Before Congress decides how our land should be managed, I want to hear from the folks who work, hunt, fish, hike, camp and enjoy it.  That means public meetings with an open mic where anyone can come and ask questions.  So I've scheduled five listening sessions in counties impacted by proposed legislation.

All meetings are open to the public for comments and questions.

They are:

Madison County – Ennis
Monday, January 4, 2010 at 10 AM
Madison Valley Rural Fire Station 1
537 US HWY 287

Beaverhead County – Dillon
Tuesday, January 5, 2010 at 12:30 PM
University of Montana Western, Auditorium Main Hall
710 South Atlantic

Butte-Silver Bow County – Butte
Wednesday, January 6, 2010 at 9:30 AM
Montana Tech – SUB Copper Lounge
1300 West Park Street

Granite County – Philipsburg
Thursday, January 7, 2010 at 2:30 PM
Taylor-Knapp Building, Sapphire Gallery, Banquet Room
212 E. Broadway

Powell County – Deer Lodge
Friday, January 8, 2010 at 10 AM
William K. Kohrs Library, Meeting Room
501 Missouri Avenue

As Montanans, the land we live on is our most valuable resource.  The question isn’t whether it’s worth protecting, but how we can best do that.  The one-size fits all approach of federal management doesn’t always work, and I want to listen to the folks on the ground before deciding whether I can support any proposal to expand wilderness.