I am hoping someone can help me understand what is going on in Helena at the 2021 legislative session. House Bill 137 and House Bill 106 were introduced by Republican Ron Marshall from Hamilton who, along with his wife, owns a chain of retail vape shops. HB 137 would prohibit local governments and the state […]

Several bills proposing changes to how local public health officials do their jobs are being considered by the Montana legislature. The proposed changes appear to have been motivated by responses to COVID-19. This focus on a single infectious disease is potentially shortsighted. For one thing, public health officials deal with more than infectious diseases. Substance […]

Sen. Daines and Gov. Gianforte have been complicit in every step of Trump’s relentless assault on American democracy. They helped cover up Russia’s attack on our elections, their bounties on our troops, and their sweeping cyberattack of our government. They helped block witnesses at Trump’s impeachment trial. They approved as Trump trashed our FBI and […]

An environmental law firm and two conservation groups have asked a federal court to bar the Big Sky Water and Sewer District from connecting new sewer lines and irrigating a golf course with treated wastewater high in nitrogen. Cottonwood Environmental Law Center, Montana Rivers and the Gallatin Wildlife Association filed a motion for a preliminary […]

There are two problems with the Jan. 27 article “GOP chair shuts down testimony opposing sanctuary city ban.” First, the Associated Press reporter probably misunderstood the legislation’s practical effect, writing “The bill [HB 200] would require local law enforcement to comply with federal immigration law.” Actually, the bill would merely prevent state agencies and local […]

It has dawned upon me that the quest for freedom in this country is distorted. As long as one cannot drink a beer on the street but can conceal carry a Desert Eagle with armor-piercing rounds into an English literature class, I feel that the only freedom that exists, is the unchecked gun-lobbying group’s freedom […]

It is difficult to believe Trump’s election fraud claims as he cries fraud every time he doesn’t get the results he wants. He has been priming his base for months saying that if he didn’t win the election, it would be because the Democrats rigged it. During the 2016 presidential campaign, he did the same […]

During World War II the allied armies were marching on Hitler’s Germany and it seemed like nothing could stop them. It was at that moment that the Nazis military mounted a furious counter attack known as the “Battle Of The Bulge”. Tens of thousands of soldiers died. At the moment when it seemed like the […]

This column was published in many state newspapers, but did not run in the Bozeman Chronicle.  I thought you might enjoy receiving it. Governor Gianforte Should Lead on Mask Safety A Column by Evan Barrett Updated to February 4, 2021 Several weeks back America crossed a terrible threshold – 4000 people killed in a day […]

The Montana League of Women Voters calls on Congressman Rosendale to acknowledge the November election was not fraudulent and that Joe Biden is our legitimate President. While Sen. Daines has belatedly done so, he continues to suggest, without evidence, that there are election fraud concerns that need to be investigated. The actions of Sen. Daines […]