Senate Democrats voted down an amendment last week offered by U.S. Sen. Jim DeMint (R-SC) to prevent the Obama Administration from secretly designating over 10 million acres of land in 9 states as national monuments. Writing in the Washington Times this morning, Senator DeMint exposed this most recent Washington power-grab:
You'd think the Obama administration is busy enough controlling the banks, insurance companies and automakers, but thanks to whistleblowers at the Department of the Interior, we now learn they're planning to increase their control over energy-rich land in the West.
A secret administration memo has surfaced revealing plans for the federal government to seize more than 10 million acres from Montana to New Mexico, halting job- creating activities like ranching, forestry, mining and energy development. Worse, this land grab would dry up tax revenue that's essential for funding schools, firehouses and community centers.
President Obama could enact the plans in this memo with just the stroke of a pen, without any input from the communities affected by it.
Several of the Democrats who voted in favor of this secret land grab face tough re-election bids this year. Perhaps the most vulnerable is Democrat Leader Harry Reid (D-NV). One of Reid's top challengers, Danny Tarkanian (R-NV), had this to say about Reid's vote:
Tonight was yet another reminder of how Harry Reid has failed to put the interests of Nevada first. This land-grab tactic is another attempt on the part of President Obama, with Harry Reids acquiescence in the Senate, to appease left-wing environmental activists and stifle productive public land use in Nevada.
Here's the full list of Senators voting against DeMint's amendment, which was defeated 38-58: