Celeste Maloy

Utah Sen. Mike Lee and Rep. Celeste Maloy wanted to use the seldom-invoked Congressional Review Act to cancel the management plan for the Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument in southern Utah. That was a preservation-centered plan worked out with many stakeholders, including Native American nations.

Lee and Maloy clearly wanted to open more of the monument to extractive industries, threatening fragile lands and undermining businesses that live on the outdoor tourism economy.

But the petition to activate the congressional override provision had to be filed within 60 days from the finalization of the plan — or by June 11. And Lee missed the deadline.

Thank goodness for incompetence.