FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE  
January 11, 2023

One of the First Zinke, Rosendale Votes Threatens Our Public Lands

MCV calls foul on Zinke and Rosendale’s misplaced priorities that threaten Montana’s way of life

(BOZEMAN, Mont.) – Montana Conservation Voters is sounding the alarm that Montana’s newly sworn-in Congressmen have used their first votes in office to make it easier to give away public lands.

Tucked into Monday’s rules package as part of U.S. House proceedings was a new rule that waives the requirement for the Congressional Budget Office to calculate taxpayers’ costs for any legislation that would remove federal management of our public lands.

“We are outraged that Congressman Zinke and Congressman Rosendale would use their first votes in office to make it easier to give our treasured public lands away,” said Whitney Tawney, Executive Director of Montana Conservation Voters. “This action is clearly not in line with the 85 percent of Montanans who value our public lands for the positive impacts they have on our quality of life in Big Sky Country. This new rule was slipped in with little public awareness and Montanans deserve leaders in Congress who will stand up to the private interests working to sell-off our public lands.”

Before Monday’s U.S. House rules package vote, supported by both Rep. Ryan Zinke and Rep. Matt Rosendale, the Congressional Budget Office was required to calculate how any legislation that impacts transferring federal public lands would cost taxpayers. The new rule removes this requirement making it much easier to cede public lands while also making the impacts less transparent to taxpayers.

A recent University of Montana-Crown of the Continent poll showed nearly all Montanans have visited federal public lands in the last year, and 85% believe public lands are good for Montana’s economy and way of life.