Just finished reading a recap of all the bills passed, or pending, in the Montana Legislature which would limit — or prohibit — public health professionals (and the governor) from enacting and enforcing policies dictated by public health, not politics? When did the average citizen voter, or the average citizen legislator, become experts in public […]

What is the Republican-controlled Legislature doing with the super majority Montanans handed them at the ballot last November? Working hard to overturn the will of the voters and take away our constitutional right to make laws via the ballot. It’s a cynical power grab and it must be stopped. Earlier this month, the Montana House […]

By CONRAD ANKER, RACHEL SCHMIDT, FRANCINE SPANG WILLIS, ANDREW POSEWITZ Guest columnists Once again, the Rally for Public Lands at the State Capitol was proof that our public lands and outdoor way of life bind us. The numbers bear it out: 89% of Montanans visit public lands every year. Sixty-four percent hunt or fish. Seventy-nine […]

By ANNE HEDGES Guest columnist Imagine buying a Big Mac hamburger and then learning that you now have to buy the entire McDonald’s restaurant. Sen. Steve Fitzpatrick wants you to focus on the price of the hamburger, but he doesn’t want you to focus on the fact that the hamburger will actually cost $1 billion […]

While I recognize that the Second Amendment allows persons to keep and bear arms (originally for protection of their personal property), where does it say everyone should be able to carry a concealed weapon on government property or buildings, on others’ private businesses or property and in public places? In their divide wisdom, our Montana […]

First came the tax cut for the rich, which will reduce state revenue. Next, the legislators want to divert some of this reduced revenue away from public schools to their elite private schools. Ninety-two percent of Montana students go to public school, schools that are constitutionally mandated to provide a free quality education for all […]

By BOB WALKER and MATT BOWSER Guest columnists Montana voters know that we’ll lose our outdoor way of life if we don’t fund it. Some lawmakers, though, seem fine with letting our parks, trails, working lands, access, and outdoor way of life go belly-up regardless of what voters want. To defend our outdoor way of […]

I am very concerned about the potential passing of HB 279 by our Legislature. I am a parent, teacher and have experience in both the public schools and private schools. My children have been enrolled at times in both public and private schools, and there is no reason why any individual sending their child to […]

Legislating bounties to kill wolves or trap them inhumanly is bad for Montana’s $3.7 billion tourist economy. Visitors spend $10 million dollars daily on average, generating over $265 million in state and local tax revenues. Yet legislators in Helena are considering eight bills that would severely reduce Montana’s wolf population—a reason many tourists visit our […]

Have I got this right — there is proposed legislation which will force the rate payers (customers) of Northwestern Energy (NWE) to guarantee unlimited future liability of the company should NWE go through with the purchase of the Colstrip Plant. This is like buying a Chevy and finding out you are responsible for future debts […]