Page 22 - Flathead Beacon // 4.30.14

22 | APRIL 30, 2014
FLATHEADBEACON.COM

OPINION

TOP 10

LETTERS
levies would help improve our economy, these days. Why should we send another
ONLINE STORIES
better prepare students for their futures, corrupt one?
and do so at a minimal cost.
Tami Rose

Greg Gianforte, CEO and founder of Marion
Right Now Technologies, recently spoke
FLATHEADBEACON.COM
at our Economic Outlook program and FOREST NOMINATIONS CAN
HOLDING LIBERAL said, “Looking to the next 20 years, I have HELP END GRIDLOCK
REPUBLICANS ACCOUNTABLE
become convinced that the high-tech The recently passed Farm Bill
Every two years we hear the The Firm
industry represents the largest single provided an opportunity for states to
same hysterical protests from liberal opportunity for Montana to create the assist the Forest Service in getting much
Republican legislators, when their voting Raising Awareness most number of high-paying jobs for all needed work done on federal land. States
as Autism Diagnoses
records are exposed by our “Taxpayer Increase
Montana communities.” Not every child had 60 days to designate appropriate
Advisory Bulletin” ratings. Florida is destined for a career in technology, but lands to the agency. Our governor, Steve
resident Jesse O’Hara’s guest column Whiteish Mountain the pervasiveness of technology in every Bullock, did a wonderful job reallocating
in the Flathead Beacon was a perfect Resort Undergoing facet of education and the workplace resources to meet this timeline.
example.
$2.4 Million in means that we need to keep pace.
Bullock enlisted help from his staf, the
O’Hara called the ratings “concocted.” Improvements
The leadership at Kalispell Schools Department of Natural Resources and
I’d like to know how one “concocts” 75 is doing a great job of pushing forward Conservation, the Forest Service and an
oicially recorded votes from the House Flathead Runners ad-hoc group of stakeholders. The lands
Complete Historic on student performance and success.
andSenateloors.Thesevotesshowthat Boston Marathon Year Graduation rates are increasing, designated were based on hard data
in every session, there is a solid block After Attack
enrollment is increasing, drop-out collected annually by the Forest Service
of Republicans, including O’Hara, who rates are declining. The technology and match their analysis of current
consistently side with the Democrats – Lifelong Adventurer improvements they are requesting will conditions.
creating a working majority for the Dems Eyes Whiteish for New beneit every child and educator in the Now critics have surfaced, making
that makes it almost impossible to pass school system whether it is through a variety of claims ranging from getting
any mainstream Republican legislation Mountain Academy
technology used in the classroom or no notice of what was going on to not
Grappling with
(school choice, tax cuts, etc.).
new and expanded digital curriculum being invited to the table. The Farm Bill
Voting records cannot be refuted. Technology Demands, oferings.
deliberations went on for months and
So O’Hara’s only “defense” is to resort to Kalispell Schools Seek The high school levy would cost the were widely publicized. Once the bill
Democrat-style name calling, using the Funding Boost
average homeowner about $1 per month. was passed, most Montana newspapers
epithet “extremist” nine times to describe The elementary levy would cost about ran a story detailing substantive points.
GOP conservatives. Name calling is Harsh Winter and $2.40 per month. These are minimal Anyone who claims to be a champion of
always the last refuge for those who have Freight Traic Leave amounts considering what we pay for the forested lands had no reason not to
no arguments.
Farmers Waiting
know of Farm Bill provisions. Given the
the other needs of our children and the
Pay close attention to what is New Life for the Old importance of technology to the future of 60-day timeframe, there was no way to
happening here. Montana Conservatives Steel Bridge
our children and our community.
convene all of Montana. Bullock did the
provide exhaustive voting record We urge you to vote “Yes” on the best he could with the constraints he
information, and ask the simple question, Building Tall with levies and return your mail-in ballots by faced. Montanans owe him and the group
“Why elect a Republican if he is going to Wood Supports Rural May 6.
he worked with a “thank you,” not shrill
vote like a big-government Democrat?” America
criticism.
Our solution is to work within the party Joe Unterreiner, president For Montanans who want to work
primary system, by nominating GOP Tourist Season together to address our ailing national
Is Coming. Are You Kalispell Chamber of Commerce
candidates who are better aligned to the Ready?
forests, Bullock’s forest nominations
core values of the party platform.
RECORD DOESN’T MATCH to the federal government are a breath
By contrast, O’Hara and his cohorts RHETORIC
of fresh air and ofer new hope that we
openly support Democrats in the general I was really disappointed recently can inally move past the gridlock of the
election, whenever they judge their to read the letter from Gregg Trude, past 25 years. For those of us who are
party’s nominee “too conservative.” In executive director of Montana Right to coming to the table to ind new ways to
the last PSC-3 race, for example, eight of Life. In his letter, Mr. Trude stated that all not only provide wood for our mills, but LETTERS
Tell us what you think. To submit a
these “Republicans,” including O’Hara, of the candidates seeking the Republican also restore our key isheries and wildlife letter, please e-mail your submission
publicly endorsed ultra-liberal Democrat nomination for U.S. Congress are pro-life, habitat, these nominations by Bullock to [email protected]. Please
John Vincent over Republican Roger but made speciic reference to Ryan Zinke will give us the opportunity to build keep your letter to 300 words or less.
Koopman.
as extra pro-life.
projects together, without sacriicing The Flathead Beacon reserves the right
If this doesn’t tell you who the real Unfortunately, for Mr. Trude, Mr. science or public input. It is ironic that the to edit letters for length, clarity and
and loyal Republicans are, nothing ever Zinke and Montana Right to Life, the loudest critics are those few individuals to prevent libel. Letters must include
will. The self-described “responsible” facts surrounding this claim are quite the who never collaborate, only litigate. Why the writer’s irst and last name, phone
(read: left wing) Republicans can ling contrary. Mr. Zinke may have carried a would anyone think to invite them to number and address for veriication
purposes. Only the name and hometown
all the mud they want at the conservative pro-life bill in the state Legislature, but the table, the only place they show up is of the writer will be printed. To mail a
center of their party, but mainstream he fails to mention that he also received a at the courthouse! All they want to do is letter, please send to 217 Main Street,
Republican voters aren’t buying their positive rating from NARAL Pro-Choice stop others from trying to ind common Kalispell, MT 59901.
baloney any longer.
Montana after killing several pro-life ground.
Fax letters to (406) 257-9231.
bills. Most recently, in February, Mr. The Farm Bill was a bipartisan
Scott Orr, president Zinke told a women’s group in Billings directive to help the Forest Service and CORRECTIONS
Montana Conservatives
that he in fact supports abortion in the asked others to join in that efort. Bullock If a Beacon story includes a factual
error, please tell us about it. Call
irst trimester. Is that the new pro-life?
and everyone who helped him managed to Kellyn Brown at 257-9220; or e-mail to [email protected]; or fax to
CHAMBER BOARD SUPPORTS Lastly, and possibly the most glaring ind time to accomplish a key component 257-9231.
TECH LEVY
omission from the Trude letter, is the fact of the bill. There is still project speciic
During a recent meeting, the that Mr. Trude and Mr. Zinke are actually analysis to do, but at least now we have a FLATHEADBEACON.COM
Kalispell Chamber of Commerce Board pals. Is this what the pro-life cause in chance to make progress together, what a For daily news, local community pages,
of Directors voted unanimously to Montana has been reduced to? Political refreshing thought. Thank you!
video, multimedia, story archives and
support Kalispell School’s request for a cronyism?
lively online conversation, visit our Web
technology levy. Your vote in support Honestly – we have enough political, Loren Rose, chief operating oicer site at latheadbeacon.com.

of both the elementary and high school
backroom deals going on in Washington
Pyramid Mountain Lumber