Opinion
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Protecting Montana's future
This past Friday was the 68th Legislative Day in Helena. We have 90 days per session to accomplish all we set out to do at the legislature, so that means we are quickly approaching the end of the session. But I am proud of what we... — Updated 4/13/2021
SB 379 is bad for business
Senate Bill 379 is a bill that is anti-jobs and anti-economic development. For a legislature supposedly focused on the governor’s rightful concerns for entrepreneurship, it’s a real step backward. Higher electricity bills will... — Updated 4/13/2021
Rushed tax bill will result in uncertain and regressive outcomes
State legislators are rushing a massive overhaul of our income tax system through the legislature at the last minute. Senate Bill 399 would cost the state millions in revenue and result in one in five Montanans paying more in... — Updated 4/13/2021
SB 182 puts health of Montanans at risk
After surviving the past year, 2017 seems like a lifetime ago. But for individuals with disabilities, it was a pretty memorable and terrible year in Montana. As a reminder, in 2017 Montana experienced a revenue downturn, and... — Updated 4/13/2021
Republican voter suppression agenda is un-American
Voters turned out in record numbers in 2020. Hundreds-of-thousands of folks in our state cast their ballots and exercised their most fundamental right as an American. Unfortunately, Republicans across the nation and here in... — Updated 4/12/2021
Is your insurance company doing what they're supposed to?
Have you ever been the victim of an automobile accident and had the other driver’s insurance company partially blame you for the accident and require you to pay part of the claim? Nearly every driver in the United States will sub... — Updated 4/12/2021
Legislature back to work after Easter
Judy and I spent a few days home for the short, long Easter break. Our daughter, family and a friend were down from Cut Bank and Butte for Easter Dinner. It was fun sharing the day with everyone and getting help with a couple... — Updated 4/12/2021
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View from the North 40: It's all shabby without the chic
It’s hard to pretty up a home when you have all the decorating instincts of an average sixth-grader. I have countered this lack of style savvy, though, with all the ambition and... — Updated 4/9/2021
Resurrect bill to help with impact of coal revenue and lost jobs
Instead of tackling coal revenue and job loss, Montana Republicans tabled HB646, substituting an alternative 2023 “study” about dwindling coal use. The “study” will be too late for coal-impacted communities like Sidney;... — Updated 4/9/2021
Letter to the Editor - Help each other in the spirit of togetherness
Editor, My words are addressed to the people of Rocky Boy, who are my brothers and sisters and relatives. Please remember that Rocky Boy and Little Bear worked together to secure a homeland for all of you and all of your... — Updated 4/8/2021
Letter to the Editor - Why would we repeal nuclear safeguards?
Editor, The Montana State Senate is considering House Bill 273, with implications that concern all of us. This bill would repeal Initiative 80, which requires developers of nuclear generating facilities built in Montana to post a... — Updated 4/8/2021
Looking out my Backdoor: This week I started smoking again
I used to have a photo of my Dad in his crisp uniform, just back from Overseas. “Overseas” is a lost word, known to us older folks. Dad was in the Army Air Force in WWII. I was... — Updated 4/8/2021
The Postscript: Nocturnal negotiations
It’s amazing that anyone shares a bed. I know there are plenty of married and cohabiting couples who have separate beds, or even separate bedrooms, and I can see the logic in... — Updated 4/7/2021
The time is right to expand access to high-speed internet service -broadband
Over the last year, the pandemic has opened our eyes to the reality that high-speed internet is essential for Montanans across the state. The pandemic also reminds us of the painful truth that Montana ranks 50th in the nation when... — Updated 4/7/2021
Another View: The Choteau Acantha Legislature should not add strings to ARPA funds
The Montana Legislature is working this week on plans to appropriate the nearly $3 billion American Rescue Plan Act funding package that Montana will receive from the federal government. Unfortunately, the Legislature is... — Updated 4/6/2021
Governor needs to veto Putin-like bills
I didn’t study political science in college. I’m a soil scientist. So when people sling political terms around, I have to look them up in Webster’s Dictionary. Webster writes that “socialism is when government takes over... — Updated 4/5/2021
View from the North 40: 'No deaths have been reported' - Yet
I’ve been around animals enough in my life to know that they can sense when humans are vulnerable, and most of them are perfectly willing to capitalize on our weak moments ... — Updated 4/2/2021
From the Fringe … Why not take Dr. Harada's advice?
I won’t pretend I understand. I won’t say I get it when it comes to COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy, or the anti-vaxx movement in general. In fact, I don’t really understand any... — Updated 4/2/2021
Looking out my Backdoor: My world and mathematics
There is magic in my world. If I do not see it, it doesn’t matter. If I do see it, it doesn’t matter. Every day is a song. Yesterday’s music fell to earth, gone. Today’s... — Updated 4/1/2021
Legislators, governor enabling commercialization of hunting
For decades, Montana’s outfitting community provided their services in a fair fashion respecting the shared interests of hunters and landowners. Outfitters were partners in wildlife management, landowner relationships, and the... — Updated 4/1/2021
Letter to the Editor - Keep all Montana voters selecting Supreme Court judges
Editor, I’m starting with Tuesday legislation House Bill 325. So many bad bills this session, but this one is brought forward by a bitter crying woman who lost her election twice to the Montana Supreme Court and she’s exacting... — Updated 3/31/2021
The Postscript: Out like a lion
March is winding down and my sister-in-law, Lori, is going with it. There is too much food and too many flowers because that is what we do when someone is dying, when we don’t... — Updated 3/31/2021
Letter to the Editor - Don't send immigrants to Montana
Editor, We do not want the federal government placing illegal immigrants in Montana. That’s what Joey Biden is planning. Write, email, tweet your senators, congressman, and the governor and tell them not in Montana. The White... — Updated 3/29/2021
The state flag, coal trust and school trust lands
I have always admired the Montana State flag. It tells a story of Montana’s past and our assets as a state. Currently in the Montana House, there are folks who feel we should either have a vote on whether we should keep what we... — Updated 3/29/2021
View from the North 40: A whole new level of confusion
My husband John and I bought a new car. And by new car, I mean we bought a car that is 14 years old, but it has barely over 100,000 miles on it, so it’s definitely new-new to us. In fact, it’s six years newer than the car... — Updated 3/26/2021
