BY RAÚL M. GRIJALVA
After the Senate confirms Rep. Ryan Zinke, R-Mont., as secretary of the Interior, which could happen as soon as this week, his first trip will almost certainly be to Utah and to the Bears Ears National Monument. When Zinke visits, he will likely get an earful, again, from Rep. Rob Bishop, who chairs the House Natural Resources Committee where I serve as ranking member. Bishop has set himself up as Congress' foremost cheerleader for rescinding the Bears Ears designation. In an interesting twist of fate, Bears Ears' supporters have lucked out in their chief opponent.
Despite the fact that he could bring up a bill to rescind the designation himself at any time — as chairman, he sets the agenda for the committee — Bishop has decided to try to persuade the Trump administration to fight his battle for him. It doesn't take much research to learn that the theory behind this approach is untested and unlikely to succeed.