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SALT LAKE CITY (AP) -- A group of conservative Utah lawmakers wants to use eminent domain to take federal land in the state.
The goal is to spark a legal fight that supporters believe will result in the state being allowed to develop resource rich parcels of land.
More than 60 percent of Utah is owned by the federal government and policy makers here have long complained that federal ownership hinders their ability to generate tax revenue and adequately fund public schools.
Utah spends less per student than any other state and has the nation's largest class sizes.
Legislation to allow the use of eminent domain on federal lands was introduced in the Utah House on Thursday.
(Copyright 2010 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
