Opinion
Editor, There are now multiple bills threatening to become law in Montana against people who are transgender. Although there are different explanations for each of these bills, what seems to be at the heart of all of these bills is a prejudice against people who are transgender. In other words, legislators are chipping away at the rights of an individual to live their lives. When did it become OK to get into someone else’s business? We’re talking about trusting a doctor to make the best decisions with their patients. We’re talking about allowing sports organizations in schools, colleges and universities to make the best decisions for their athletes. Why i...
Editor, A year ago, I was wheeling my car into a space in the Costco parking lot when I became aware of an argument nearby. I turned and saw the reason. Two men had been backing their rigs out at the same time and had collided with one-another. Each blamed the other for the collision. With their language ...
Editor, In a way, the governor’s House Bill 102 is a good thing, and in a way, it’s not. The one thing that he should have not done is allowing Montana citizens to now be able to carry a concealed weapon into a bars, casinos, banks and into Montana state government buildings. As far as the col...
Editor, Winston Churchill said, “Healthy citizens are the greatest asset any country can have.” When my car needs repair, I go to a mechanic. For tax advice, I go to a financial professional. When I need healthcare, I go to a doctor. I don’t go to a legislator for these needs. Coun...
In 2012, Governor Sam Brownback convinced the Kansas Legislature to enact sweeping tax cut legislation. The plan was billed as a “shot of adrenaline to the heart of the Kansas economy.” As a Republican member of the Kansas House of Representatives at the time, I was intrigued by the proposal but ...
Editor, During the past 14 years of bipartisan government in Montana, the Republicans and Democrats have had to cooperate to enact legislation that both parties could support. Politicians were willing to work across the aisle for the good of Montana. This no longer appears to be the case. The un...
Editor, I read the article in last week’s Valley Journal “ Can Montana Get a Grip on Addiction.” That article seemed to only address cures and treatment of an issue that is not the primary problem but rather a symptom of other problems/issues. Many of these issues are ones th...
The Valley Journal re-printed an informational article from the Montana Free Press newspaper on Feb. 10 related to Lake County’s attempt to have the Temporary Tribal Tax Exemption statute repealed by the 2021 legislature. I would like to clarify some of the points raised in the article. The Temporar...
Editor, Our democracy is in serious peril. Donald Trump caused a total focus on the self. His public expressions of loudly blaming others for his own mistakes has resonated with millions who were delighted with this way of thinking. This formed the Trump base. Blaming others is common in humans, ...
Editor, Senate Bill 169 is very disturbing. If it passes, it changes our voter registration and voting laws to require that voters provide a state-issued identification card in order to vote. Under the guise of “voter protection” (there have been no proven cases of voter fraud in M...
