State to feds: No more national monuments without asking us first

The state House of Representatives on Saturday approved a resolution that would prohibit the designation of national monuments in Montana without state’s approval. “I don’t necessarily oppose monuments but I do oppose them without the consent of the legislature and governor,” said Rep. Ken Peterson, R-Billings, who introduced House Joint Resolution No. 4. He said there has been some abuse in Washington as the Antiquities Act law allows the president to make such a declaration. The House passed the second reading of the resolution 76-23. It is listed as a joint resolution of the state Senate and House. The third reading will be Monday. The joint resolution urges Congress to amend the Antiquities Act to require that land used as part of a national monument to be small, and that Congress approve any designations...more