Central Montana Times

U.S. Senator Steve Daines strongly criticized the Biden administration's new Bureau of Land Management (BLM) rule, accusing it of violating the statutory multiple use requirements on federal lands and negatively impacting Montana farmers and ranchers. Daines expressed his concerns by stating, "Nothing is safe from the Biden administration’s climate agenda. First they came for our gas stoves then they told us they wanted us to drive electric cars and semis and now they are taking grazing land from Montana farmers and ranchers and it’s all in the name of climate change."

Daines further emphasized the imbalanced nature of the rule, asserting that it goes against the 'multiple-use mandate' for public lands and represents a coercive measure to push Montanans off public lands in alignment with the administration's climate objectives. In his words, "Despite the Administration’s claim, this rule is anything but balanced. It violates the ‘multiple-use mandate’ for public lands and is yet another heavy-handed, egregious attempt to force Montanans off public lands to comply with its climate fantasy since it can’t pass it through Congress."

Senator Daines had previously communicated his apprehensions regarding the proposed rule through a letter, highlighting the issues at hand. Additionally, he raised inquiries about the rule's implications on small businesses that depend on federal lands for their livelihoods in another letter, showcasing his commitment to addressing the concerns of various stakeholders affected by the policy.