Montana Coalition Formed to Oppose National Monument

A coalition of several Montana industry associations has been formed to oppose President Obama's plan to set aside millions of acres in Montana as a national monument. They plan to stand in opposition to the plan on Sept 16, when Robert Abbey, (pictured) Washington, D.C., director of the Department of Interior's Bureau of Land Management (BLM), will speak in Malta about the proposal at the invitation of Phillips County Commissioners. The President's plan "would halt Montana's economic recovery," says Dave Galt, Executive Director of the Montana Petroleum Association. "Montana's major employers are industries that work the land to produce products that people use: coal, energy, and food. The administration's Monuments proposal would mean the end of the line for many farmers, ranchers and companies. And, it would mean more shuttered schools in rural communities," said Galt. Many school districts, which rely upon revenues from natural resource production are joining forces with the coalition, which in addition to the MPA includes, the Montana Farm Bureau, the Montana Mining Assoc., Montana Rural Education Association, Montana Stockgrowers Assoc., and Montana Woods Products Assoc...more