Columns

In a recent op-ed published in several newspapers, Montana Democrat minority leaders claimed, “the harm done by a Republican supermajority drunk on power will continue to be felt for a long time.” The Democrat leaders should remember that it was Montana voters who gave Republicans a supermajority in the legislature, and for good reason.  Montana Democrats still don’t understand that a strong majority of Montanans do not support their woke liberal policies. Montanans also know that talk is cheap. While the Democrat leaders claim their priority was to cut taxes for Montana working families and provide property tax relief, only two Democrats out of 48 actually voted t...

With the weather finally warming up here for spring time, I’ve been spending a lot of time out on my tractor finishing up planting.  Every year, I plant my fields with crops like wheat, barley, peas, and millet. The days are long – Sharla and I start early in the morning and work late unt...

As our more than 9,000 students prepare to receive that honorable Montana diploma from our 173 high schools, I reflect on this past year and look forward to the next. Future graduating classes will have an increase in innovative educational opportunities. I am grateful that the 68th legislature focused on pa...

Americans have always commonly agreed that taxes are the price of a civilized society. Only relatively recently has the idea that “taxation is theft” been seriously suggested in the public discourse. People who claim not to believe in government use that belief as justification to not pay taxe...

You don’t appreciate your health - until it’s gone. Gosh this is true, and I’ve learned it the hard way a few times in my life - the most recently last Tuesday. I woke up in the middle of the night, sweating (never a good sign). My body ached and I didn’t know it yet, but the he...

Is it just me, or has life gotten more complicated? So many variables and tough decisions. So many crossroads. And it’s all happening at lightning speed.  Even on days when I don’t tune in to the cable news networks. The world feels like is spinning faster and faster on its axis. Or...

Montanans approved the legalization of marijuana for recreational use in the 2020 election. I didn’t support the initiative, but I accept the will of the people and am devoted to working within the law to benefit all citizens. Following through has not been easy. Federal law still classifies marijua...

The 68th Session of the State Legislature has ended, but the harm done by a Republican supermajority drunk on power will continue to be felt for a long time.  From the very beginning of the session, Montana Democrats made it clear that our priority was fighting for long-term solutions for our state&r...

The 68th Session of the Montana Legislature is one that every Montanan can be proud of. Voters sent a Republican supermajority to Helena and the first thing we did was return overpaid tax dollars to you as well as providing the largest tax cut in Montana state history.   As Republicans our primary co...

And so it begins. The construction crew arrived early on Monday, May 1 and started tearing out the ceiling and built-in circulation desk. The space looks so huge when it’s empty. Our library staff has worked so hard over the past few months to pack up and move out everything we want to save from the bu...