Opinion
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Financial relief is on the way
One of my top priorities this legislative session has been to provide financial relief to Montana taxpayers as families throughout our state are struggling with inflation and the high cost of living....
Montana legislature missing golden opportunity to secure Montana primacy over water
As a third-generation rancher from Big Sandy, I am absolutely aware of the importance of water, water rights and the protection of Montana’s primacy over the water resources of this state. That is why I have traveled to Helena to testify in both t...
Legislative Report
4-1-23 Happy birthday Granddaughter Kass, six years old April 1! It’s been a full week, starting with the floor session last Saturday. Most days this week typically started at 7:15 or so with whip m...
Legislative Report
3-24-23 Legislative day 56, Tuesday March 21st we convened our Floor session at 8 a.m. to begin presentation and debate on House Bill 2, which I described last week in some detail. HB2 is the...
Taking care of injured and killed officers and their families
In recent years talk of defunding the police has been popular in other states, but our Montana values run contrary to that line of thinking. We believe in supporting those who put their lives on the...
Legislative Report
3-18-23 It was a privilege this morning, Saturday March 18, to attend the Governor’s Prayer Breakfast. It wasn’t held last legislative session because of Covid. The organizers were especially exc...
Legislative Report
3-10-23 As noted last week, transmittal break began Friday March 3rd. Sunday afternoon I was able to attend a legislative forum in Miles City sponsored by their local Patriot Group. It was great to...
Letter to the editor
Dear Editor, With Montana being #3 in the the union with deaths by Suicide. And the fact that Farmers and Ranchers are 2 to 1 more likely to commit suicide than other professions. It’s a subject that needs to be addressed. We certainly don’t wan...
Legislative Report
3-3-23 After a short morning floor session and 71 3rd reading bills, we adjourned the 45th legislative day and began transmittal break. First fun thing about this break is to knock out a short report...
Legislative Report
2-24-23 President’s Day, Monday February 20th our floor session was dedicated to listening to our Congressional delegation. It was interesting to hear four different perspectives on the state of o...
AG Knudsen supports bill to ban TikTok in Montana
On Monday Montana Attorney General Austin Knudsen announced his support of Senate Bill 419, which would prohibit Chinese-owned TikTok from being downloaded on devices in Montana. TikTok collects user data that could be shared with the Chinese Communi...
Legislative Report
2-17-23 This week saw appropriations section c wrap up business for this legislative session. We approved the budgets of our respective departments. The next step in the process will be for me as...
Cracking down on foreign adversaries
One of my top priorities this legislative session is strengthening Montana’s position against hostile foreign nations like China. National security is primarily a responsibility of the federal g...
Legislative Report
2-10-23 As predicted, the days of 90 or 100 – 0 votes on the floor are going to be fewer and fewer as the session goes on. Monday started off with HB252 by Karlan that would have created another $...
Legislative Report
1-3-23 This week started off with nasty roads for many returning to the Capitol from home, tis the season! One nice thing about being a greater distance from home, I tend to not be on the roads. Fish...
An update on the first month of the legislative session
With the first month behind us in the Montana Legislature I wanted to take the time to send an update from Helena. It has been a busy and productive few weeks. As President Pro Tempore and part of...
Legislative Report
1-28-23 January is quickly coming to a close! We capped off the week in Appropriations by passing out of committee several significant tax bills. A bill to increase the tax exemption on business...
Legislative Report
1-20-2023 I failed to mention last week, we enjoyed a visit to our appropriations subcommittee, from conservation districts across the State. Steve Wanderaas, McCone County and Dean Rogge, Garfield Co...
Legislative Report
1-13-23 Friday evening already, another busy week in the bag. I may have failed to mention last week, I carried 2 bills for the Department of Transportation. The first bill I presented to the Transpor...
Legislative Report
January 6, 2023 - Swearing in kicked off the 68th session of the Montana Legislature. First of all, an apology. When the 67th session closed I wrote my last report. I intended to report interim activi...
A resource for parents coming soon to Ekalaka
Our youth make up the most valuable resource this community has. As we look into the innocent eyes of a small child or the hardened gaze of a rebellious teenager, we do not just see who they are today but who they will be. They are the next generatio...
Cultural differences
In the mid-1970s a distinguished group of hunters decided to establish a facility that would combine a museum with a center for the historical, environmental, and cultural contribution of hunting to...
Letter to the editor
Anxiety, depression, anger, relationship problems, trauma from the past, life-changing transitions and loss can make life very difficult and sometimes seem even unbearable. Every person will face struggles and difficulties in life. For some, those st...
To the voters of Carter County,
After the Supreme Court overturned Roe vs Wade, Montana reverted to a “Right to Privacy” law which allows abortions for any reason up to viability, 24 to 28 weeks. So a child, who has its own separate DNA, its own blood, its own soul, is no lon...
Dear residents of Carter County,
Upon an interesting read of last week’s Meet the Candidate article, I feel it is important to clarify a statement made by one of the candidates about the caseload in District Court here in Carter County as compared to Justice Court. While it was n...
