Opinion

Editor, The reason Montana has the best campaign finance laws is because the Anaconda Corporation proved to Montana citizens that is was easy for corporations to buy off politicians, which is not unlike what we are seeing today.  HB 224 and HB 225 are intended to loosen the restrictions that have protected our elections for a century. They will increase the amount of dark money that can be spent and exempts some expenses that presently need to be reported.   We should be proud of our campaign finance protections. Please don’t allow Republicans to decrease the protections that Montana voters presently have. Write, text or email your representative and complain. Go to...

I am honored to have worked with Governor Gianforte to introduce the Students with Special Needs Equal Opportunity Act (House Bill 329) this legislative session. House Bill 329 gives parents flexibility to support the unique educational needs of their child without increasing state spending. The House overwh...

Montana hunters are being shut out of major decisions on future access to elk. The new approach in Helena, led by Speaker Wylie Galt and Fish, Wildlife and Parks Director Hank Worsech, is to spring legislation on us.   Making major wildlife management changes without public input benefits few and hur...

Editor,  As of mid-February, Republican legislators in 43 states have proposed over 250 laws that would limit mail, early in-person and Election Day voting. Montana House Bill 176 would end same day voter registration. Under current law, the registration remains open until polls close at 8 p.m. on El...

Editor, It probably takes some adjustments for many of us to suddenly, after four years of the Trump administration, adjust to our new less theatrical presidential leadership style.     President Biden’s personality, his leadership style and his verbal delivery are much less theatrical ...

Editor, This past weekend, the U.S. Senate passed a $1.9 trillion “COVID relief” package. The House is set to vote on it this week. What you may not know is that tucked in the Democrats’ “COVID relief” is a provision that would pay up to 120 percent of USDA loans to socially ...

During the first half of the 67th Montana Legislature, the Republican Majority logged important achievements, keeping the promises we made to our constituents.   We tackled the challenges presented by the COVID-19 pandemic by implementing the first hybrid session in Montana history. This hybrid model...

I am very pleased to announce that we have expanded our hours. We now have regular, year-round hours and have even added two extra hours each week from where we were pre-COVID. Our new hours are Monday – Friday, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Saturday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. We are reserving the hour of 9 a.m. to 10 a...

Editor,  In my Valley Journal Feb. 3 letter, “New cooperative entity could improve irrigation,” I discussed how a new cooperative agreement between the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes and the Flathead Irrigation District could improve management of our irrigation project, but irri...

Editor,  The Governor has signed into law a bill that allows concealed firearms to be carried in most places in the state without a permit. The Montana University System was among the opposition to this bill, citing important safety concerns. Under the new law, guns can be carried on college campu...