Steve Daines Wants Anti-Public Lands Zealot to Head BLM

HELENA – Montana Democratic Party Executive Director Monica Lindeen today released the following statement on Republican Senator Steve Daines’ backing of anti-public lands zealot William Perry Pendley for the permanent role of U.S. Bureau of Land Management director:

“Every public lands user in Montana has been betrayed by Steve Daines,” Lindeen said. “Supporting William Perry Pendley, one of our country’s biggest opponents of public lands, is a clear indication that Daines does not value our outdoor heritage or care to listen to our state’s sportsmen and women.”

Last week in D.C., Daines responded to a media question asking if he would support the nomination of William Perry Pendley to direct the BLM with a “yes,” underscoring his favoritism for industry and undoing months of work his campaign has done to convince Montanans that he would be a friend of our public lands should the junior senator be re-elected in 2020.

Champions of Montana’s public lands and $7 billion recreation economy called out Daines for his support of Pendley.

Pendley is so tainted by his big industry connections that he had to submit a 17-page list of insiders, companies, and advocacy groups that he has to avoid working with as a BLM deputy because of his conflicts of interest.

“Sen. Daines, you’re saying one thing and doing another,” Lindeen said. “Your actions are speaking louder than your words — and Montanans are noticing.”