A citizen legislator's first year

One year ago I packed up my truck and left this beautiful, rugged part of Montana to spend sixteen weeks in the crowded city of Helena. Not to seek a better life for myself, nor a higher income, nor fame or glory. I went to serve my fellow man as a citizen legislator, not a politician.

Why? Everything I wanted was already right here in Thompson Falls – a loving husband, a comfortable home, a fine parcel of land, and a peaceful, happy life in the country. But, on a national scale, I saw our freedoms and prosperity rapidly slipping away.

Too few leaders today seem to understand the basic tenets that made our nation the greatest, most free and prosperous society in history. Too many people seem caught up in the complexity, power, or insatiable appetite of over-governance.

“What could I do?”, I asked.

Ultimately, my decision to serve in the State Legislature was rooted in prayer and deep reverence for the principles of life, liberty, and property upon which this great nation was founded.

It was a strange feeling when I bid my husband, my home, and my dog goodbye that day. As I drove toward Helena, I reflected on the sacrifices our founders had made.

Of course, they had it much tougher than I. Endless stacks of paperwork, long days away from home, and an occasional attack on my character seem to be the worst that I have to endure.

The founders faced all that plus an all-out war, charges of treason, and hanging for daring to establish a new system of self-government where people would elect their representatives, and noble bloodlines would no longer matter. I will gladly take long hours and fierce debates in the uniquely American laboratories of democracy over the authoritarian rule of a King any day. I am so grateful to our founders and all who have defended our freedoms ever since that fateful era gave birth to America.

When I swore the Oath of Office on Inauguration Day last January, I knew it was an oath before God and all mankind. By law, all executive and judicial officers, state legislators, and members of Congress are bound by oath to support the U.S. Constitution. Sadly, many pay little mind to the significance of this sublime compact between a free people and their chosen form of government.

With my first year of public service wrapped up, I welcome you to verify that I am doing what I said I would do. I promised to honor my oath, and I emphasized the following goals in my 2012 campaign literature:

Protect America’s founding principles and our Constitutional rights; Foster reliable private sector job opportunities & economic stability; Promote responsible management, harvest, and use of natural resources; Keep public lands open to the public; Defend lawful hunting, fishing, trapping, and gun rights; Maintain safe food, water and air for present and future generations; Give local government the support it needs to serve the people effectively; Spend wisely and eliminate unnecessary taxes, regulations, bureaucracies, and mandates.

All of these goals remain high priorities going into my second year of public service. Although the legislature only convenes for four months in odd years, Senate leadership assigned me to serve on the year round interim committees responsible for environmental quality, river governance, water rights, natural resources, wildlife, and public land management.

Recently, I filed formal Objections with the USFS in an effort to increase multiple use, public access, wildfire fuel reduction projects, and economic production on the Kootenai and Idaho Panhandle National Forests. I will be following the Lolo and Flathead National Forest plans as well.

I continue to Chair Montana’s study of problems with federal land management, and am giving very serious consideration to several possible solutions, including transferring federally managed land to the state so that Montanans, rather than Washington DC, can decide how to manage, access, use, and protect the vast public lands within our state that are so critical to our economy and way of life.

2013 was a “hit the ground running” start to my first term in the legislature. I ask for your help and support as I continue striving for improvements in our economy, public land and wildlife management, and defense of our liberties in 2014 and beyond. We all need to do our part, and then some!

Feel free to contact me directly at sen.jfielder@legmt.gov with your ideas, concerns, or questions on these or any other topics

All my best for a Happy New Year to you and yours!