Utah's Republican-dominated Legislature trumpeted its opposition Wednesday to a possible national monument in the Bears Ears area of southeastern Utah. Supporters of the monument say the protection is needed to stave off damage from off-road vehicles and looting. He held up letters from the Navajo Nation, Hopi and other tribes all asking Obama to protect Bears Ears. Republican lawmakers said the proposal is overly broad and questioned whether Obama even had the legal authority to declare the monument. Lawmakers passed a purely symbolic resolution decrying the proposal while they were meeting in a late afternoon special session that lasted several hours.

Source: ABC News May 18, 2016 19:26 UTC