This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2016, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
I got a robo-call from Sen. Mike Lee purportedly seeking my opinion on the proposed Bear's Ears Monument. Alas, I could not give my opinion but was instead patched into a Town Hall type meeting being held by our self-proclaimed "constitutional expert."
I listened to two obviously scripted questions. In response to the first question, Lee addressed the "dangerous federal overreach" in invoking the "Antiquities Act."
"Dangerous"? Really?
The second "question" asked Lee how Bears Ears would affect education in Utah. He explained it would be bad for education since we collect paltry property taxes on federal land. Unspoken was, if we sell to developers, the money will be rolling in (although I deem it unlikely our Legislature will give it to education). At his point, I hung up the phone. Mike doesn't want my opinion. He's already been bought and paid for by oil/gas/land developers and the tea party he helped create.
Utahns, Mike Lee does not serve you. In truth, he only cares about himself, his donors and his need to be "the smartest guy in the room." Like Reps. Chaffetz, Bishop, Love and Stewart, Lee fails miserably in the last regard.
Rob Greene
Salt Lake City