Montana’s environmental lobby teams with governor to kill 600 jobs
Montana governor Steve Bullock is the latest Democrat to demonstrate just how out of touch he is with the lives and values of hardworking,
Thanks to the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act — the long-overdue federal tax code overhaul that passed Congress without a single Democrat vote — 90 percent of wage earners have higher take-home pay. Companies of all sizes have already given bonuses, raises, and
{mosads}Montana workers have seen the benefits of rate-reducing tax reform. NorthWestern Energy, which has some 345,000 customers in Montana, announced it would be passing its tax reform savings on to consumers. AT&T announced it would be issuing $1,000 bonuses to 686 Montana employees, and TrueNorth Steel, located in Billings, Montana, announced it would be adding new jobs. After the decade long economic malaise of the Obama years, Montanans, like most Americans, are experiencing a period of remarkable growth.
Bullock sees this good news and is not happy. According to Bullock more jobs, higher wages and lower bills are insignificant developments for American families. This out-of-touch attitude emanating from Democrats in the political class helps explain Bullock’s decision to spike a mining project that would create up to 600 jobs in Lincoln and Sanders counties, counties
Bullock’s Department of Environmental Quality recently shut down Hecla Mining Co.’s plan to open two silver and copper mines in Lincoln and Sanders Counties by labeling the company a “bad actor” under the state’s Metal Mines Reclamation Act.
The effort to block these mines is spearheaded by environmental groups such as Earthjustice and Montana Conservation Voters (MCV). Conservation groups led by Earthjustice have been
In October 2017, MCV asked the
Local leaders have publicly expressed dismay with Bullock and feel the closing of the mines is just another political game for the governor. “I’m just sick and tired of this county getting kicked around by the state and federal government,” said one Lincoln County Commissioner. Local
In short, these mines and the jobs they create were shut down at the behest of an environmental lobby, not due to safety concerns or inappropriate behavior on the part of Hecla. It is clear Bullock is putting
Mike Palicz is federal affairs manager at Americans for Tax Reform, a nonprofit group advocating for lower taxes and limited government.
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