Nevada’s only Republican congressman isn’t backing down. Mark Amodei just pushed through a plan to sell more than 93,000 acres of federal land in Nevada, and he’s defending it even as Democrats in his own state call it “insane.”
“Listen, I get it,” Amodei told Nevada Newsmakers when asked about the criticism. “I get it because I have been doing this for a long time.”
But getting it doesn’t mean he’s sorry about it.
What Amodei Actually Did
Here’s what happened: Amodei added an amendment to a House committee bill that would sell off federal land in Nevada. We’re talking about 12,000 acres for Fernley, 14,000 acres around Sparks, 65,000 acres in Clark County, and a big chunk in Pershing County.
The complaints are flying fast.
- Senator Catherine Cortez Masto called it “insane.”
- Representative Dina Titus said “this is not the way you do things.”
- Representative Susie Lee wrote him a letter asking him to reverse course.
Their beef? The money from these sales – all $18 billion of it – goes straight to Washington D.C. to help pay for Trump’s tax cuts. In the past, Nevada got to keep the money from federal land sales.
Read our prior coverage:
Amodei’s Nevada Public Land Sale Plan Sparks Democratic Outrage
Susie Lee’s War on Nevada Land Sales and Your Tax Cut
Why Amodei Says He Had No Choice
Amodei’s defense is simple: nobody else was getting it done. Democrats have had their own land bills sitting around collecting dust. Meanwhile, local governments have been asking for these specific pieces of land for years.
Amodei explained:
“The stuff is in there because it’s been in front of both committees for several Congresses now. So it’s not, ‘Oh my God, where did this come from?’ We don’t draw lines on a map.”
He also points out a hard truth about how Washington works. The House was working under the “Byrd Rule,” which means any amendment had to impact the U.S. Treasury. He couldn’t add conservation elements or keep the money in Nevada even if he wanted to.
The Real Problem: No More Harry Reid
Here’s where Amodei gets brutally honest. Nevada used to get better deals because Harry Reid was Senate Majority Leader. Reid knew how to make things happen for Nevada.
Amodei said:
“Real brutal answer, it’s because we don’t have Harry Reid in there now,”
Reid retired in 2017 and died in 2021. Since then, Nevada’s congressional delegation just doesn’t have the same muscle in Washington
“You need somebody with the stature of a Senate majority leader or a minority leader who has the ability to impose their will on both sides of the Capitol,” Amodei said. “We don’t have that person.”
Why This Matters to Conservatives
This is exactly the kind of issue that should fire up limited government conservatives. The federal government owns 85% of Nevada. That’s not federalism – that’s federal control run wild.
These land sales mean local communities can finally use land for economic development, housing, and jobs.
Sparks Mayor Ed Lawson has been pushing for his 14,000 acres. Fernley wants its piece. These are local decisions that should be made locally, not held hostage by Washington bureaucrats.
Yes, it stinks that the money goes to D.C. instead of staying in Nevada. But sometimes you take what you can get. The perfect deal isn’t coming when you don’t have a powerhouse like Reid fighting for you.
Democrats Cry About Process
The Democrats are also complaining about how this happened. They say Amodei snuck it through “in the middle of the night” without consulting them.
Amodei calls that nonsense. The committee started at 10 a.m. and worked through about 100 Democratic amendments first. When they finally got to his amendment, it was 12:30 a.m.
“Listen, if it was up to me, I’d love to have done it before dinner,” he said. “I mean, I’m not exactly a college kid where I just hit my stride at 12:30, you know?”
He also notes that he did talk to people – just not his Democratic colleagues. “Over the last three Congresses, I spoke with (Commissioner) Jim Gibson. I’ve spoken with (Commissioner) Marilyn Kirkpatrick,” he said.
What’s Next?
The bill still needs to pass the full House and Senate. That’s where Democrats might try to stop it.
But Amodei has reality on his side: “It helps to be in the majority.” Republicans control both chambers right now. He’s using that advantage while he can.
What Conservatives Should Do
If you believe in limited government and local control, support these land sales. Contact your representatives. Tell them you’re tired of Washington hoarding land that Nevada communities could put to good use.
Don’t let the perfect be the enemy of the good. This isn’t the ideal deal, but it’s the deal that’s actually possible right now. Getting 93,000 acres out of federal hands and into productive use? That’s a win for limited government, even if the money goes to D.C.
This article was written with the assistance of AI. Please verify information and consult additional sources as needed.
