Capitol Hill Buzz: Reid talks monuments, jabs at Republicans

The Senate Democratic leader on Wednesday highlighted the economic and cultural benefits of monuments, including the 704,000-acre Basin and Range National Monument created last year in Reid's home state of Nevada.

[...] even as he and fellow Democratic Sen. Martin Heinrich of New Mexico recited benefits brought by the 22 national monuments Obama has created since 2009, Reid could not resist partisan jabs at Republicans, who have accused Obama of sneaky land grabs that bypass Congress and ignore the interests of local residents.

While he appreciates Obama's designation of Basin and Range, Reid says he hopes the president will create at least one more monument in his state, the Gold Butte area in southern Nevada.