The Constitution lists very clearly what the US gov is allowed to own within a state.
Ports for US Navy. Forts and armories for the US Army. District of Columbia. Land needful for buildings necessary for conducting the business of the US gov within the state. Right of ways to and from those.
The rest is only and has ever only been, a contra Constitutional power grab by the US gov.
There is another clause that deals with territories, but as we all know, territories are not states. Once a territory became a state, all limits upon the US gov concerning states must go into effect.
So...Air Force bases are illegal? National parks are illegal? Interstate highways are illegal? Lighthouses are illegal? Air traffic control facilities are illegal?
There is another clause that deals with territories, but as we all know, territories are not states. Once a territory became a state, all limits upon the US gov concerning states must go into effect.
Complete nonsense. Article IV, Section 3 talks about the territory or other property of the United States. And Article I, Section 8 does not say those are the only property the federal government can own.
The article says that if Utah were to control the property owned by the federal government then they would realize over $300 million in mining royalties alone. Grazing rights would probably be worth tens of millions more. Why shouldn't they have to pay the Federal Government for that?