[B Knotts]

Simple. The government already owns way too much land, and these land trusts are merely a vehicle for the government to acquire even more land.

They should be selling off land to lower the deficit, not accumulating more.

[HairOfTheDog]

OK so you see issues that are really different than a tax break. Lets tackle the "land trusts are merely a vehicle for the government to acquire even more land". I live in the west too, where there are huge blocks of public land, mostly in the mountains and rural areas where it is owned out of default by the government, but some also no doubt purchased.

Define "way too much land". I don't automatically see "too much". I am a big user of public land. The trails I ride in are all public lands. People hunt, hike and camp in public lands. The private forests here are closed to me. That is their right, but that makes me appreciate lands set aside for public enjoyment as well as natural benefits. I don't see it as intrinsically wrong.

[HairOfTheDog]

They should be selling off land to lower the deficit, not accumulating more.

And that is a short term solution to a long term problem of budget. Hocking your TV set to pay the rent might save you this month.... but not next month, when you have both nothing left to watch, and nothing left to sell.