October 21, 2020

MCV: Daines should learn ‘what real public lands leadership looks like’

Organization pushes Daines to co-sponsor Tester bill to bring accountability to unlawful acting BLM director

(BOZEMAN, Mont.) — Montana Conservation Voters released the following statement from Deputy Director Whitney Tawney in response to Senator Jon Tester’s new legislation to block the U.S. Department of Justice from taking further action to defend William Perry Pendley’s unlawful tenure as Acting Director of the Bureau of Land Management:

“Montanans are lucky to have at least one member of Congress looking out for our public lands. Senator Jon Tester has proven again that he is a true leader dedicated to protecting Montana’s outdoor way of life and our ardent partner in fighting off any attempts to sell off our public lands. Senator Daines should learn from this what real public lands leadership looks like and co-sponsor this bill immediately.”

Tester’s Public Lands Leadership Act would prohibit the Justice Department from defending Pendley in the lawsuit brought by Governor Steve Bullock against Pendley and the BLM.

In September, a federal judge ruled that Pendley’s role as acting director is unlawful and unconstitutional, given that he was never confirmed by the U.S. Senate. Yet Pendley refuses to leave. MCV is demanding that Senator Steve Daines hold an Energy and Natural Resources Committee hearing to examine the failures of his committee. So far, he has refused to listen.

In August, MCV launched a statewide campaign, StopPendley.org, to raise awareness about Pendley’s unlawful tenure at the BLM. The campaign included a petition to U.S. Senator Steve Daines, this powerful TV ad urging Montanans to contact Daines.

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