Border bill is a bad bill

Imaging going hunting in the Yaak and finding a new gate blocking your favorite spot. But not a Forest Service gate, a Homeland Security gate. No notice, no public meeting, no explanation, no access.

This is what Rep. Denny Rehberg wants. He is supporting H.R. 1505, a bill that will allow the Department of Homeland Security to circumvent the laws that manage our public lands for a swath 100 miles south of the border. That's close to one third of Montana.

This bill does away with the public's ability to participate in how our government manages our public lands and hands unquestionable authority to a federal agency. It does away with any ability of the public to have a voice.

Remember the REAL ID act that we Montanans overwhelmingly said no to? This act is along the same lines. Taking away personal freedoms, handing control to a big government agency, and no one can stop them. It's the type of big government bill this country can't afford.

Call Rep. Rehberg, tell him we don't want the government to have total control of our public lands and we don't need this bill.

Darin Hackenberg lives in Whitefish.