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Senate Democrats blocked a vote today on an amendment offered by Senator Lee (R-UT) to create a budget point of order against any future legislation that restricts the rights of Americans to own a firearm.

The Secretary of the Interior exercises enormous influence and power over the daily lives of Utahns. The decisions made at the Department of the Interior impact our economy and citizens in significant ways. These decisions determine whether families can continue to use roads to reach hunting areas that have been used for generations or whether ranchers can continue to graze cattle on land that they have used for decades. The department's policies also dramatically impact whether communities will have the necessary resources to fund schools and other local priorities. The Secretary's sweeping authority and my duty to the citizens of Utah require that I hold any nominee to a very high standard. Ms. Jewell is an impressive candidate. Her experience as CEO of REI is solid. However, her experience in public land policy involves active participation in organizations that continually sue to restrict access to public land and prevent development of natural resources in Utah and across the West. Her public land policy experience raised serious questions that were not adequately addressed before today's business meeting. For these reasons I oppose her appointment. If she is confirmed, I will make every effort to work with Ms. Jewell on these critical issues which impact Utah and the nation.

It is time for conservatives to reframe the debate. It is time to focus on the principles that will lead us to the kind of country and society we want for our future and ourselves. Here is the principle I ask conservatives to consider: The opposite of bad government is not good government. It isn't even limited government. The opposite of bad government is a Civil Society. A free and strong civil society is built on the innate desire of Americans to freely contribute to the betterment of the community.

Today, Senator Mike Lee (R-UT) delivered a speech on the Senate floor in support of the "Restore Growth First" amendment proposed by Senator Ted Cruz (R-TX), which would defund ObamaCare in the Continuing Resolution.