent domain was an option to force ranchers to part with land. But Army officials long ago took that option off the table, saying they would acquire land only from willing sellers.
This leaves reasonable individuals to wonder who Salazar, Ritter, and other opponents of the expansion are trying to protect. Willing sellers are not victims. They are private property owners benefiting from their rights to sell and enjoy the fruits of their investments. By blocking federal funding, Congress has only limited a major option for private property owners to who may want to retire or send children to college. By forbidding a sale of state land, legislators and the governor have indulged a political whim that reflects fiscal irresponsibility. Our schools, and other government services, could benefit from the sale of state land.
Worst of all, political foes of the Piñon Canyon plans have snubbed their noses at the Army. Let's hope the Army doesn't someday return the favor, taking personnel and payrolls to some less hostile neighboring state.
