Bullock also pointed out that legal avenues to acquire federal lands already exist, and Montana occasionally does so through the State Board of Land Commissioners.

“I think it’s easy to stand up and shout and scream and that’s what we see far too often out in the political world, but it’s often a lot more difficult to roll up your sleeves and try to get something done,” the governor said.

Bullock and Democratic Sen. Jon Tester wrote in a July opinion piece that a transfer would put Montana’s fiscal security in jeopardy and lead to an eventual sell-off.

“While allowing states to manage the lands within their borders may sound like an appealing idea, the real goal is a threat to our outdoor heritage,” they wrote.

“It’s one issue that truly unites Democrats, Republicans and Independents,” said Senate candidate state Rep. Amanda Curtis, D-Butte. “This is an issue that Montanans feel strongly about, and I’ve said over and over again that we must keep our public lands.”

“This is absolutely about privatization,” she said. “You can guarantee I’ll work with anyone to build Montana solutions, by Montanans for Montanans, including how to manage our public lands.”