Bill Lee: “all I am asking is for the language that I have asked for--two words, the words ``for Utah''--to be added to this…”

“all I am asking is for the language that I have asked for--two words, the words ``for Utah''--to be added to this legislation. I am asking to be treated on equal footing as the language proposed by the Senator from Colorado, the Senator from Alaska, the Senator from Washington, the Senator from Montana, and others--equal footing. We have equal representation in the Senate. It is the one type of constitutional amendment that is preemptively unconstitutional. You can't modify the equal representation of the Senate. That is what makes this place unique. Each State is represented equally, and I will defend my State, the State of Utah, to my dying breath. As long as I am here breathing and holding an election certificate, I will defend it. My distinguished friend and colleague, for whom I have great affection and respect, has just pointed out that the people of Colorado might be disappointed about this water measure that was in there or this or that other provision for Colorado. Do they have reason to be concerned? You bet. Do those people in Colorado have objection to the idea that Utah might be treated equally with Alaska or Wyoming? I think not. I think most people in America would look at a State that has had a couple of million acres of monument declared and that just wants to be treated the same way as Alaska and Wyoming and say that is not unreasonable. This is a sovereign State, one that has been mistreated by Federal land managers.…”