Zinke preparing for move to Washington

U.S. Rep.-elect Ryan Zinke, R-Whitefish, says the Nov. 4 general election that gave the U.S. Senate majority to the Republican Party wasn’t as much an endorsement for Republicans as it was a case of voters with “deep concerns about the direction of our country.”

“I think this Congress can get something done,” he said.

The former state senator who represented Columbia Falls and Whitefish was in Kalispell on Dec. 3. He spent a couple weeks settling into his new office at the Cannon House Office Building and establishing a residence for him and his family in Washington D.C. Restrictions that prohibit use of private aircraft offered by third parties for official business makes it impossible for him to return to Montana every weekend, he said.

On Dec. 4, Zinke was appointed to the House Committee on Armed Services, which will put his military expertise as a former Navy SEAL commander to good use. He also was appointed to the House Committee on Natural Resources, which he believes is critical to Montana. He said he wants to be a watchdog for water and timber access issues.

Concerns have been raised about U.S. Environmental Protection Agency proposals to change the 1973 Clean Water Act’s definition of navigable waters. Some see that as a political move to gain federal control over all waterways — right down to drains and ditches. Zinke said it’s important for Montana to keep the original definition in place. Zinke also wants to be a part of timber access discussions.

“A lack of access to timber has been causing a lot of harm, needless harm,” he said.

Approval of the controversial Keystone XL Pipeline project also will be high up on the to-do list, Zinke predicted. He believes enough support exists in both the House and Senate to finally authorize construction of the pipeline, which will transport tar sands oil from Canada through the U.S. to refineries on the Gulf of Mexico.

“Sen. Mitch McConnell says he’s a leader — we’ll see if he can get 60 votes for Keystone,” Zinke said about the Senate’s likely new majority leader.

Immigration reform also will be front and center when Congress convenes. Zinke believes President Obama “is abusing his executive orders” by protecting about 5 million illegal immigrants from deportation. The first step in dealing with immigration, Zinke said, should be securing the U.S.’s southern border with Mexico.

“It’s not complicated,” he said. “The country that could build the Panama Canal in the 19th century is surely up to building a fence in the 21st century.”

Zinke said he heard plenty of naysaying about America while on the campaign trail, but he doesn’t buy into the belief that the country’s best days have come and gone. He pointed to the country’s many strengths on the global stage, from its military might to manufacturing and the potential for energy independence.

“I fundamentally reject the notion that the best days of America are behind us,” Zinke said. “One administration is not going to destroy America. I think America can be fixed.”