In an op-ed published in High Country News , U.S. Sen. Tom Udall (NM) and Rep. Raúl Grijalva (D-Ariz.) called for reform of the 1872 mining law that allows hardrock minerals to be mined on public lands with no royalty.
"As our nation works to address the deficit in the months ahead, we can no longer allow federal giveaways of our natural resources to continue without any compensation to the taxpayers who own those resources."
"But the only way mining reform will happen is if the public becomes aware of its importance. Nothing in Congress happens in a vacuum. That's why we're highlighting this issue now, before budget negotiations get too intense."
Read the full op-ed
here
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"This is one of the biggest budget loopholes of the modern economy, and it needs to change -- especially now -- as Congress tries to address the deficit and balance budgets."
"With prices for gold, silver and other minerals at near-record highs, requiring companies to pay a royalty for public resources is simply good policy."
