LETTER: Zinke unclear on LWCF funding

The race is on! Juneau vs. Zinke! The tradition of campaigning and competing for the peoples’ vote is alive and well in Montana. Montanans exhibit an independent mind in statewide races, selecting both Democrats and Republicans consistently.

The Aug. 29 debate between Juneau and Zinke demonstrated similarities as well as strong differences. Their position on the nation’s Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) marked one such difference.

Juneau says the fund should be fully funded and made permanent. Zinke says the fund should be “reformed.” Is there a real difference here? Let’s explore.

The Land and Water Conservation Fund has funded over 41,000 conservation projects since 1964. In Montana, these include everything from fishing-access sites to city and county parks and the protection of our best farm and ranch land from subdivision development to protect wildlife habitat. Over 70 percent of Montana’s fishing-access sites, for example, have been made possible through LWCF support.

Is the Land and Water Conservation Fund a good deal for Montana? I would argue, Yes! The fund is an irreplaceable source of funding that does good things for the Montana way of life, while cycling new money through the economy. The fund supports projects that add to Montana’s economic bottom line, while conserving the very values Montanans cherish, like clean water, and space for our furred and feathered friends.

Congress has never made permanent or fully funded the Land and Water Conservation Fund. Why not? It’s too easy for Congress to dip into the fund’s resources to pay for other pork. But what does “reform,” as used by Congressman Zinke, mean?

The Montana Wildlife Federation said this: “Reform is just a diversion to run the clock down on the program. At best, it means taking funding away from America’s outdoor families. At worst, it means killing LWCF completely.”

Congressman Zinke didn’t clarify exactly what he meant by reform in his first debate with Juneau. Juneau’s stand, by contrast, was clear: fully fund and make permanent the Land and Water Conservation Fund.

If you keep tabs on Montana news you know Montanans have rallied to protect the Land and Water Conservation Fund, and it’s not rocket science. The LWCF supports fishing-access sites and a whole lot more.

As the election draws near, I encourage Zinke to clarify his position on the LWCF once and for all. Further changes in his position will only cast further doubt on how he will actually vote if re-elected to Congress.

May the best candidate win! —Dave Hadden, Bigfork