The U.S. Senate this week passed a sweeping bill with large implications for Utah. It still must pass the House and be signed by the president, but the 92 to 8 Senate vote shows how the love for America’s public lands can overcome even Washington’s dysfunction.
It's a throwback to the old days. The deal was driven by compromises that gave something to everyone. In Utah’s case, perhaps there is no better indicator of just how far the parties had to stretch than the fact that both the Emery County Commission and the Southern Utah Wilderness Association are on board.