Idaho’s Federal Land Takeover Legal Bill at $61,000

BOISE, Idaho (AP) — Idaho's bill for outside legal work to find a way take over federal public lands is up to about $61,000. Documents obtained by The Spokesman-Review show Holland & Hart charged about $20,000 for work from April to August.That's on top of about $41,000 the state previously paid.

Holland & Hart lawyer Bill Myers charges the state $420 an hour. Republican Rep. Lawerence Denney is co-chairing the Legislature's Federal Lands Interim Committee that is looking to take over federal public land statewide.

He says getting sound legal advice is worth it. Idaho's attorney general can also guide lawmakers, but Lawrence Wasden has repeatedly said the plan for Idaho to take over federal public lands isn't legally viable.