Recently HB422, the eminent domain bill, was tabled in committee on a partisan vote; voted down by all Republicans, the champions of property rights. This bill would have helped protect property rights of Montana landowners by ensuring that developers show public benefits before taking private land.

My family ranches at Birney, and for decades the Tongue River Railroad Co. has been trying to justify building a railroad for Wyoming right down the Tongue River Valley. Now the Otter Creek Tracts are being used as that justification.

Remember, these tracts are Montana's compensation for never-existing jobs at the never-existing New World Mine. Former Gov. Marc Racicot, who now sits on Burlington Northern Santa Fe's board of directors, refused to consider any other compensation, not even $10 million or coal from a currently producing mine.

Pat Davidson also made development of the Otter Creek Tracts a major part of his gubernatorial campaign. The tracts are just another boondoggle needing taxpayer subsidies and guarantees before industry will even consider developing them.

Montana should be moving toward protecting property owners. Allowing private corporations to exercise eminent domain is not in the public interest. All Montana's property owners should be concerned, not just the ranchers in the Tongue River Valley.

Marilynn Hayes

208 Hanging Woman Creek Road

Birney