Monument mania

I enjoyed the comments on my last post. The retirement problem is a huge mess. I’ll have more to say in my Sunday column. I would just add that I think those of you who have philosophical problems with banning double-dipping or with reducing retirement benefits are missing the point. In an ideal world, you’re absolutely right. But right now you sound a bit like passengers on the Titanic arguing that it’s much warmer to stay in your staterooms.

Now onto something else. How many of you remember when President Clinton went to Arizona in 1996 and announced the creation of a new election-saving national monument in Utah? Remember the outcry? Remember the calls to repeal the Antiquities Act, the law passed during the progressive era giving presidents dictatorial powers to create monuments wherever they see fit?
Newly leaked documents from the Interior Department show that secret talks are underway about possible new monuments in Utah, Arizona, California, Montana, New Mexico, Nevada, Oregon and Washington. Two sites are under consideration in Utah – the San Rafael Swell and Cedar Mesa. Read about it here.)
There are parallels with 1996. President Obama has offended environmentalist by pushing hard for new nuclear power plants. The Utah sites would prevent the extraction of oil and other minerals, which would smooth some of those feelings.
Utah congressman Rob Bishop met with me and the editorial board this afternoon. He said the “initial step is to tell the president Congress will push back if he does it the wrong way.” If that doesn’t work, there could be lawsuits, efforts to change the Antiquities Act or perhaps efforts to exempt certain states from it.
This has, he said, “energized a lot of people.”
Bishop is sincere, but I’ve heard it all before. President Clinton factored the outcry into his decision and figured he could weather the storm and come out ahead politically. He was right. If Obama is planning something similar, political calculations will mean more than congressional outcry.
My problem with this has little to do with the San Rafael Swell or Cedar Mesa. Those places deserve some protection. My problem is with the process.
If the president wants to protect those areas he should call for public hearings. He should involve local leaders and build a consensus before doing anything. As Bishop said today, the Antiquities Act requires that all new monuments involve small amounts of land; serve a specific scientific, archaeological or historic purpose; and stop some imminent harm to the area. He should build the case before doing anything.
Clinton made a mockery of all that. Utahns, especially those who rely on fragile rural economies, are rightfully nervous about a repeat.