Just 90 days into his role as Montana’s sole congressman, Representative Steve Daines has expressed support for legislation that will protect 400,000 acres of Forest Service lands on the western boundary of Glacier National Park. To say that this is a landmark occasion might be an understatement. Daines is to be commended for his actions, […]

When the Beacon conducted an unscientific poll that asked our online readers if the effects of sequestration were being overhyped, 80 percent of the 225 voters who responded said “yes.” That may be a small sampling but it also reflects the majority of opinions I’ve received in letters and emails. That is, federal agencies and […]

By John Fuller The Cyprus government recently confiscated 40 percent of people’s savings by fiat. Could such theft of the people’s wealth ever be done here? Yes and no. We have constitutional and judicial protections from such blatant theft. However, the government stealing your money can be done in other ways. One of those ways […]

The Texas district attorney and assistant district attorney are assassinated along with his wife. The media blurbs that “… it must be the white supremacist, KKK.” Where do they get this information? The left wing is toying with disaster, and no one recognizes its infantile behavior. The American people should be wary and see if […]

Throughout the 63rd Legislative Session, members of both parties have touted their efforts to create jobs and strengthen Montana’s economy. Whether it is reducing tax burdens on small business or making new investments in education, there is good news coming out of the Legislature. But occasionally ideas emerge that are contrary to the goal of […]

Speaker of the House Mark Blasdel, R-Somers, and Senate President Jeff Essmann, R-Billings, are unlikely to let Montana expand access to free federal health care for nearly 70,000 Montanans. The federal Affordable Care Act budgeted free Medicaid health insurance expansion to all citizens with incomes of less than $15,400 annually. The catch being that the […]

You’ve probably seen this AP image contrasting the crowds at St. Peter’s in Rome over the last eight years. Note: Print readers, see the image at http://www.flatheadbeacon.com/images/uploads/Changes2005vs2013-294×300.png The first photo was taken by Luca Bruno in 2005 during preparations for the public viewing of Pope John Paul II’s body – almost two years before the […]

A case could be made that the false impression many Americans have in regards to “assault weapons” is the direct result of both the NRA misrepresenting them (beginning in the late ‘80’s through to the present) and not holding educators of U.S. history accountable for incomplete or revisionist history. When assault weapons were first widely […]

It’s always interesting to see what stories coming out of the Montana Legislature make the wires, become national news stories and draw chuckles or derision or both. The latest item to surface in metro newspapers is about legislation proposed by Kalispell Republican Rep. Steve Lavin, which would allow residents here to salvage big game killed […]

By John Fuller Amidst the debate and growing movement to abolish the death penalty, several facts are ignored. Opponents of capital punishment claim that execution is not a deterrent, is too expensive, too great a risk of a mistake, cruel or unusual, and it takes too long. These are not moral arguments against capital punishment. […]

I am having a hard time understanding why any of the Flathead County commissioners are dragging their feet on agreeing to a new site for the Agency on Aging. The AOA provides many services to our elderly citizens. The need to have a safe and adequate building to do this job is important to all […]

Montanans are tired of dirty politics, nasty mud-slinging campaigns, and personal attacks. I believe they’re even more disgusted with the fact that many of these tactics are hidden inside dark money organizations that are unaccountable to the voting public. In addition Montana voters need to know that their voice counts most, and we need to […]

I’m getting a new computer. This time, I dang well will set it up to lessen the amount of information going out, as it seems like Al Gore’s Internet is learning a little too much about Dave. Why else would I see so many obviously-targeted adverts for guns, politics, AARP and bikini contests? Trust me, […]

So…it’s almost the end of March. Seems like the day before yesterday, the new year started. Like many, you probably thought over some goals for the new year and made plans to make them happen. Maybe you even got started on the work required. But again, it’s almost the end of March and in just […]

According to Montana’s Board of Oil and Gas we now have over 11,000-plus active oil and gas wells in Montana, which include 750 new wells in the Bakken since 2000. It appears that the saying “If you have it, they will come” rings true with oil and gas. Unfortunately for Montana taxpayers, in 1999 our […]