Exclusive: Lawmakers rushing Bears Ears resolution because they expect Trump to undo monument

UtahPolicy.com has learned House Republicans are rushing to pass a resolution asking President Trump to rescind the Bears Ears National Monument by Friday because they think Trump could possibly do that as early as next week.

House Speaker Greg Hughes has made it known he wants HCR11 passed by the full Legislature and sent to Gov. Gary Herbert's desk by Friday of this week. Hughes' resolution calls on Trump to reverse the 1.35 million acre national monument established by President Barack Obama in the final days of his presidency. Passing the non-binding resolution so quickly would be a good way to demonstrate to the Trump administration support from Utah's Capitol Hill.

According to legislative rules, a resolution becomes effective immediately when it receives final approval from the House, Senate, and Governor.

Hughes acknowledged to UtahPolicy.com the plan is to send the resolution to the governor's desk by Friday. However, he played coy when asked why he was putting such a hurry on the process.

"We may have a great opportunity here," said Hughes with a grin. "We want to be prepared for whatever opportunity arises on this issue. We are going to do all we can."

The rush may be tied to an expected visit to Utah by new Secretary of the Interior Ryan Zinke after he's confirmed by the Senate. Zinke could come to Utah as early as next week if several legislators who spoke to UtahPolicy.com are to be believed. Zinke's nomination was approved by the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee but is still awaiting a vote by the full Senate.

Sen. Orrin Hatch met with Zinke in mid-January. At that time, Hatch said Zinke promised to make his first trip as Interior Secretary to Utah to discuss public lands issues.

The House railroaded HCR11 through earlier this week. Representatives violated their own rules by using the House Rules Committee as a standing committee to hear the resolution, but House Republicans voted to move forward anyway and passed the bill to the Senate on Tuesday.

The bill is set to be heard in the Senate Natural Resources on Thursday afternoon. If the bill passes out of committee, as expected, then Senators would have to suspend their rules on the floor on Friday morning for final passage of the bill in order to send it to the Governor.

While Congress has reduced the size of national monument designations in the past, a president has never completely reversed a monument established by another president. Rep. Rob Bishop has argued that President Trump would be able to undo Bears Ears and even could go as far as rolling back the Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument established by President Bill Clinton.