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Where to start? It’s a rush to the end. Day 79 is in the books. It’s that point in the session when the can can’t be kicked down the road much longer. Typically there may be several bills that are similar in their mission to accomplish relatively similar outcomes. They all have a price tag, so the job becomes one of weeding out some or all, maybe parts of several bills becoming one. Just for fun, Friday evening, a couple of other reps and I, sat in on the Senate Finance and C...
I hope everyone had a Blessed Easter. Friday after a morning floor session, Appropriations Committee, and informal appropriations get together, we were out for Easter break! After a quick change of clothes, I jumped in my pickup and headed East. Thanks to longer days I was able to pull into home shortly after dark, where I was greeted by son Brett, granddaughter Bryn and grandson Keny. Keny brought a plate of treats he had prepared and got the tv prepared with a movie to...
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 the Senate and the House in support of SB 72 pending in the Montana Legislature. SB 72 will protect and assure that Montana’s own courts will continue to have the exclusive jurisdiction over the distribution of water and water rights both before and after the adjudication of exi...
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. I’m happy to report we have already accomplished a lot on that front. With the first-ever Republican supermajority in the Legislature this session, we have passed legislation to return $764 million dollars from the state budget surplus to taxpayers via income and property tax r...
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 meetings, caucus meetings, or full Appropriations Committee meetings. This week Appropriations was every morning, break for floor sessions at one, then back to Approps after that. We typically went til six or seven, but Friday night broke at about nine p.m.. Saturday April 1 s...
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 State’s main operating budget for the coming 2024-2025 biennium, it was presented in five main sections A-E. I presented C, Natural Resources and Conservation. This budget consists of nearly 50% federal funds, primarily in Transportation and Department of Health and Human Services. T...
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 line to protect citizens every day. To that end I have recently introduced Senate Bill 294. SB 294 establishes the End of Watch Trust. The purpose of this End of Watch Trust is to make sure that we are taking care of police officers and their families if something awful should...
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 excited because it was the first time since Governor Judy Martz, that a Governor has attended. Neither Schweitzer or Bullock chose to be a part of this great event during their tenures. This year former NFL player Phil Olson was the guest speaker and was very inspiring. Rep...
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 see a full house at the local VFW and be able to join Representatives Gregg Kmetz and Gary Parry. Great citizen questions and conversation was mixed with presentations by the legislators. It was nice to have a couple of quiet days at home before heading back on Wednesday. Thursday...
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 then go take the Grandkids to the Flying Giant trampoline park before heading home tomorrow morning. I’m not going to attempt to cover all the issues covered this week but rather focus on three bills that hit close to home in HD37. First HB 569 dealing with sheriffs, highway patro...
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 want to be anywhere in the top 10 even let alone 3rd. Our neighboring states of Wyoming at #1 and South Dakota #7 in Suicide rates makes this an even scarier fact. Also with it being calving and lambing season and Agriculture in general being a highly dangerous occupation, we need to do...
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 our country and their roles in Congress. Senator Tester’s comment about supporting the Keystone Pipeline that President Biden killed, was particularly interesting. He maintains his position that he supported it even though his vote was the deciding vote that killed Senator Daines ame...
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 Communist Party, infringing on Montanans' right to privacy, and promotes dangerous content to minors. The bill, sponsored by Sen. Shelly Vance (R-Belgrade), passed the Senate Business, Labor, and Economic Affairs Committee on Monday by a seven to three vote following testimony from Monta...
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 Chair to present these recommendations to the appropriations committee as a whole. At that point the recommendations can be accepted or amended and entered into House Bill 2, the big budget, for presentation to the entire House later in the session. As part of the Department of...
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 government, but as a Marine who served in Iraq, I believe elected officials at all levels of government should be improving our security. One thing we can do at the state level is work to keep our adversaries out of our critical infrastructure. My Senate Bill 203 prohibits foreign a...
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 $4,000,000 per year suicide prevention program in schools. These bills are of course always emotional, this actually came out of committee 18-3. It was exposed in debate as redundant and expensive and fortunately died 49-51. There is a rule called reconsideration that can be used to r...
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 Senate Leadership, I have an extra responsibility to not only look out for my constituents in Eastern Montana but to also bring legislators together and think about what is best for Montana as a whole. I recently introduced legislation to restrict foreign adversaries, such as China...
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 Wildlife and Parks was first up in subcommittee this week. One of the points of interest for Eastern Montana, especially Garfield County, was this will be the first year of a long term lease between the Little Shell Tribe and the Army Corp of Engineers. The Little Shell Tribe has...
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 equipment from $300,000 to $1,000,000 was passed on a party line vote with all Republicans favoring the increase. This will of course also impact local governments that will have to be backfilled by the primary source of revenue collected by the State, income taxes. This should help...
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 County were among those sharing about all the work districts do to enhance our many natural resources, primarily air, water and land. Doug Bonsell from Carter County was good to stop by the House Floor and say hi, while he was taking care of some legislative business earlier in the...
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 Transportation Committee was to simplify the reporting process individuals must go through to claim gas and fuel tax refunds for use in off road activities. Summaries of account activity generated by the retailer may be used as evidence of purchases rather than having to produce copies of...
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 activity periodically. One- and one-half years sped by and here I am in Helena one week in. In the meantime, the voters of House District 37 graciously reelected me to a 2nd term. Thank you! The interim was busy. I served on the Legislative Interim Audit Committee, the Natural Resources...
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 generation; they are the ones who will lead Carter County forward in an ever-changing world. If you share a concern for our youth the question becomes, how do we set them up for the very best chance of success in life? Who is responsible for guarding and molding and investing these young h...
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 American society. I was teaching history at Chadron State College at the time. On the basis of some scattered articles on animal rights and hunting I had written as well as teaching a course on hunting's vast social impact in America, particularly in the nation's rural areas, I...
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 struggles will loom large, and sometimes even the day to day can seem very difficult to get through. For this reason, the Ekalaka Bible Church is pleased to announce it will now be offering free counseling services to the community. It is our desire to provide high quality and hope-...
