Republicans Tell Montanans Who Want More Access to Public Streams and Land: “Move to Alaska!”

 

 

Governor Schweitzer says that public access to outdoor recreation is one of the things that keeps the state's economy strong.  Attorney General Mike McGrath says ''The Montana Constitution makes it very clear that the public owns the rivers and streams.'' Sens. Max Baucus, D-Mont., and Jon Tester, D-Mont are outspoken champions for public lands and our access to them.

But Rep. Ed Butcher speaks for Republicans when he shouted in the House of Representatives last week:

 

“If you want more public land, move to Alaska.  MOVE TO ALASKA!”

 

Butcher’s remarks came last Friday, March 30, during floor debate in the House when Democrats tried to restore Gov. Schweitzer’s proposed $15 million for the State to buy  new fishing access sites and state parks.  House Republicans had previously stripped that money, and all of them voted against the Democratic effort to restore it. 

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Baucus, Tester Win More Public Land for Montanans

Montana Sens. Max Baucus and Jon Tester have secured important funds to protect more lands for public access near Canyon Ferry Reservoir and the Elkhorn Mountains. The Elkhorn Mountains are a 300,000-acre island mountain range, thrusting more than 9,000 feet into the air. The newly accessible Iron Mask parcel — so named for an old mining claim — includes flatlands that swell toward the sky until the open range becomes a mountainside dotted with aspens, then darkened with Douglas fir and ponderosa pine.

Thanks to Baucus and Tester, the land will now be protected from a real estate developer’s plan to chop it up into expensive subdivision lots for the wealthy even though it is prime hunting ground abundant with elk, bighorn sheep, pronghorn antelope and a variety of other wildlife. More.

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House Republicans Blocked Help for Nat’l Guard Families, Relent Under Democratic Pressure

Republicans in the House of the Montana Legislature for weeks had blocked Gov. Brian Schweitzer’s ‘Military Family Square Deal.’ After being the target of blistering criticism from Montana Democrats and Guard families, they changed their tune and supported the measure. 

Gov. Schweitzer’s ‘Military Family Square Deal’ sponsored by Rep. Julie French, will create a military family relief fund out of a small portion of the State’s budget surplus to help Montana families who have a loved one on active duty overseas. 

House Republicans have shown a consistent pattern of turning their backs on Montana’s military families in the 2007 session. In addition to trying to kill Rep. French’s HB 179, they have blocked four other Democratic measures to help the troops this session, including bills to authorize active duty call out for disaster preparedness training, allow for depleted uranium testing for certain veterans, fund soldier appreciation scholarships, and protect the property of military personnel.

 

Wearing the red-white-and-blue necktie favored by House Republican leadership does not make you a Patriot.  Supporting our Montana Guard and their families does.

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GOP Side with Big Landowners Against Public Access to Streams and Lands

Montana Republicans in the Legislature are at it again, siding with their wealthy contributors and some out-of-state landowners against hunters, anglers, hikers and campers.  The GOP are now obstructing legislation, SB 78,  sponsored by Sen. Lane Larson, D-Billings, that would guarantee unfettered access to the state's waterways via county bridges, bridge right-of-ways and abutments. It would also require the removal of fences that restrict access to rivers and streams at county bridges.

"The committee chairman feels that imposing the sportsmen's point of view on landowners may seriously damage sportsmen/landowner relationships," Rep. Ernie Dutton, R-Billings, obfuscated in an e-mail to The Billings Gazette. "The feeling is that it would be better to try to get more consensus during the interim, before proceeding."  Read: Never.

Sen. Larson’s SB 78 passed the Democratic-led Senate 34-16 in early February. It is opposed by big-business groups like the Farm Bureau and the Stockgrowers, who call the shots in the Republican House. More.

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Lawmaker Busted for Poaching Fights Bills to Crack Down on Poachers

You have probably heard the name of Republican legislator Rep. Scott Boggio of Red Lodge recently.  Today he voted against a package of bills that toughen poaching laws in Montana.  Can you say, ‘conflict of interest’, Mr. Boggio?

Rep. Boggio was cited for harvesting an additional elk in violation of FWP Section 87-1-125 in October.  He now has voted against funding for game wardens who enforce poaching laws and against hunter education and enforcement funding.  

We didn’t expect a legislator with a criminal record to be tough on crime, but we did expect him to allow game wardens to do their job. Montana depends on the proud tradition of ethical hunting. Poaching robs law abiding hunters of game and fish, businesses and taxpayers of revenues generated by hunting, fishing, and wildlife viewing recreation, and it denies many other Montanans the ability to enjoy seeing healthy, mature fish and wildlife populations.