Editorial
To find our opinion based editorials, see below. We'll share opinion based editorial articles regularly for interested viewers.
Officer Manny Quinn may be the silent type ... but she's always on the alert for troublemakers!
Along this summer’s tourist-filled main street of Plains, a silent sentinel stood relentless watch for potential s…
Keeping in touch: recent legislation
Some of last week’s actions both in the committees and on the floor created quite a stir in some circles, which resulted in a flurry of emails, phone messages, letters and even letters to the editor on one of the b…
Keeping in touch: A look at worker's comp
Montana has by far the highest workers’ compensation rates in the country, with costs over 160% above the national median. An overhaul of the system is essential to prevent the exodus of employers who find it more …
Keeping in touch: News from committees
On Friday, January 21st, the Health and Human Services Committee which I serve on held a hearing on House Bill 68. HB 68 is “an Act Revising the Medical Marijuana Act to Create a Licensing and Regulatory System fo…
Hello from the Capitol
Hello from the capitol. This marks the end of week three which was a very busy one for all of us. I introduced three bills so far: HB119, a bill to revise laws related to volunteer firefighter compensation; HB20, …
We the People
We are now through the third week. I will give a synopsis of some of the legislation that may be of interest. We voted today on HB1, which is known as the “feed bill”. This bill funds the legislative session plus…
Food for thought: Staying positive in the winter months
Now that the holidays are over, the decorations taken down, the credit card bills arriving and the extra pounds showing, it is no wonder that many people are experiencing a let down. The colder weather and the shor…
Committee meetings underway
Regular committee meetings got under way this week with a few bills being brought to the floor. Republicans supported SJ 1, which lengthens the amount of time proposed referendums can be introduced in the 2011 Legi…
Keeping in Touch
With contact from constituents regarding the lack of the presence of the State Highway Patrol in Sanders County, I wanted to relate some information I recently received in case some of our residents, themselves, mi…
Keeping in touch
One of the bills you’ve seen discussed on television news lately is a bill I am carrying on behalf of the Secretary of State’s office, a bill which has long been an important bill to the Election Administrators of …
We the People: Taking back local control
There is so much to write about I am not sure where to start. Today we had a morning where business owners from across the state here to tell legislators what needed to be done to revitalize Montana’s economy. This…
Keeping in Touch: Legislature starts up
On Monday, January 3, 2010, the 62nd Legislature will convene at noon in both the House and Senate Chambers. At this time, 100 House Representatives and the newly elected Senators will officially be sworn into offi…
Keeping in Touch: session approaching
While these December days are filled with bazaars, shopping plans, baking (and eating), decorating, singing carols, gathering together with friends and families, school programs, opportunities to help others and ti…
Food for thought: The holidays-a time for joy, a time for forgiveness
This is an article that I wrote last year. Some of you have asked me to print it again for the Christmas season.
We the people: a question not asked... until now
A few weeks ago I was talking with Hot Springs area rancher Kim Baker, President of Montana Cattlemen’s Association, about depredation of livestock. Since we have seen an increase in wolf depredation in Montana I …
Layer up to beat the cold this winter
It’s that time of year when you can’t just throw on the bath robe and run outside for the mail. You can’t walk your dog in your slippers and you can’t survive more than a few minutes before you’re iced over from yo…