Latest news with #R-UT
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Senator Lee responds to the Trump-Musk feud
SALT LAKE CITY () — President Donald Trump and Elon Musk's relationship as the two sniped jabs at each other on social media. Senator Mike Lee (R-UT) shared his thoughts on the feud in a few posts on his personal X account. Sen. Lee of the Musk and President Trump and stated that he really likes both of them, seemingly disappointed that the two are at odds. Later, Lee also replied to a post by Rep. Thomas Massie (R-KY), who said that Musk did not get involved in government to enrich himself and politicians did not understand that. Lee agreed that Musk was never in government for money. PREVIOUSLY: Musk backs call to impeach Trump, replace him with Vance Lee also posted about his desire for Musk and Trump to reconcile, in one post asking people to reply if they agree that the world is a better place with the 'Trump-Musk bromance fully intact.' The feud between Musk and Trump comes after Musk in the Department of Governmental Efficiency (DOGE) at the end of May and Musk attended with a black eye. The public disagreements between the President and the richest man in the world began when Musk , calling it a 'disgusting abomination.' Then during an Oval Office meeting with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz Thursday, Trump said that he was in Musk following his criticisms. In response, Musk took to X, posting claims that Trump had ties to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. He claimed that Trump's involvement is the reason that the Epstein files have not been made public. Later, Musk calling for Trump to be impeached and replaced by Vice President JD Vance, agreeing with the post. Utah man pleads guilty to attempting to hire hitman while behind bars in 2020 Senator Lee responds to the Trump-Musk feud Chrysler at 100: Plans for a bold comeback Wyoming state senator proposes eliminating property taxes More heavy rain, rumbles for southern & central Utah Thursday evening Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
23-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Outdoor Groups Cry Foul After House Republicans Hold Midnight Vote to Sell Public Lands
House Republicans have advanced a plan to sell off hundreds of thousands of acres of federal public lands in Nevada and Utah, drawing swift criticism from conservation groups, outdoor recreation advocates, and some state and local leaders. The amendment, introduced by Representatives Mark Amodei (R-NV) and Celeste Maloy (R-UT), was quietly added to a larger budget reconciliation bill during a late-night House Natural Resources Committee session earlier this week. Lawmakers voted to approve the amendment around midnight with little debate and no opportunity for public input. The bill must next face votes from both the full House and Senate before moving to the President's desk for final signature. Outdoor advocates are urging the public to contact representatives and oppose the amendment's inclusion in the reconciliation bill. Why DC Is Better (and Worse) Than You Think: An Outsider Summits Capitol Hill The proposal authorizes the sale of up to 200,000 acres in Clark County, Nev., and about 350,000 acres in Pershing County, Nev. It also targets more than 10,000 acres of public lands in Utah. Many of these parcels are managed by the Bureau of Land Management and U.S. Forest Service, and overlap with popular recreation areas used for mountain biking, climbing, paddling, and other outdoor activities. Supporters of the plan argue that selling these lands would generate an estimated $18 billion in revenue to help offset tax cuts and fund energy projects. They point out that the targeted parcels represent a small fraction of total federal land holdings in these states. 'Not all federal lands have the same value,' Representative Maloy said in committee. 'Some should not be available for disposal. We all agree on that. However, in both Democratic and Republican administrations, for decades, we've been disposing of appropriate lands in a manner that's consistent with what I propose to do here.' However, the plan has faced bipartisan opposition. Conservation groups warn that the affected areas include important recreation access points and wildlife habitat. Critics raised concerns about the land sales and the process used to pass the amendment. The vote happened around midnight with no notice or chance for public review. Every Republican except Rep. Jeff Hurd (R-CO) voted for the amendment. The full package, including the land sale, passed with support from all Republicans and Rep. Adam Gray (D-CA). The bill also allows industries to pay to skip judicial review of environmental assessments under NEPA. Conservation groups warn this could weaken protections and reduce public oversight of development projects. The reconciliation bill, including the public land sale amendment, must now go before the full House of Representatives for a vote. If it passes the House, the bill will move to the Senate, where it will face further debate, possible amendments, and a final vote. If both chambers approve the bill, they will send it to the president to sign into law. Lawmakers could still remove or modify the land sale and NEPA provisions during this process. Advocacy groups say this is a critical window for public input and political pressure, as negotiations and revisions are likely before the bill reaches a final form. Until a final bill is signed, the proposed land sales are not enacted. Stakeholders are urging continued outreach to elected officials to influence the outcome before it becomes law. Outdoor recreation and conservation groups are encouraging the public to take action by contacting their lawmakers. Organizations like the Outdoor Alliance (OA) are urging individuals to write directly to their congressional representatives to demand the removal of the land sale and NEPA rollback provisions from the bill. OA emphasizes that personal, direct messages are more effective than form letters. You can find your representative through the government's index. Advocates stress that public lands deserve transparent review and public involvement. These decisions made behind closed doors without input from communities or stakeholders seem to follow the same path as other recent anti-public-lands policies. GearJunkie will continue to report on this issue as it develops. Trump Proposes $1B Cut to National Parks, Transferring Ownership to States
Yahoo
13-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Rep. Mary Miller, Senator Lee introduce Bill to establishes Obscenity Definition across states
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Congresswoman Mary Miller (IL-15) and Senator Mike Lee (R-UT) introduced the Interstate Obscenity Definition Act to clarify the legal definition of 'obscenity' for all states, making the transmission of obscene content across state lines more easily prosecuted. 'Obscenity isn't protected by the First Amendment, but hazy and unenforceable legal definitions have allowed extreme pornography to saturate American society and reach countless children,' said Senator Mike Lee. 'Our bill updates the legal definition of obscenity for the internet age so this content can be taken down and its peddlers prosecuted.' 'The Interstate Obscenity Definition Act equips law enforcement with the tools they need to target and remove obscene material from the internet, which is alarmingly destructive and far outside the bounds of protected free speech under the Constitution. I'm proud to lead this effort in the House with Senator Lee to safeguard American families and ensure this dangerous material is kept out of our homes and off our screens,' said Congresswoman Mary Miller. The Interstate Obscenity Definition Act (IODA) clarifies the definition of obscenity across all states and provides updated descriptions suited to modern content. The new definition removes dependence on ever-changing and elusive public opinion, replacing ambiguity with practical standards to make obscenity identifiable. This change will prevent obscene material such as pornography from evading prosecution by relying on the legal confusion of differing standards between states. Under IODA, law enforcement will be empowered to identify and prevent obscenity from being transmitted across state lines. 'Obscenity is already unprotected speech under the First Amendment, but its current definition makes it difficult to assess and prosecute. The current legal definition of obscenity was taken from a Supreme Court case argued in 1973. Its standards are subjective and vague, making it difficult to apply with certainty to any given material. Using a pre-internet standard for modern times presents serious challenges – particularly when states use differing definitions for 'obscenity' – and allows criminals to evade prosecution,' a news release states. The Interstate Obscenity Definition Act (IODA): Defines 'obscenity' within the Communications Act of 1934 as content that: taken as a whole, appeals to the prurient interest in nudity, sex, or excretion; depicts, describes or represents actual or simulated sexual acts with the objective intent to arouse, titillate, or gratify the sexual desires of a person, and; taken as a whole, lacks serious literary, artistic, political, or scientific value. It also strengthens the existing general prohibition on obscenity in the Communications Act (47 U.S.C 223(a)) by removing the 'intent' requirement that only prohibits the transmission of obscenity for the purposes abusing, threatening, or harassing a person. Congresswoman Miller currently serves as Chair of the Congressional Family Caucus and sits on the Committees on Agriculture, Education and Workforce, and House Administration.
Yahoo
10-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Rule banning off road vehicles in Glen Canyon National Recreation Area overturned
SALT LAKE CITY (ABC4) — A passed the U.S. Senate Thursday that would allow the use of off-road vehicles (ORVs) and all-terrain vehicles (ATVs) in areas of the Glen Canyon National Recreation Area where it was previously banned. The use of ORVs and ATVs in Glen Canyon was banned in parts of the park by a enacted during President Biden's administration. The resolution was introduced by Senators John Curtis (R-UT) and Mike Lee (R-UT). passed the House of Representatives last week. The original rule banned the use of off-road vehicles from an area of Glen Canyon known as the Orange Cliffs Special Management Unit, which makes up 25 miles. The rule was put in place after the (SUWA) and the (NPCA) against the National Park Service over off-road vehicle management in Glen Canyon, and it was intended to protect the environment and visitor experience in the park. Sen. Curtis said restoring off-road vehicles in Glen Canyon National Recreation Area is a step to ensure that public lands remain accessible for the people, 'and not dictated by Washington bureaucrats.' Senator Curtis also stated: 'Utahns have responsibly accessed Glen Canyon for decades, and Washington's one-size-fits-all restrictions threatened not only that access but also the livelihoods and traditions of rural communities. This legislation restores the balance between conservation and responsible recreation—something Utahns have always led on.' SUWA and NPCA have strongly criticized this legislation, calling it an 'attack on national parks.' The organizations stressed that the rule did not close any park roads to all motorized vehicle use. The affected roads were only closed to ATVs and OHVs, but they were still open to full size vehicles. Staff Attorney for the Southern Utah Wilderness Alliance Hanna Larzen stated: '[Congressional Republicans] voted to undermine the Park Service and instead bowed to extreme motorized recreation in some of the most remote and wild parts of Glen Canyon National Recreation Area. Today's action means that Orange Cliffs, Gunsight Butte, and Canyonlands National Park's Maze District will be impaired by noisy, destructive off-highway vehicles.' Erika Bollard, Campaign Director of the Southwest Region for the National Parks Conservation Association, said, 'The Orange Cliffs is a place of rare solitude and unbelievable beauty that creates the once-in-a-lifetime moments so many come to Glen Canyon to experience. That's why the Park Service limited off-road vehicles along some of the most sensitive areas and fragile shorelines.' Bollard also stated that removing protections is unnecessary and damaging, as more than 250 miles in Glen Canyon National Recreation Area are already available for off-road vehicle use. This resolution comes after legislation passed the House of Representatives that would authorize the sale of federal public lands in Utah. That amendment has been similarly controversial among environmental groups. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
01-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
‘Common cents': Oregon senator leads effort to end penny production
PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) – Senator Jeff Merkley (D-OR) introduced a bipartisan bill alongside Sen. Mike Lee (R-UT) on Thursday that would end penny production in the United States in an effort to slash spending. The Make Sense Not Cents Act comes as penny production has become increasingly spendy, costing nearly four cents to make — a number which has risen 20% year-over-year because of rising costs of materials, the lawmakers said noting ending penny production could save the United States over $85 million annually.'It's the opposite of 'common cents' for taxpayers' dollars to fund wasteful spending like producing pennies,' Sen. Merkley said. 'The Make Sense Not Cents Act will save taxpayers millions—and that is something that both Democrats and Republicans support to seriously take on government waste.' 'Minting pennies costs the American taxpayer millions every year – nearly four times more than the pennies are worth,' Sen. Lee added. 'No private business would produce something at a 4x loss. It's time to stop wasting Americans' hard-earned tax dollars making overpriced pennies.' Almost two-thirds of pennies made in the U.S. do not ever recirculate, 'meaning billions of pennies are buried in couch cushions, or simply lost, never to be used in transactions again,' the senators said in a press release, noting only 16% of transactions are made with cash because of online or digital banking. The idea to end penny production has been floated across the aisle, from former President Obama to President Trump, who ordered the Treasury to cease penny production in February, as reported by the Associated Press. AP notes that Congress dictates currency specifications such as the size and metal content of coins and could make Trump's order permanent through law. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
