Opinion
If a public information request becomes too costly for an individual or organization to pursue, that, in essence, means constitutional access to public documents is denied. On May 8, Gov. Greg Gianforte signed into law House Bill 100, which was requested by the Department of Administration, and sponsored by Rep. Bill Mercer of Billings. The bill amends Montana’s public record laws by defining fees a public agency may charge when responding to a request, setting an hourly fee limit, establishing response deadlines for certain agencies, and creating a private cause of action when the agency fails to meet the set response deadline. The procedures, timelines and fees ch...
Every year, the chief actuary of the Social Security Administration (SSA) reports to Congress on how many years the program has left in the Social Security Trust Fund to fully meet the obligations of current and future beneficiaries. Last year, that number increased by a year as the economy and jobs grew und...
News from Mountain States Policy Center MONTANA - Is the liberty of American health under threat? Are Americans still free to make their health choices? The Make America Healthy Again (MAHA) movement would have you believe the threat is dire, with Big Food and Big Pharma’s crony capitalism pervasi...
Editor, Many thanks to those who have pitched in to make Polson look especially sharp this spring. For example: – Our own Flathead Lake monster is now “swimming” in her own bright blue sea in Sacagawea Park. I watched a little girl (and heard her laugh) as she climbed on the bro...
“I did it!” Six letters total to form three very small, very simple words, to create one of the shortest sentences in history, but when is the last time you uttered them together in a sentence? “I did it.” I’m spending a couple weeks with my two-year-old grandson and I&...
Editor, Senator Daines wants to grow our economy and support the strongest innovation ecosystem in the world. In order to meet these goals, the Senate must keep the clean energy tax credits in the budget bill. Don’t take my word for it. Here is what John Ketchum, CEO of NextEra Energy-the nation&...
Editor I’m reversing what I wrote. President Trump is doing what he was elected to do. He is trying to make America great again. If the president feels that he needs to mobilize the national guard during a crisis then he should be allowed to. So President Trump keep up the good work. Lynn Deleca...
What if there was something that 100 percent of us could benefit from having in our lives? What if that something was not chocolate, coffee or wine? What sort of entity would this be? A radiant sunrise or the perfect vacation? Maybe your soul mate or a favorite pet? Finally finding your dream job...
Editor, “You may say I’m a dreamer…but I’m not the only one…” (John Lennon). Need some good news? Here you go: Most people still support: the Constitution, the Statue of Liberty, free speech, the 4th Estate, separation of church and state, separation of power...
We are living in serious times. And, while I don’t want to demean or diminish the seriousness of all the seriousness, I have one piece of advice that I hope can benefit us all. Sometimes, the best thing you can do for yourself is laugh. You read that right. In the midst of the dire, soberin...
