Page 28 - Flathead Beacon // 7.27.16

LIKE I WAS SAYING 30 AMERICAN RURAL 30 DRAWING BOARD 31 Viewpoints
LETTERS
Bullock Has Earned Second Term
Let’s be positive for a change. I am tired of all the negative political dis- course on TV and in the press. Aren’t you? I have heard many times that when attempting to make others appear bad you ultimately look worse. We are very fortunate to have an excellent governor in Steve Bullock. First and foremost he understands the Montana way of life and always strives to protect our state from negative outside in uence. During his current campaign for governor he has the advantage of many excellent accom- plishments during his rst term. Others have only typical political rhetoric and worn out promises.
Gov. Bullock and his wife Lisa were born and raised in Montana and their three children attend public schools. He is also a product of Montana public schools and ultimately Columbia Uni- versity School of Law. He and his wife have always called Montana home.
Let’s look back at Gov. Bullock’s accomplishments and leadership. During his rst term as governor JP Morgan rec- ognized Montana as the most scally prudent state in the nation. Montana has no debt and has a $300 million reserve which can be used for emergencies such as forest res, ooding and other natu- ral disasters. Our state has been consis- tently ranked among the top 10 in the nation for entrepreneurship, overall business tax climate, tax fairness and personal income growth. Gov. Bullock has worked with both Democrats and Republicans to balance the budget every year. Being accountable to the taxpay- ers, he has opened the state checkbook online for all Montanans to view. Gov. Bullock and his administration have worked to reduce taxes and regulations which helped Montana businesses create over 20,000 new jobs and increase per- sonal income and is among the fastest growing in the nation. He, again, brought Republicans and Democrats together to provide a ordable health care for up to 70,000 working Montanans through Medicaid expansion. Our governor, when he was Montana attorney general, fought to preserve our right to access our streams and rivers and challenged the Citizens United decision all the way to the U.S. Supreme Court. He worked to outlaw dark money in our elections and stood up to Washington and Wall Street. Gov. Bullock is a great supporter of our public schools and understands that an educated electorate is critical for a pros- perous and progressive Montana.
I could go on about his energy, work ethic and concern for all Montanans but I encourage you to go online and read
more about his accomplishments and vision for the future of Montana. He has
lawsuit to gain press for his political campaign.”
Many farmers and ranchers in Mon- tana allow shing access on their private property like Gianforte because they value their neighbors. Unfortunately, it is the out-of-state money and extremists who are wrecking the traditional rela- tionship and trust between Montana landowners and those who seek access across private property to pursue their recreational activities.
The recent ad run by the Democratic Governors Association is really an attack on Montana values cleverly disguised as a shing story. Even though Bullock may have been born in Montana, he is the candidate that is out of touch with Mon- tana values relating to public access and private property rights.
The record on this issue is clear: Gian- forte best re ects Montana values relat- ing to public access and property rights. It is Bullock who does not understand private property rights or how to develop a good relationship between landowners and those who desire access.
Hertha L. Lund Bozeman
What is True Cost of Drinking Water from Plastic Bottles?
How many folks are aware of the negative impacts of water bottled in plastic? Did you know that there are two main forms of plastic that make up plastic water bottles: Polyvinyl chloride plastics (PVC) and polycarbonate plas- tics. PVC contains the most commonly used commercial plasticizer known as phthalates and polycarbonate plastics contain a chemical called bisphenol-A (BPA). Both phthalates and bisphenol-A are known hormone disrupting chemi- cals, they mimic human hormones. Both have adverse health e ects in humans and are linked to infertility, premature puberty, asthma, allergies, menstrual cycle irregularities, breast and prostrate cancer, diabetes and obesity.
Plastic bottled water is destructive to the environment. Sixty-seven million water bottles are thrown away each day! Only 10 percent of plastic water bottles are recycled. These non-recycled bottles end up in our parks, along roadsides, in our rivers and lakes.
What if the people living here in the beautiful Flathead Valley choose to care for themselves and each other and the environment by not using or buying water in plastic bottles? Choose to pro- tect your health and the environment by using reusable glass or metal or bio- degradable or BPA and phthalate free containers for water.
Christine Dye Kalispell
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earned a second term.
Jerry Reckin Kalispell
Gianforte, Not Bullock, Has Real Montanan Values Related to Access
Often times the rst casualty in pol- itics is the truth. Currently, the Demo- crats are using out-of-state dark money to bastardize the truth relating to Greg Gianforte and stream access issues. In reality, Gianforte’s approach to stream access is the ideal balance between pub- lic access and property rights, which is where most Montanans position themselves.
Yes, it is correct that in 2009 Gian- forte led to Quiet Title against the Mon- tana Fish, Wildlife and Parks (FWP) due to a factual and legal discrepancy of where the public access should be on Gianforte’s property. This type of suit is a common tool for landowners to use in order to allow the courts to sort out these types of factual and legal issues. Instead of serving the suit, Gianforte’s attorney sent FWP letters and emails. FWP cor- rected their mistake, moved the access point, provided fencing and worked with Gianforte to allow public access and pro- tection of private property rights.
Instead of being against public access, as the Democrats are alleging in ads, and as proclaimed by Gov. Steve Bullock, Gianforte actually worked to provide the public with better access while protect- ing his property rights. This is the real Montanan position.
It is Bullock who is out of touch with Montanans. In 2012, Bullock used his position as attorney general to bully a rancher in White Sulphur Springs to provide public access over his private property where public access does not exist. This issue is still being litigated. It is Bullock who has sided with out- of-state interests and money to work against rural Montanans who are part of Montanans’ agricultural tradition. Agriculture is still the No. 1 contributor to the economy in Montana.
I wrote in an op-ed published in 2012 in the Great Falls Tribune in which I said, “Montana Attorney General Steve Bullock is misusing his o ce, being a bully and not speaking accurately regarding his plans to engender better landowner relationships with the public for access to hunting and shing while suing a family ranch for dubious pub- lic access. If Bullock really cared about Montanans and their constitutional rights, he would have attempted to use his position to negotiate a deal between the Forest Service and Zehntner, instead of using his o ce to le a questionable
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JULY 27, 2016 // FLATHEADBEACON.COM
LETTERS
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