MT House votes 99-1 to urge delisting of wolves
HELENA – The state House of Representatives passed a joint resolution Tuesday urging the federal government to remove gray wolves from the Endangered Species List.
Speaker of the House Mike Milburn (R-Cascade) sponsored the measure known as HJ 1.
Lawmakers say its goal is to tell Congress that Montana wants wolf management returned to the state. The resolution states states the wolf is fully recovered and Fish, Wildlife and Parks already proved it can manage wolves and it calls for a public hunt to maintain a viable population.
The language of HJ-1 also says that, “any delay in the delisting of the gray wolf will exacerbate these negative biological and social impacts and erode the broad base of public support Montana has developed for its management of the gray wolf.”
The resolution easily passed the House with 99 votes in favor. Rep. Mike Phillips (D-Bozeman) was the lone vote against it.
The resolution now goes to the Senate for a vote.