LAST EDITED ON Dec-13-16 AT 04:28PM (MST)[p]LAST EDITED ON Dec-13-16 AT 04:25?PM (MST)
U.S. President-elect Donald Trump chose first-term Republican Representative Ryan Zinke of Montana, a former Navy SEAL commander, as his interior secretary, according to media reports.
Zinke, 55, has yet to accept the offer and has given no indication as to which way he is leaning, Politico reported, citing two transition officials and someone familiar with the offer.
The Washington Post, citing an individual with first-hand knowledge of the decision, also reported that Zinke had been tapped to lead the Interior Department.
A Trump aide told Reuters last week that Republican Representative Cathy McMorris Rodgers of Washington had been picked for the post.
Politico reported earlier on Tuesday that Trump had expanded his search to include Zinke and U.S. Republican Representative Raul Labrador of Idaho as well as McMorris Rodgers.
Zinke was an early Trump supporter, backing the New York City real estate mogul in May.
"Congressman Zinke is a strong advocate for American energy independence, and he supports an all-encompassing energy policy that includes renewables, fossil fuels and alternative energy," Trump spokesman Jason Miller said ahead of a meeting on Monday between Zinke and Trump at Trump Tower.
Zinke, a member of the House of Representatives subcommittee on natural resources, has voted for legislation that would weaken environmental safeguards on public land.
But unlike other candidates who were shortlisted for the interior secretary position, he OPPOSES the transfer of public lands to the states, which is the official policy of the new Republican Party platform.
Over 30 percent of Montana is comprised of public land, according to the Montana Wilderness Association.
In July, Zinke resigned as a delegate to the Republican nominating convention because of the party platform position.
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"What I saw was a platform that was more divisive than uniting," Zinke told the Billings Gazette. "At this point, I think it's better to show leadership."
The League of Conservation Voters, which ranks lawmakers on their environmental record, gave Zinke an extremely low lifetime score of 3 percent.
(Reporting by Eric Beech, Valerie Volcovici and Susan Cornwell in Washington; Editing by Mohammad Zargham and Alistair Bell
January 28, 2015 Press Release
Zinke Introduces Legislation to Protect Hunting & Fishing Rights
Montana Congressman Ryan Zinke helped introduce the Recreational Fishing and Hunting Heritage and Opportunities Act which protects Montanan?s right to hunt, fish and enjoy recreational shooting on federal lands. About 30 percent of Montana?s land is public land.
?In Montana our land is our way of life, and we have a proud heritage of hunting, fishing and outdoor recreation,? said Zinke. ?I'm committed to making sure Montana?s public lands are truly public and ensuring families have access to hunt and fish on federally-owned lands. Hunting and fishing is part of the larger outdoor recreation industry and it is an economic boon to our state, supporting thousands of jobs and hundreds of millions of dollars in economic activity. We must do what we can to preserve both the jobs and the tradition.?
Montana leads the nation in hunters per capita, and according to the Congressional Sportsmen?s Foundation, in 2013 Montana counted 335,000 hunters and fishermen who spent $983 million annually and supported 16,515 jobs in the state. Outdoor Industry found the economic impact of Montana?s greater outdoor recreation industry is an astounding $7 billion and supports more than 64,000 jobs.
The Recreational Fishing and Hunting Heritage and Opportunities Act is supported by sportsmen's organizations, such as Ducks Unlimited and the National Rifle Association. The bill would create an "open until closed" policy for sportsmen's use of federal land and would block threats from interest groups that seek to limit hunting, fishing and shooting on America's federal properties.
I told a few critics that Trump would be good for hunters and sportsmen. Enough said.
U.S. President-elect Donald Trump chose first-term Republican Representative Ryan Zinke of Montana, a former Navy SEAL commander, as his interior secretary, according to media reports.
Zinke, 55, has yet to accept the offer and has given no indication as to which way he is leaning, Politico reported, citing two transition officials and someone familiar with the offer.
The Washington Post, citing an individual with first-hand knowledge of the decision, also reported that Zinke had been tapped to lead the Interior Department.
A Trump aide told Reuters last week that Republican Representative Cathy McMorris Rodgers of Washington had been picked for the post.
Politico reported earlier on Tuesday that Trump had expanded his search to include Zinke and U.S. Republican Representative Raul Labrador of Idaho as well as McMorris Rodgers.
Zinke was an early Trump supporter, backing the New York City real estate mogul in May.
"Congressman Zinke is a strong advocate for American energy independence, and he supports an all-encompassing energy policy that includes renewables, fossil fuels and alternative energy," Trump spokesman Jason Miller said ahead of a meeting on Monday between Zinke and Trump at Trump Tower.
Zinke, a member of the House of Representatives subcommittee on natural resources, has voted for legislation that would weaken environmental safeguards on public land.
But unlike other candidates who were shortlisted for the interior secretary position, he OPPOSES the transfer of public lands to the states, which is the official policy of the new Republican Party platform.
Over 30 percent of Montana is comprised of public land, according to the Montana Wilderness Association.
In July, Zinke resigned as a delegate to the Republican nominating convention because of the party platform position.
ALSO IN BIG STORY 13
U.S. Energy Department balks at Trump request for names on climate change
Trump picks former Texas Governor Perry as energy secretary
"What I saw was a platform that was more divisive than uniting," Zinke told the Billings Gazette. "At this point, I think it's better to show leadership."
The League of Conservation Voters, which ranks lawmakers on their environmental record, gave Zinke an extremely low lifetime score of 3 percent.
(Reporting by Eric Beech, Valerie Volcovici and Susan Cornwell in Washington; Editing by Mohammad Zargham and Alistair Bell
January 28, 2015 Press Release
Zinke Introduces Legislation to Protect Hunting & Fishing Rights
Montana Congressman Ryan Zinke helped introduce the Recreational Fishing and Hunting Heritage and Opportunities Act which protects Montanan?s right to hunt, fish and enjoy recreational shooting on federal lands. About 30 percent of Montana?s land is public land.
?In Montana our land is our way of life, and we have a proud heritage of hunting, fishing and outdoor recreation,? said Zinke. ?I'm committed to making sure Montana?s public lands are truly public and ensuring families have access to hunt and fish on federally-owned lands. Hunting and fishing is part of the larger outdoor recreation industry and it is an economic boon to our state, supporting thousands of jobs and hundreds of millions of dollars in economic activity. We must do what we can to preserve both the jobs and the tradition.?
Montana leads the nation in hunters per capita, and according to the Congressional Sportsmen?s Foundation, in 2013 Montana counted 335,000 hunters and fishermen who spent $983 million annually and supported 16,515 jobs in the state. Outdoor Industry found the economic impact of Montana?s greater outdoor recreation industry is an astounding $7 billion and supports more than 64,000 jobs.
The Recreational Fishing and Hunting Heritage and Opportunities Act is supported by sportsmen's organizations, such as Ducks Unlimited and the National Rifle Association. The bill would create an "open until closed" policy for sportsmen's use of federal land and would block threats from interest groups that seek to limit hunting, fishing and shooting on America's federal properties.
I told a few critics that Trump would be good for hunters and sportsmen. Enough said.
