Page 26 - Flathead Beacon // 3.18.15

26 | MARCH 18, 2015 OPINION
LETTERS
THE GOVERNMENT WE DESERVE
It’s been a doozy of a run in Montana politics lately, which has put Big Sky Country in a cringe-worthy light on the national stage once again.
First, there was the “yoga pants should be illegal” debacle, thanks to state Rep. David Moore.
Then there was state Rep. Art Wittich deciding that winning the election to represent his Bozeman district counted more than the in-person testimony of dozens of Montanans on the life-and- death issue of Medicaid.
Finally, U.S. Sen. Steve Daines signed an open letter to Iran’s leaders that clearly violates international law and the Logan Act with the bonus of giving the dangerous impression that some of our lawmakers don’t have their act together. And Iran wasn’t shy about pointing that out.
I guess we get the government we
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deserve.
Cherilyn DeVries Kalispell
effective water source in Whitefish for a long time. The drawback has always been that it comes from private land. The Stoltze family and their company have been and are excellent neighbors. But in the longer term view, they may not always own the land. We are at a moment in time when it is possible to accomplish something that will not be here again. Let’s not allow it to slip through our fingers.
If you have specific questions about this ballot measure, there is a website that has a great deal of information regarding the issue. It is protectwhitefishwater.org. I encourage everyone to vote when your ballot arrives on April 8 and vote yes to secure our future water.
Mike Jenson, chairman Vote YES for Water! Protect Haskill Basin
LAND WATER CONSERVATION FUND VITAL TO MONTANA BUSINESSES
Montana businesses rely on a host of vital elements in their effort to stay relevant and productive in their respective fields. Education, technology, access to talent and materials, all play a part in any successful business. In Montana, however, there is another vital piece of the economic puzzle. That piece is our public lands and access to them, supported enormously by the Land Water Conservation Fund.
The Land Water Conservation Fund has protected local and national parks, working forests, historic landmarks and wildlife refuges in Montana and across the nation for 50 years, and yet it is under threat of disappearing in September of this year if Congress doesn’t get behind its reauthorization, being pushed for by our own Sen. Jon Tester.
Tester’s effort at reauthorization for LWCF comes on the heels of his appearance at the recent Haymakers Summit, where he spoke directly to the benefit Montana businesses gain through our public lands, in their decision to create and expand their businesses in Montana, and their ability to create high value, good paying jobs that bring investment to our communities.
Our public lands and the opportunities they bring are the reason people want to be here, and should be served with a resource that works fiercely and effectively to protect them.
LWCF is a vital piece of our public land protection and nurturing that has no bearing on Montana taxpayers, yet yields undeniable returns. The program has served Montana successfully for more than half a century by protecting access to our mountains and streams, preserving vital habitat, and making sure that our natural assets have a future.
I head a high-tech, Ecommerce consultancy based in Whitefish. The salaries we pay and the money we bring in from out of state supports our employee’s families and the broad community we purchase our goods and services from. Competition for the top talent we need to grow our business is high. The most
valuable asset we have for recruitment is this “brand” we call Montana, and its incredible outdoor space.
It is clear to Tester that LWCF reauthorization is worth fighting for. We encourage the rest of Congress to follow suit, doing right by their responsibility to local economies and future generations.
Reed Gregerson, president The ZaneRay Group, Whitefish
WHO’S THE BROTHERS’ KEEPER IN THE HOUSE?
Sometimes there comes along an event that reveals the cold, calculated and immoral soul of human beings. One such moment came recently in the Montana House Committee for Human Services. In a blatant disregard for the Montanans that traveled as much as eight hours to testify and the 70,000 other Montanans who cannot afford health care in our state, the chairman of the Human Services Committee and his cronies chose to kill the Medicaid expansion bill.
This critical moment lays open for all Montanans to see the view of many members of the Montana Republican Party: They don’t care about anyone other than their corporate and ideological backers. And what have they accomplished aside for their open disdain for those in need? According to Mark Semmens, managing director of D.A. Davidson Co., “the expansion would bring an estimated $5 billion of new revenue into Montana over the next 6 years and create 12,000 jobs.”
According to attendees, there was no expert opinion voiced in opposition in this committee hearing. No one testified on health care or budget matters related to the bill, only those who simply espoused the belief that government cannot help its citizens. By virtually every economic, moral and health care indicator, the expansion of Medicaid is a positive move for Montana. The actions of the Republican-led Human Services Committee were despicable. Any citizen or political party that ignores the plight of the poor, the neglected, the aged and considers the unemployed as leeches to society, has lost its soul. I hope their constituents take notice.
David R. James Eureka
CORRECTION
The U.S. Forest Service is not recommending that the black-backed woodpecker be listed as a species of conservation concern, as was stated in last week’s story, “Flathead National Forest Unveils Vision for Future Management.” The black-backed woodpecker is being recommended as a species of public interest for viewing.
FORMER MAYOR ENDORSES HASKILL PROTECTION
I was asked recently why I would get involved with another political event. After all, I pretty much retired from politics after my last term as mayor. Many of you know I have avoided involvement in several very good organizations and causes in that effort to retire. This is different.
There is an opportunity for Whitefish this spring that is fleeting and essential – the chance to fund a permanent land conservation agreement in Haskill Basin that will protect our drinking water. In my mind this ballot issue regarding our resort tax is neither political nor a cause. It is only about securing the cleanest and most cost effective water possible. Not just for those here now, but for generations in the future who will benefit from permanent access to the best water source we have.
Most of you know that our resort tax has done great things for Whitefish and it has overwhelming support. This effort and special ballot issue is worthy of that continued support for use of the final one percent we are allowed. And that one percent will have even more meaning when we shop and eat locally in Whitefish.
There are ancillary benefits to this ballot measure to be sure. Some of these are property tax relief, recreation, viewshed, wildlife habitat, as well as continued timber jobs through F.H. Stoltze Land and Lumber Co. I do not want to make light of these – they are very important. Make no mistake however: the overriding issue before us is water. This is our opportunity to permanently protect our water source in Haskill Basin.
We have enjoyed a clean and cost
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CORRECTIONS
If a Beacon story includes a factual error, please tell us about it. Call Kellyn Brown at 257-9220; or e-mail to [email protected]; or fax to 257-9231.
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