Photo by Thom Bridge, Helena Independent Record

MISSOULA, MT – Montana Conservation Voters (MCV) today responded to state Auditor Matt Rosendale’s announcement that he will run in the Republican primary to oppose U.S. Senator Jon Tester in the 2018 election.

“Commissioner Rosendale has consistently voted against Montana’s outdoor heritage, clean air and water,” said Juanita Vero of Greenough, chair of Montana Conservation Voters. “From supporting efforts to sell-off our public lands to rolling back our clean energy economy, Commissioner Rosendale has consistently put corporate interests ahead of everyday Montanans. Montana’s outdoor industry generates $7.1 billion in spending and creates 71,000 direct jobs; Commissioner Rosendale’s voting record would jeopardize this critical part of our economy.”

State Auditor Matt Rosendale has consistently voted against Montana’s outdoor heritage, clean air and water. From supporting efforts to sell-off our public lands to rolling back our clean energy economy, Rosendale has consistently put corporate interests ahead of everyday Montanans. Montana’s outdoor industry generates $7.1 billion in spending and creates 71,000 direct jobs; Commissioner Rosendale’s voting record would jeopardize this critical part of our economy.

Rosendale’s voting record as a state legislator includes:

In 2011 Rosendale voted for HB 292 gutting Montanan’s constitutional right to a clean and healthful environment.
Also in 2011, Rosendale voted for SB 306 to overturn Montanan’s ballot decisions to ban cyanide heap-leach open pit mining. The use of cyanide jeopardizes safe drinking water sources and has made certain areas such as Zortman can never use its water sources again.
Voted for SB 31 to essentially un-do Montana’s Renewable Energy Standard. He voted for similar legislation, SB 114, again in 2015.
Voted for SJ 15 in 2013 to study public land management. The study was a backdoor route to starting down the road of the transfer or sell-off of public land. Rosendale voted again in 2015 for HB 496, creating a new legislative task force to study the same issue even after overwhelming public outcry kept any reference of sell-off or transfer out of the final report for SJ 15.
Voted against the Confederated Salish & Kootenai Tribal Water Compact, SB 262 in 2015. If elected to the Senate, Rosendale would have a role in congressional approval of this critically important water compact affecting Tribal, agricultural, and drinking water use. Opposing the Compact would send Montana water rights across the state into chaos.
Voted in 2015 for SB 353 to bust the Coal Tax Trust Fund. As the legislature continues to fail to pass infrastructure legislation, busting the Trust would impact infrastructure investments for decades to come. The Trust was created by voters to plan for future needs and busting the Trust is short-sighted and fiscally irresponsible.

MCV is a statewide non-partisan membership organization that is dedicated to fighting for Montana’s air, water, open spaces, wildlife, and public health. MCV provides voter participation services to over 72,000 Montanans.

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