Smokey to kick Jesus off federal land - Congressman proposes land swap

U.S. Rep. Denny Rehberg proposed a land swap Monday to save a Jesus statue that is facing eviction from U.S. Forest Service land. The Forest Service recently rescinded its initial decision to remove the five-decades-old statue from a Whitefish ski hill amid an uproar over the decision. The agency announced Monday that a new public comment period was open as it analyzes the matter again. Rehberg wants to take steps to ensure the statue can stay put. He is proposing legislation that would hand over the landmark's home _ a 25-by-25-foot patch of land _ to the Big Mountain ski resort. The resort, in turn, would swap the same amount of land elsewhere to the Forest Service. The resort, where the statue has been a curiosity and sight to skiers for years, has said it does not want the statue to be taken down...more