Congressional Plea: Don’t Let Montana Be “Left Out”
Friday, March 6, 2009
Helena, MT – A group of prominent Montanans is petitioning the state's Congressional delegation to break a 26-year record of failing to designate new wilderness areas. They have co-signed a letter urging lawmakers to pay attention to Montana's wilderness. Their effort is in reaction to the proposed Public Lands Omnibus bill, which includes no new wilderness for the state.
Jim Posewitz, founder of Orion – the Hunter’s Institute, is a co-signer, and hopes the letter convinces members of the state’s delegation to make a Montana wilderness proposal.
"We’ve got quite a few acres of wild lands still out there that need protection, and now is really the time to start rounding out the Montana wilderness estate."
From the hunting perspective, adds Posewitz, the more wilderness, the better.
"If you want a place where you can engage in fair chase and pursuit of the wild animals, there’s no place better than these roadless wild lands that we still have and we really should be protecting."
Other Montanans signing on to the wilderness campaign include retired U.S. Rep. Pat Williams, and former Forest Service chief Dale Bosworth, who lives in Missoula. Opponents of new wilderness proposals include off-road vehicle groups who argue Montana already has a good wilderness inventory.
get more stories like this via email
Social Issues
By Lane Wendell Fischer for the Shasta Scout via The Daily Yonder.Broadcast version by Suzanne Potter for California News Service for the Public News …
Environment
By Naoki Nitta for Civil Eats.Broadcast version by Suzanne Potter for California News Service reporting for the Solutions Journalism Network-Public Ne…
Social Issues
Concerns about potential voter intimidation have spurred several states to consider banning firearms at polling sites but so far, New Hampshire is …
Social Issues
Texas Lieutenant Gov. Dan Patrick has released 57 "interim charges," the topics he wants Senate committees to study in preparation for the 89th …
Social Issues
Minnesota's largest school district is at the center of a budget controversy tied to the recent wave of school board candidates fighting diversity pro…
Minnesota lawmakers are considering a measure which would force employers to properly classify certain trade union workers and others as employees rat…