Assault on Access Won’t Quit

If it wasn’t clear that the Republicans in the Montanan Legislature weren’t listening to Montanans before, it because crystal clear today when they launched a back-door assault on stream access.

Republicans attempted to amend Sen. Blewett’s “Freedom to Float” bill to totally destroy the intention of the bill and instead include provisions from their stream access restricting “ditch bill.” Sen. Blewett’s bill expanded the rights of Montanans recreating on our rivers, lakes and streams. The “ditch bill” sought to restrict access of hundreds of miles of rivers and streams.

This amendment came just one day after the committee tabled the “ditch bill.”

Fortunately, the GOP amendments to the Blewett’s bill failed. However, Sen. Ripley has vowed to continue to push the bill forward. He will likely attempt to push for a full vote in the Senate later this week.

The Ditch Bill has been strongly opposed by Montanans every step of its trip through the legislature. In fact, when the bill received its hearing in the Senate more than 300 people from all across the state showed up to oppose the bill. This was by far the largest hearing of the entire legislative session.