Mike Cooney Announces Sweeping Public Lands Plan As Greg Gianforte’s Anti-Public Lands Record Comes Under Fire

Today, Democratic gubernatorial candidate Lt. Gov. Mike Cooney released a sweeping plan to protect access to public lands in Montana. Lt. Gov. Cooney is running against New Jersey millionaire Greg Gianforte – one of the most anti-public lands candidates in Montana history.

As Montana’s sole Congressman, Gianforte has repeatedly undermined public lands stewardship. Gianforte is still refusing to cosponsor the Great American Outdoors Act, which would increase funding for public lands and make funding for the Land and Water Conservation Fund permanent. He also introduced two bills that would “strip protections from cherished public lands” and sued the state of Montana to block access to a stream nearby one of his multiple private properties.

Lt. Gov. Cooney’s “Protect the Last Best Place” plan would solidify protections for Montana’s existing public lands, increase access to landlocked public lands through easements, strengthen Habitat Montana, the state’s premier access and conservation program, and protect public streams from people like Greg Gianforte.

“New Jersey millionaire Greg Gianforte is one of the most anti-public lands candidates in Montana history,” said DGA National Press Secretary Jerusalem Demsas. “Gianforte sued to block access to a popular fishing spot, wrote legislation to strip protections from public lands, and chose a running mate who also wants to roll back public lands protections. Mike Cooney will fight to protect the Last Best Place from outsiders like Greg Gianforte.”