Opinion
The “One Big Beautiful Bill” Act recently signed into law by President Trump contains important reforms to Obamacare’s Medicaid Expansion program. It helps control taxpayer costs and incentivizes able-bodied adults to work, go to school, or otherwise meaningfully engage as productive community members in exchange for benefits. That’s the good news. The great news is Montana isn’t waiting around to act. Many of us applaud Director Brereton and his Department of Health and Human Services for moving rapidly to get these community engagement requirements in place. The sooner these reforms are in place, the sooner the government program becomes more of a...
Take charge and lower your utility bills by using energy and water more wisely and at the same time make Montana healthier. What’s the connection? Most of the energy used in Montana is from fossil fuels (natural gas, coal, and oil) resulting in the release of pollution and greenhouse gases when the ...
In most respects, Idaho and Montana have been enthusiastic in their pursuit of tax competitiveness. But if there’s one area of tax policy on which they are worse than their peers, it’s in their incorporation of GILTI—the federal tax on Global Intangible Low-Taxed Income—into their own...
This column deals with a subject steeped in controversy, and we all know sometimes that can surround the most simplest of tasks, habits or preferences. Which way to hang the toilet paper – over or under? Ketchup as a dipping sauce for pickles and potato chips - yes or no? Wearing pajamas to th...
During Montana’s 69th Legislative Session, HB 153 was enacted directing the School Funding Interim Commission (SFIC) to update laws focusing on our educational structure and funding. The seated SFIC membership consists of six Senators, six Representatives, and eight individuals representing expertise a...
Emotions are powerful forces within each of us. They can impact our day, our year - perhaps even our life. How we feel about something influences our reactions to it. How we feel dictates our response to the world, the environment. And by and large all of this is beyond our control, correct? Maybe so, may...
Now that wildfire season is here, the elk rut is only two months away and the Big Beautiful Bill has been signed into law by President Trump without any public land sales. What needs to happen with our federal public lands in Montana is active management. Unmanaged, dying, and fire-prone forests cre...
Editor, Several years ago, I visited the Holocaust Museum in Washinton DC. Upon exiting the museum there was a poem on the wall that brought me to tears. I want to share that poem with you. But first let me tell you about the man who wrote that poem. Martin Niemoller, the author of the poem was a Luthe...
President Trump’s Big Beautiful Bill is a tremendous win for Montana. It will spur economic growth, strengthen border security as well as expand Montana’s energy sector and provide much-needed funding for our military. And thanks to the diligent work of the entire Montana congressional delegation...
I write to inform Montanans about the real impact of House Bill 231, the property tax bill that recently became law. While marketed as “property tax relief,” this legislation creates a massive tax shift that will significantly increase the burden on our agricultural community. During legislati...
