Archive for Fish, Wildlife & Parks
Bridge access bill near compromise
Posted by:By Charles S. Johnson, State Bureau
Opponents of a bridge access bill raised some concerns at a Senate hearing Thursday, but the bill’s sponsor said he’s confident these differences can be ironed out.
Twenty-five people representing groups ranging from the Montana Wildlife Federation and Trout Unlimited to the Montana Farm Bureau Federation and Farmers Union lined up for House Bill 190, by Rep. Kendall Van Dyk, D-Billings, before the Senate Fish and Game Committee. Attorney General Steve Bullock also endorsed it. Read More→
Rep. Menahan looks to strengthen FWP
Posted by:On Thursday, the House Fish Wildlife and Parks committee heard two bills sponsored by Rep. Mike Menahan (D-Helena). Both bills aim to improve wildlife management through improving both existing laws and species management authority. Read More→
Thursday, Rep. Mike Phillips (D) of Bozeman sponsored HJR 10 in the House Fish Wildlife and Parks committee. HJR 10, titled “Urge support for revenue to support wildlife adaptation to climate change” looks to encourage the United States Congress to establish new revenue streams to facilitate wildlife adaptation to climate change.
According to Rep. Phillips, “if we don’t plan provisions for promoting wildlife adaptation many species will not adapt, but rather will simply go extinct.”
HJR 10 has been tabled in committee and is probably dead.
The Old Supreme Court chambers were full when Rep. Mike Phillips (D) HD 66 of Bozeman introduced HB 253, titled the “Wild Buffalo Recovery and Conservation Act.” Phillips bill looks foster a bipartisan solution for bison by improving the management of America’s publicly owned, wild plains bison.
Source: Great Falls Tribune
"I think that it’s going to all work out, with the changes that we have agreed to. It’s not as much (spending for some programs) as I would’ve hoped, but apparently it’s more than other people wanted. As usual, we are trying to find the middle.” 
"[On term limits:] You empower the executive, you empower the lobbyists and that's not good for the system because then we lose what the citizen Legislature brings.” 