Rep. White calls land transfer unrealistic, but does advocate for greater local control

The transfer of federal lands to the state of Montana is too technically complex to be realistic, according to state Rep. Kerry White, R-Bozeman, although he does support more local input on how federal lands are managed. White sits on the Environmental Quality Council, a subcommittee of which has been examining ways to better coordinate state and federal communication on federal lands projects. As one of the members of that subcommittee, White said the group has gathered some great information that will be forwarded to the full Legislature. The subcommittee is led by Sen. Jennifer Fielder, R-Thompson Falls, who has aligned herself with out-of-state federal land repossession advocates. That has raised Democrats’ fear of a push for a federal land takeover, especially since the Montana Republican Party built the idea into its platform. “I don’t know where that’s going to go,” White said. “The discussion is going to continue.” Political science professor Jeremy Johnson, of Carroll College, sees the GOP's endorsement of the language in its platform as one way to unite a factionalized party on a single issue and against a common opponent — the Democrats. For now, White would like to see increased federal and state cooperation to allow more logging on federal lands to lessen fire danger and feed timber mills while creating local jobs. “I’m encouraged in talking to the agencies, the Forest Service,” White said. “They’re excited about it. They’re looking for help. They’re hamstrung right now.”...more

State Rep. White may think he has staked out the middle ground on this issue, but he hasn't.  He is clearly siding with the feds.  He says it is too "technically complex".  Let's see.  Acreage is now owned and managed by the feds.  A transfer occurs and the acreage will be owned and managed by the state.  Wow, that really is complex!

White says the feds are "excited".  Of course they are.  This would take their sand box and toys away from them.

White says the feds are "hamstrung right now".  Geez, that's why a transfer would benefit the resource and the people.  Is that too "complex" for him to see?