On Friday, Arizona rual lawmakers applauded the Obama Administration’s recent decision to exclude Arizona from any further National Monument designations.
Representatives Todd Clodfelter, David Cook, Drew John, Becky Nutt, and Kevin Payne issued a statement of approval for the president’s decision. “It’s not often that we can agree with any decision made by the Obama Administration, but rural Arizona is certainly breathing a sigh of relief after dodging a burdensome National Monument designation,” said Representatives Cook, John, Nutt, Payne, and Clodfelter. “To designate monuments, wilderness, or other parks which cover massive amounts of Arizona land does nothing but handcuff rural Arizona and the entire state from future development.”
According to the lawmakers’ statement, “while Arizona avoided further federal land intervention, Utah and Nevada weren’t as fortunate. The Obama Administration designated 1.35 million acres in Utah as the Bears Ears National Monument and 300,000 acres in Nevada as the Gold Butte National Monument, angering many local ranchers and other stakeholders.”