Tribal leaders to Obama: Name a new monument in Utah to protect our lands

A group of tribal leaders stood two blocks from the White House on Thursday to call on President Barack Obama to name a new national monument in southeastern Utah, arguing that they've felt ignored in their requests to Congress and that the window to designate a monument is closing. The leaders, from five American Indian tribes, say that a 1.9 million-acre area known as Bears Ears must be protected for cultural and religious reasons and saved for future generations from development. The tribal leaders had sought congressional action to preserve the area, but they say they are frustrated with the process and felt largely excluded by Reps. Rob Bishop and Jason Chaffetz, both Republicans, who have been drafting a major plan to protect some lands in exchange for developing others. While offering the Utah congressmen a second chance to help, the coalition says it has so far felt shut out. In a joint statement, Bishop and Chaffetz, along with Sens. Mike Lee and Orrin Hatch, said many American Indians who live in Utah oppose the coalition's proposal, but that the tribes' input and recommendations are welcomed. "Our offices have now received over 65 detailed proposals from various stakeholder groups regarding land management in eastern Utah," the four representatives said. "We remain committed to reviewing each proposal and producing a final PLI bill that is balanced and broadly supported."...more

Here is another example of where one person has more authority than the Governor, and in this case, the entire Congressional Delegation.  Another distortion of the Founding Fathers view of a proper government.  Will Congress continue to hunker down and accept this abuse or will they revoke this authority they granted to one person?