Montana Senator Steve Daines and Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid sparred on the Senate floor this week, March 25, over the issue of national Monuments. Daines is pushing an amendment that would require state and local government approval before new National monuments can be declared. Here is how Daines responded to Reid’s opposition.

"The Senator from Nevada is saying that Washington D.C. should have more influence over local land use decisions than the folks from western states that live and work on this land everyday, but I disagree," Daines said. "I believe that the farmers, the ranchers, the sportsmen, the community members and the state and local government should have a say in local land decisions."

Daines went on to discuss current plans for a new national monument in Montana.

"One of the areas on the list is 2.5 million acres of land across northern Montana, connecting Canada's Grasslands National Park to the Bitter Crick Wilderness Study Area," Daines said. "Right in the middle of this designation are significant swaths of public lands. This potential designation is very contentious in Montana. I believe Montanans must have a voice in determining whether or not this goes forward."

Daines’ Monument amendment is one of many amendments to the 2016 congressional budget which is being vigorously debated this week.

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