Federal land change Zinke voted for raises criticism

U.S Rep. Ryan Zinke voted for a House budgetary rules change Tuesday night that could make it easier for lawmakers to transfer federal public land to states and other entities.

Zinke, who was nominated last month by President-elect Donald Trump to be the next U.S. secretary of the interior, voted with 233 other House Republicans for the rules change. All Democrats and three Republicans voted against it.

Zinke’s office did not respond before print deadline as to whether Zinke’s vote for the measure, which was included in a broader House rules, represents a shift in his stance on the issue. Zinke said during the campaign he opposed sale or transfer of federal land.

Montana Democrats were quick to criticize Zinke on the vote.

“You’d think that the congressman would be on his best behavior going into a job interview, but instead he’s taking steps to once again jeopardize the future of Montana’s outdoor economy,” Nancy Keenan, executive director of the Montana Democratic Party, said in a press release.

The change would do away with a current requirement that any transfer of federal public land to states, localities or tribes include how much that transfer would cost the federal government.

In his bid for re-election last year. Zinke repeatedly said that he was opposed to such transfers of federal land, even resigning his position as a delegate at the Republican National Committee in protest when support for such transfers was included in the party platform.

Though he did not mention Zinke by name, U.S. Sen. Jon Tester, D-Mont., was quick to condemn the rules change. The change will not come to the Senate and Tester and U.S. Sen. Steve Daines, R-Mont., will not have a chance to vote on it.

“This vote by the House is an underhanded assault on Montana’s outdoor economy, our hunting heritage, and our way of life,” Tester said in a press release. “Public lands belong to all Americans and Congress should be safeguarding them, not clearing the way to auction them off to the highest bidder.”

Marneé Banks, Tester’s communication’s director, said Tester would be meeting with Zinke soon to discuss his nomination to secretary of the interior, where he would raise the issue as well as other matters pertaining to public lands and Indian Country.

Daines released a statement reaffirming his opposition to federal land transfers.

“I continue to strongly oppose the transfer of federal lands to the states while fighting to improve the management of those lands,” Daines said.