Zinke bucks party to vote against federal land transfer

Rep. Ryan Zinke sharply criticized a federal budget resolution provision that called for selling or transferring federal lands, breaking with a majority of Republicans to vote against the measure on April 30.

Zinke said he supported several provisions in the joint budget resolution, which passed the House 226-197, including balancing the budget, reducing government spending, repealing the Affordable Care Act and strengthening Medicare and Social Security.

What became untenable, Zinke said, was a Senate amendment that could result in the sale of federally owned lands.

“This conference process resulted in the revised budget resolution that included a provision that, as a fifth-generation Montanan, I simply could not vote for,” Zinke said. “It included vaguely-written language to allow the sale of public lands. I have said before, and I will say it again: Montana is not for sale.”

The idea of selling or transferring federal lands has become a contentious issue in both state and federal politics. Supporters of transferring ownership to states claim federal mismanagement has left lands in poor condition, and that local control would yield better results.

The federal amendment, brought in March by Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, sets up a reserve fund for any future legislation selling or transferring federal lands. It does not authorize any sales or transfers, but opponents have argued that the reserve fund lays the groundwork for such actions to occur.

The amendment passed the Senate by 51-49, with Sen. Steve Daines voting for and Sen. Jon Tester against.

Daines’ vote drew criticism from several Montana conservation and outdoor business groups opposing sales or transfers. His spokeswoman, Alee Lockman, defended the vote, saying that he steadfastly opposes legislation to sell or transfer public lands and assertions otherwise are “not only false but unproductive.”

In explaining his vote against the budget resolution, Zinke noted the importance of public land in Montana for recreation and the economy.

“In Montana, our land is our way of life,” he said. “Our public lands support local economies and provide generations of Montanans with world-class opportunities in hunting, fishing, hiking and other recreation. And our land provides us with vast natural resources and unrivaled energy potential.”

Zinke said repealing Obamacare and balancing the budget remain at the top of his list of priorities.

“However, I will never tolerate our land being sold or transferred,” he said. “Montana truly is the last best place on Earth. We must all do our part to preserve that.”

Conservation and sportsmen groups that levied criticism at Daines and participated in anti-land transfer events applauded Zinke on May 1.

“It was a courageous vote and shows how important this issue is after the outpouring and rallies and everything else,” said Land Tawney, executive director of Backcountry Hunters and Anglers.

Zinke was standing up with the vast majority of sportsmen and women that want federal lands to remain in federal ownership, Tawney said.

“We are so encouraged by Congressman Zinke’s vote, and we thank him for it,” said Addrien Marx, council member for the Montana Wilderness Association. “In reality, it took a lot of courage to buck his party and vote the way Montanans wanted him to do. I hope he continues.”

Several state bills were introduced during the 2015 Montana Legislature dealing with federal land transfer. Sen. Jennifer Fielder, R-Thompson, was a leader in the effort.

“Although there’s a number of bills this session I’ve been working on, and others have that are designed to provide relief to afflicted communities and improve federal responsiveness and halt wasteful degradation of our natural resources, it’s become clear to many of us that the only solution may be to put these lands in state control,” Fielder testified on a federal land transfer feasibility study.

Opponents counter that low population states like Montana cannot afford to manage the lands, resulting in sales to private interests.