A reality based independent journal of observation & analysis, serving the Flathead Valley & Montana since 2006. © James Conner.
State Sen. Jennifer Fielder (R-Thompson Falls) is frustrated. She believes transferring federal lands to state ownership is such a good idea that she has great difficulty understanding why anyone would oppose it in good faith. Consequently she accuses conservation groups of unreasonably opposing SB-215, her proposed amendment to MCA 77-2-302 to prohibit federal lands transferred to Montana from being sold to private buyers:
(3) The state may not sell title in fee simple to land granted or transferred by the United States to Montana by an action of congress, a court decision, or another operation of law that occurs on or after [the effective date of this act].
Reports the Missoulian’s Mike Dennison:
Fielder said it will place a moratorium on any land sales while the management and transfer issue is studied, as well as require the Legislature to reverse the law before any sales would occur.
“This is a safeguard,” she said. “There are fears about lands being sold. I do not support the lands being sold off, and I don’t think most Montanans do.”
Fielder also castigated conservation groups for opposing her bill, noting that they’re organizing a rally next week at the Capitol to “keep public lands public.”
“I think this shows that there is some disingenuous information being circulated about this issue,” she said. “I thought they would support (this bill). There is a conflict that they are going to have to explain to the public.”
A safeguard? Not hardly. Her bill offers protection only until a subsequent legislature repeals it — and repeal undoubtedly will occur once a lobby for selling off the lands to the diggers, drillers, choppers, and grazers, reaches critical mass. And a sell-off has always been, and still is, the goal of the Sagebrush Rebels and their ancestors. Conservationists understand that even if Fielder doesn’t.