Jon Tester

We need your help to be able to resolve this so that we can do our job to consult.

I will tell you why. Forest fighting costs since 1995, they were 16 percent. Today, they are 52 percent.

Both proposals are harmful to Montana's national forests and our way of life.

It just gives more ammunition to those short-sighted people out there that want to turn our land over to the private sector.

I want to voice my concern with the budget proposed cuts that are to recreation and road development, the latter of which are important to carrying out forest projects.

You need to tell us I do not have the money for road maintenance because we are spending it all on fighting fires.

My concern with this budget... it just gives more ammunition to those short-sighted people out there that want to turn our land over to the private sector.

I am going to tell you there is a move in this country to sell our public lands, to privatize our public lands.

I think we ought to just admit that the fire seasons are getting more intense. They are getting longer.

As the Ranking Member pointed out, when it comes to infrastructure, there is an 84 percent cut.

The outdoor industry in Montana... amounts to a good chunk of our economy, $6.4 billion, 64,000 jobs.

I appreciate you not doing that, and I hope that policy continues.

What the hell good that would do, I do not know.

It does not make me sleep better at night.

I think that you have bipartisan support on this Committee because of your track record.

I find this unacceptable. I just do.

I do not trust them any more today than I did when I was a first grader in school.

There is all sorts of smoke here that we need to get to the bottom of.

But the question is: There are no red flags that come up for you at all on this?

I think it would be really important because if that happens, it is going to be disastrous.

It is a matter of too many requirements with too little funding.

That is kind of a big deal.

Will this project be prioritized appropriately so it can be funded in fiscal year 2018?

I do not have a problem with your priorities.

It is critical that the Appropriations Committee take the appropriate time to work diligently and pass a budget that strengthens our national security and secures our borders.