This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2014, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
U.S. Sen. Mike Lee told Utah legislators Wednesday that he voted against the farm bill that funds federal payments in lieu of taxes (PILT) to counties in order to try to save it and make its funding more secure.
"We cannot allow PILT to become a game piece in a political game," he told the House which had asked him to explain his vote in his annual visit to the Legislature.
He said the threat of not funding PILT is used to push Westerners to pass the farm bill. Lee said that bill is only 20 percent about agriculture, and 80 percent about food stamps and it did not contain reforms some sought, such as not paying people for not growing food on their land.
He said PILT should stand on its own, and not be included in the farm bill where it becomes a political pawn.
"PILT is extraordinarily important to the state of Utah," he said, noting counties depend on it to provide services. But he said they receive only pennies on the dollar compared to what full taxes would be on the land. "This isn't right in the first place."
Lee also echoed a more bipartisan tone of speeches he has given in recent months. "It is time for us as Americans to come together," he told the Utah Senate.
He also called for a better partnership with states. "We need to empower states to be the primary source of law in this country," he said.