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PNS - Tuesday, May 6, 2025 - Trump admin to halt new grant funding to Harvard; Environmental groups fight plan to add warehouses in CA's Inland Empire; Detroit area pollution worsens, as 'clean vehicle' debate rolls on; Appreciation can go a long way for AL teachers under pressure.
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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.
