Rehberg introduces Breaks bill

Rep. Denny Rehberg, R-Mont., has introduced a bill that would make the 81,000 acres of private land within the Upper Missouri River Breaks National Monument exempt from ever becoming part of the monument.

If passed by Congress, the bill would keep the acreage, much of which is ranchland, in the hands of the private property owners forever.

"Congressman Rehberg sees this as a private property issue," Dallas Lawrence, a Rehberg spokesman, said today.

The private property owners inside the boundaries and the commissioners from the counties the monument spans have said they want the property re...