New Hope for Funding Montana’s Rural Schools?

Montanans and citizens across the country agree that our rural communities and schools deserve adequate and reliable funding for the long run. Yet, there has been loud disagreement over the Bush Administration’s ill-concocted proposal to sell off 300,000 acres of public lands, including 14,000 acres in Montana, to foot the bill.

Fortunately, a sound resolution to this critical issue exists. Recently, Senators Max Baucus (D-MT) and Ron Wyden (D-OR) announced an innovative proposal that provides long-term funding for our rural schools. The Baucus/Wyden proposal separates school funding from the budget of the U.S. Forest Service that protects rural school funding annual budget battles and politics.

Please thank Senator Baucus for working to fund Montana’s rural schools without damaging our invaluable public lands.

Senator Conrad Burns and Representative Denny Reberg have also spoken out against the Bush Administration’s proposal to sell off public lands. Please thank them and ask them to support the Baucus/Wyden funding proposal.

For More Information/Organizations Working on This Issue:

• Heritage Forest Campaign
• The Wilderness Society
• League of Conservation Voters
• Sierra Club
• Montana Wildlife Federation
• Montana Wilderness Association
• National Wildlife Federation
• Montana Trout Unlimited