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; its Lewis and Clark Power Plant just closed. MDU will employ shuttered plant workers. However, that doesn’t help those who serviced the plant, like Westmoreland’s Savage miners. HB646 would assist them.

When helping little ones, we don’t “study” what happened. We change the diaper. Likewise, change now will benefit Montana schools, conservation districts,...