Salt Lake Tribune whines again at Senator Lee

From their 5/9 Editorial Protecting our land:

Lee a conservation party pooper

At least Sen. Mike Lee was honorable enough not to try to claim credit for one of the last and best accomplishments of the statesman he ousted from office two years ago. No, rather than celebrate the opening of two new federal conservation areas in Utah’s Washington County Monday, the Republican senator was back in Washington, D.C., rudely denigrating the carefully crafted Washington County Lands Bill of 2009 that made them possible. Lee, joined by Sen. Orrin Hatch, has proposed a bill that would not allow the federal government to apply national park, monument or recreation/conservation area status — on land that the federal government owns — without the approval of the affected state’s legislature. In some states, that might not be a problem. In others — particularly Utah — the overwhelming influence the extractive industries have over state legislative bodies would make it nearly impossible to grant proper levels of federal protection to another acre of land. Which is, clearly, the point. The bill is not only a bad idea, it amounts to a gratuitous slap at former U.S. Sen. Bob Bennett. It was Republican Bennett, along with Democrat Rep. Jim Matheson, who painstakingly worked out the bill that increased levels of federal protection for some lands while allowing other parcels near cities to be sold for development. It is a success that other Utah counties are seeking to copy...

 So Lee is a "conservation party pooper" and is "rudely denigrating" and taking a "gratuitous slap" at Bennett, all because he wants to involve states in land use decisions that have significant impacts on the residents of that state.

What a leap by the editors to take a shot at Lee.  Since Hatch is working on the bill too, why isn't he also "rudely denigrating" Bennett?  And even if this were accurate, how do you denigrate someone without being rude?  Are they laying off Hatch because of the challenge to him by a conservative?  Of course they are.

And then throw in the 17th amendment in an editorial on land designations?  Another leap.

Truth is, its the Tribune that is "rudely denigrating" and taking a "gratuitous slap" at the people of Utah.

 But, in an age when compromise and consensus are perceived as signs of weakness, Bennett’s reward was to be ousted from office at the 2010 Utah Republican State Convention.

No sir, can't let democracy get in the way of their precious wilderness.

What a petty whine by the editors. 

I hereby present the Salt Lake Tribune The Westerner's "Whine Connoisseur of  The Week" award.

P.S.  I tried to read the Lee-Hatch bill (S. 2473), but the text is not ready from the GPO.  Wonder what the SLT was reading?