LaVarr Webb's recent defense of Gov. Herbert's federal land grab — including 22 lawsuits against the United States — is wrong ("Interest groups affecting legislation and Utah lands," July 29).
Utah's public lands are not the reason Utahns ranked dead last in funding schools. We actually have more private land per person than over half of our fellow states, and there is no correlation between states' per-pupil funding and the availability of non-federal land within their borders. Our problem rests with our Legislature's choices, which seem to favor the energy industry over our kids.
In 2011, Utah had the lowest effective tax rate on oil and natural gas activity of any western energy-producing state. And Utah has no severance tax on coal. The Legislature has decided to give these industries a pass while our public schools remain under funded.
All Herbert will likely accomplish is wasting millions of tax dollars in litigation, and the money he wastes could go to our schools.
Dede Carpenter
Sandy