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Not Risen Yet!

Conservation is more than a token, more than a word constituents want to hear, more than a single issue

By Faith C. Doty

When looking for a political representative, there’s almost nothing I want more than the “conservative conservationist,” about whom Tristan Scott recently wrote. (“The Rise of the Conservationist,” Oct. 21 Beacon). If this candidate is rising, he or she is still a long way from fully appearing. Sen. Steve Daines and Congressman Ryan Zinke have not yet become the Teddy Roosevelt the stewardship-concerned conservative Montanan is looking for. Review their conservation record: sure, support of the North Fork Protection Act is commendable. But in terms of courageous conservation, that bipartisan legislation was an easy lift.

Not to mention Daines’ votes to sell off our public lands were quietly put aside in Scott’s article. Daines voted in 2013 (H Con Res 25, vote 88) and 2014 to support Rep. Paul Ryan’s controversial plan to sell public lands to pay down the national debt. Also, the Associated Press reported in March of this year (the Flathead Beacon published the story), how the conservation community blasted Daines for his vote authorizing the sale or transfer of public lands to state control (Roll Call 106).

Zinke is hardly a champion of conservation either. In March, he too voted to sell off public lands (H Con Res 27). And let’s not forget candidate Ryan Zinke’s vote just last year for the North Fork Protection Act, saying he “didn’t like” it.

Conservation is more than a token, more than a word constituents want to hear, more than a single issue. Championing conservation, and the tens of thousands of Montana jobs that rely on our outdoor heritage, is earned by a reliable record of support. Not by overly-friendly, unbalanced news stories which over-credit our lawmakers.

Faith C. Doty
Polson