News · Press Release

Maryland Matt Hopes Montanans Forget His Anti-Public Lands Track Record

Another Day, Another Campaign, Another Attempt by Maryland Matt Rosendale to Rewrite His Record and Dupe Montanans

Lately, multimillionaire East Coast real estate developer Matt Rosendale has tried to rewrite his record on public lands, while bragging that he has “always fought to protect and expand access to public lands for all Montanans.”

The problem for Maryland Matt is that his record doesn’t match his campaign’s lies on fighting for Montana’s public lands. Here are six reality checks on Maryland Matt’s record on Montana’s public lands:

  1. In 2014, Maryland Matt admitted to being “an advocate for the transfer of public lands,” and leaving open for Montana’s public lands be sold to the highest bidder.
  2. When Maryland Matt served in the state legislature, he introduced legislation encouraging federal public lands transfer to the state.
  3. This bill is only one example of Maryland Matt’s many anti-public lands policies—he torpedoed the Keogh Ranch Conservation Easement that would’ve protected around 8,000 acres of hunting land from potential subdivision.
  4. Maryland Matt voted to create a task force criticized for being a “backdoor” to talks of public lands transfer.
  5. Maryland Matt repeatedly voted on the Land Board against Montana sportsmen and women, blocking permanent public hunting access to 20,000 acres of land in Eastern Montana.
  6. Lastly, Maryland Matt endorsed transferring federal public lands to the state as a top priority; he supports a bill that the vast majority of Montanans oppose because it would eliminate protections for more than half a million acres of public lands in Montana.

Statement from DCCC Spokesperson Andy Orellana:

“Montanans won’t be fooled by Maryland Matt because they already know the reality of his reckless record that has put Montana’s public lands on the auction block to the highest bidder. Instead of choosing an out of touch East Coast real estate developer in Maryland Matt, voters know they have an independent fighter in Kathleen Williams who has spent a career championing Montana’s public lands and ensuring the Montana way of life.”

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