BOISE, Idaho (AP) — Former Idaho Gov. Cecil Andrus says a scaled-back version of a central Idaho wilderness bill being put together by U.S. Rep. Mike Simpson doesn't offer enough protection.

The Idaho Statesman reports that Andrus made the comments Wednesday during a luncheon at the Andrus Center for Public Policy.

Andrus, a Democrat, supported an earlier version of Republican Simpson's Central Idaho Economic Development and Recreation Act but doesn't like the smaller version that shrinks the proposed wilderness area by about 37,000 acres to 295,000 acres.

Andrus instead favors having President Barack Obama use his executive power under the Antiquities Act to create a 592,000-acre national monument that includes the rugged Boulder and White Cloud mountains.

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