Matt Rosendale on Keystone XL Pipeline

Newly elected Montana U.S. Representative Matt Rosendale appeared on the Montana Morning News show on Thursday to share his thoughts and experiences during the inauguration of President Joe Biden on Wednesday.

First, the conversation turned to the cancellation of the Keystone XL Pipeline that was to run from Canada through Montana and down to the Gulf Coast.

“It’s a shame that one of President Biden's first acts was killing the Keystone XL pipeline,” said Rosendale. “I testified in support of that some eight years ago when we started this long path to try and get it approved, because in Glendive with the Dawson County Community College was one of the five locations across the nation that they held those public hearings and there was an incredible outpouring of support. We filled the college gymnasium.”

Rosendale said he attempted to influence Biden’s decision even before his inauguration.

“I sent a letter to the President-elect before he was even inaugurated asking him to please reconsider this job killing action,” he said. “His actions yesterday are going to have horrible consequences for Montana's economy and our nation's security. I mean, we're going to lose jobs. We're going to lose an incredible amount of tax revenue that would benefit some of the most rural counties that are located within the state.”

Rosendale expressed his fears for Montana and the nation as Biden pursues the policies to which he is committed.

“This is just the tip of the iceberg, if you will, on some of the dramatic policies that that he's going to put forward,” he said. “I've got major concerns about what's getting ready to take place on the southern border, and how that's going to impact our state and our reservations. The regulations and tax climate that he has been proposing, are going to be devastating to our state and to jobs across the state of Montana.”

On a positive note Rosendale said he was moved by comments from the Master of Ceremonies at the inauguration, Senator Roy Blunt.

“He said this event (the inauguration) is commonplace and miraculous, commonplace because we've done it every four years since 1789 and miraculous, because we've done it every four years since 1789,” said Senator Blunt. “Americans have celebrated this moment during war, during the Depression, and now during a pandemic.”

Rosendale said he wants to appear on Talk Back on a regular basis.