Tester Calls on Burns to STOP Public Lands Sale
Candidate Says Bush Plan Would Hurt Access to Public Lands in MT
U.S. Senate candidate Jon Tester today called on Senator Conrad Burns to stop a Bush administration plan to sell public lands in Montana and across the West because it would hurt hunters’ and anglers’ access to public lands and waters.
The Bush Administration proposal is available online at:
http://www.fs.fed.us/land/staff/rural_schools.shtml
“This proposal is just plain bad for Montana hunters and anglers and families that like to hunt, fish, hike and camp on public lands in our great state,� Tester said. “Senator Burns should tell the Bush administration to dump this plan in the ditch and work to protect our access to public lands, not privatize them.
“President Bush’s proposal sets an irresponsible and dangerous precedent that would reduce Montanans’ access to public lands.â€?
Bush is proposing in his new budget to sell off more than 300,000 acres of public Forest Service land to private interests to help pay for the Rural Schools Act, which gives payments to counties for timber-related sales.
About 14,000 acres of public land in Montana could be on the auction block, including land in the Beaverhead, Bitterroot, Custer, Deer Lodge, Flathead, Gallatin, Helena, Kootenai, Lewis and Clark, and Lolo National Forests. These tracts include trails and open spaces many Montana families enjoy.
“Being a steward of the land is a special responsibility–a responsibility our federal government shares for public land across the United States. The land sell-off is part of a budget, proposed by the White House, that includes cuts to key programs along with hefty tax cuts for corporations and the wealthy.
“The President has proposed a shortsighted budget to patch up years of fiscal irresponsibility,â€? Tester said. “I’ve pledged to do all I can as your Senator to protect Montanans’ access to public lands. That’s why I oppose the President’s plan. Defaulting on future generations’ access to land we enjoy today should never be on the table. And Senator Burns should send a message to the president saying public land is not for sale to the highest bidder.â€?
Posted on Thursday, February 16th, 2006 at 12:00 pm.
