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By Kathleen Shannon - Producer, Contact - News
Big Sky Connection - The U.S. House Natural Resources Committee will mark up the Republicans’ budget package today (Tuesday), including policies supporting the Trump administration’s “National Energy Dominance” agenda. A new poll of Westerners shows many voters – including MAGA supporters – disagree with the proposals. Comments by pollster Lori Weigel (WHY-gul), principal, New Bridge Strategies; and Russell Kuhlman (CULL-man), executive director, Nevada Wildlife Federation.
Click on the image above for the audio. In a new survey, 71% of Montanans said they believe oil and gas drilling should be restricted to areas of public land that are highly likely to contain fossil fuels. (Adobe Stock)
Poll shows 83% of Montanans want to keep fees for oil, gas on public lands
Kathleen Shannon
May 6, 2025 - Today, the Republican budget package on the nation's energy policy gets a closer look from the House Natural Resources Committee in Congress.
A new poll showed many of the proposed changes are unpopular among voters in Montana and the West. The proposals include reducing royalty rates paid by energy companies to federal and local governments, limiting opportunities for public participation and mandating the sale of oil and gas leases on all available public lands within 18 months.
Lori Weigel, principal at New Bridge Strategies, which conducted the poll said there is a trend in voter preferences about the importance of various public land uses.
"It stands out, really, that providing land to be leased for oil and gas development was significantly lower than every single other attribute that we tested," Weigel reported.
Among Montana respondents, 92% said keeping air and water clean is an important function of public lands. Outdoor recreation and providing wildlife habitat were about equally important, at roughly 86%. Only 34% of Montanans said they think providing land for oil and gas development is important.
Russell Kuhlman, executive director of the Nevada Wildlife Federation, said many oil and gas proposals coming from lawmakers right now promote a misconception.
"There's this belief that every inch that you walk on public land has this huge, untapped resource of fossil fuel," Kuhlman observed. "That could not be farther from the truth. It is very localized, in certain areas."
One proposal would cancel the $5 per acre nomination fee oil and gas companies pay to help cover the cost of a review process to determine whether land is appropriate for development. Among Montana respondents, eight in opposed canceling the fee, as did seven in 10 Montanans who self-identified as MAGA supporters.
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PNS - Tuesday, May 6, 2025 - Trump administration offers $1,000 to undocumented migrants to self deport. Democrats oppose Social Security changes and Trump's pick to lead the agency, and Congress debates unpopular easing of limits on oil and gas drilling on public lands.
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PNS - Tuesday, May 6, 2025 - Hegseth orders Pentagon to cut number of senior generals by 20%; House Committee takes up 'drill, baby, drill' budget today; WA voting rights advocates push for democracy vouchers statewide; NYS Jewish students speak to Congress; IN '50501' movement expands summer protests; Trump order targets marine monuments for commercial fishing.
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By Kathleen Shannon - Producer, Contact - News
Big Sky Connection - Western Native Voice is a Montana-based Native advocacy group that formed in 2022. After a “pretty successful” state legislative session, the group is headed to Washington D.C. to expand its reach and open a national office. Comments by Keaton Sunchild, director of government and political relations, Western Native Voice.
Kathleen Shannon
May 5, 2025 - On the heels of a busy Montana legislative session, the advocacy group Western Native Voice is setting its sights higher and opening a Washington, D.C., office next week.
The nonprofit formed in 2022 to advocate for equity and opportunity for Montana's Native people. Since then, the group has gained members in, and collaborated with tribes across, many western states.
Keaton Sunchild, director of government and political relations for the group, said it can be difficult to operate at a national level from 2,000 miles away.
"Being able to be right there, be on top of the action and be able to use our voice in Washington is going to help us be a little bit more proactive," Sunchild explained.
He pointed out top issues at the national level include criminal justice funding for Missing and Murdered Indigenous People and drug crises disproportionately affecting tribal communities. Sunchild noted the national office will open May 12.
Sunchild called this year's Montana legislative session "pretty successful" for Western Native Voice but highlighted one area of continued concern is voting rights. Gov. Greg Gianforte is expected to decide Tuesday on Senate Bill 490, which would add restrictions to same-day voter registration.
"It's a road we've been down before," Sunchild acknowledged. "Trying to figure out the best way forward for that, whether that's through the courts in Montana, maybe if there's some sort of backstop we can look at federally."
Other voting access issues Sunchild plans to work on are funding for more satellite elections offices and blanket protections for tribal IDs as valid voter registration identification.
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