Hillyard concerned about Obama’s final acts in office

After years of discussion and input from state officials and tribal leaders, President Barack Obama on Wednesday declared a national monument protecting the Bears Ears area in Southeast Utah. 

Many Republicans were against the designation and Utah State Senator Lyle Hillyard, R-Logan, says if he planned to make the designation that Obama should have done it earlier, not wait until he is on his way out.

“The other sad thing that’s going to be are the pardons that every president gives,” says Hillyard. “I haven’t really followed what President (George) Bush did but I know President (Bill) Clinton, I was really concerned about some of the people he pardoned because they made contributions.

“I know I have tried to get some pardons for some of the clients of mine in the Logan area. But you get nowhere becasue, even though they are very meritorious, it is based on campaign contributions.”

Hillyard said he has agreed with some of Obama’s pardoning of drug abusers because he feels that Utah’s drug laws s they are applied to some people are too harsh.

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