Parks advocacy group gives Zinke, Daines, an F

A national parks advocacy group has given failing grades to Montana Congressman Ryan Zinke and Steve Daines for their votes over the past year on Park Service related issues.

The National Parks Action Fund, a non profit lobbying arm of the National Parks Conservation Association, graded lawmakers on what it said were votes on bills or amendments that “would directly impact national parks, their visitors, wildlife and/or other natural resources.”

The report graded House members on 11 votes in the 114th Congress, which included bills that would prevent mining runoff from entering national parks, would limit the creation of new national monuments, would cut park funding and several other measures.

Montana Congressmen Ryan Zinke received a grade of “F” on his votes, the group charged. Zinke did, however, vote against a decrease in Park Service funding, the group noted.

Zinke was critical of the report, claiming they “cherry picked” the votes.

“This is just an attempt to get press in an election year from a partisan group in D.C. that clearly does not understand Montana issues and values,” Zinke spokesperson Heather Swift said in an email to the Hungry Horse News. “In fact, they prioritize issues in Maryland and Alaska on their cherry-picked ‘report card.’ Zinke always votes with Montana’s best interest in mind. There’s a reason that the Montana Outdoor Industry supports him: He has voted against every single attempt to sell public lands. He also voted for a plan to better maintain our trails, parks, and recreation system, as well as voted to fully fund and reauthorize the Land and Water Conservation Fund.”

Swift also noted Zinke was recently endorsed by the National Rifle Association and received an “A” grade from the organization.

On the Senate side, the report graded Senators on five votes. Those votes also included a measure to limit new national monuments, selling federal lands and limiting funding for land acquisition programs.

The report found Daines voted against limiting funding for land acquisition through the Land and Water Conservation Fund, the only vote that was seen as favorable according to the group.

Daines was also critical of the report.

“Sen. Daines is a champion of national parks and secured passage of the North Fork Watershed Protection Act, the first Montana public lands conservation measure in 30 years,” said spokeswoman Katie Waldman. “However, this scorecard largely reflects legislation that allows broad unlimited land grabs by President Obama and his administration without any local approval or input. The people of Montana believe in local approval and input and Sen. Daines will continue to stand with them.”

She also noted that Daines, along with fellow Sen. Cory Gardner, a Republican from Colorado, have been pushing for reauthorization of the Land and Water Conservation Fund. The fund uses tax revenue for off-shore oil and gas drilling to support public lands projects. In Montana, thousands of acres have been protected through the fund. It’s reauthorization is currently being debated in Congress as a rider on a larger energy bill.

The Action Fund report largely fell along party lines. Most Republicans voted against measures National Parks Action Fund supported, while most Democrats voted in favor of them.

Montana Sen. Jon Tester, a Democrat, received an “A” grade from the group.

The report can be viewed here: https://drive.google.com/file/d/0Bx2zyW5kWCXNQjRFRmNaZUliVlk/view