Midnight Land Grab – Reid’s Revenge, Obama’s Legacy

Faye HigbeeDecember 29, 2016

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midnight land grab — Bears Ears Monument in Nevada

Obama has designated two more “National Monuments” amounting to millions of acres, one in Utah and one in Nevada. But it’s not just another land grab- one was done at the behest of Harry Reid who had a vendetta against the Bundy Ranch, the other deliberately bypassed Utah Republican legislators. It has thrown yet another kink into the transition for Trump’s Presidency.

Doing my best to disregard the many inflammatory President O statements and roadblocks.Thought it was going to be a smooth transition – NOT!

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) December 28, 2016

It’s not just about Obama’s “legacy,” it’s also about paybacks.

Utah – Bears Ears

Intending to cement his “environmental” record, he designated 1.3 million acres more of Utah as Federal land in the “Bears Ears” national monument. The problem is that legislators were already working on a bill that would have preserved the area AND allowed recreational and energy use.

Will this presidential election be the most important in American history?

Yes

I will work tirelessly with Congress & incoming Trump administration to honor the will of Utahns and undo this monument designation. #utpol

— Mike Lee (@SenMikeLee) December 28, 2016

Declaring a monument to yourself, at the expense of the citizens is not leadership but tyranny. #Utpol #BearsEars #NoMidnightMonument pic.twitter.com/qm6Q8hE5RH

— Sutherland Institute (@SutherlandInst) December 19, 2016

Utah’s elected officials are a strong, unified front in opposition to proposed Bears Ears National Monument: https://t.co/9T2uGXdMRW #uptol

— Mike Lee (@SenMikeLee) December 19, 2016

The Utah delegation and the people of the Bears Ears area are united in telling the Obama administration #NoMidnightMonument. #utpol pic.twitter.com/5wwgFhHDPE

— Senator Hatch Office (@SenOrrinHatch) December 14, 2016

The people of #SanJuanCounty protest #BearsEars designation. This is NOT what the people want. We pledge to undo what #POTUS did. #utpol pic.twitter.com/dphKh84EbT

— Rep. Mia Love (@RepMiaLove) December 29, 2016

This is a legacy that shortcuts a public process and ignores the wishes of the people who live in Utah.
https://t.co/shlIyjZv3K

— Rep. Mia Love (@RepMiaLove) December 29, 2016

Utah Attorney General Sean Reyes is planning a lawsuit over the designation.

“By significantly restricting access to a large portion of public lands in Utah, the President weakens land management capabilities and fails to protect those the Antiquities Act intended to benefit.” Sean Reyes

Fait Accompli in Nevada – Taking the Bundy Ranch

In Nevada, the “Gold Butte” National Monument is 300,000 acres now under federal control. And outgoing Senator Harry Reid is overjoyed.

“President Obama is a courageous man. I could not be more grateful to him and his team for working with me to make this happen, and for everything he has done to protect public lands in Nevada. By designating Gold Butte a national monument, President Obama has shown once again why he is one of greatest environmental presidents in American history.” Harry Reid

Did you catch that part about “working with me to make this happen?” As a point of reference, Rancher Cliven Bundy has grazed his cattle on Gold Butte for over 20 years, and it was the site of the Bundy Ranch Standoff in 2014.

And so you have it. Harry Reid’s revenge, Obama’s Legacy…it’s all connected.

Environmentalists and Native Americans hail the actions as great ones. Though there are areas in both these places that should be preserved, with ancient petroglyphs, etc, the bare fact that the federal government taking over these lands deletes any State management of them, and completely bars any usage by the people.

There were balances available.

H/T Uncle Sam’s Misguided Children

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