After four decades of collaborative effort, protection of the watershed of the North Fork of the Flathead River from mineral or energy development is almost a reality. On June 5, 2013, Congressman Steve Daines introduced the North Fork Watershed Protection Act to our nation’s House of Representatives and made a commitment to “lead the charge” […]

We’ve all seen it in print, or heard it on television. The phrase is used so often that it’s easy to gloss over. Everyone from politicians to celebrities says it: “I can neither confirm nor deny.” They are likely responding to an inquiry or accusation, to which they don’t want to answer. Even though they […]

By Joe Carbonari When we are seriously sick we seek treatment. If we are economically stretched, we figure out how to pay for it later. We regain our strength, and we return to work as soon as possible. Most of us need to work to earn – and most of us need to earn to […]

The 1979 Montana Legislature passed legislation requiring the state to negotiate a quantification of the water rights claimed by the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes (CSKT) as prescribed in the 1855 Hellgate Treaty. The CSKT water compact is the result of the negotiations between the state of Montana, the CSKT and the federal government. This […]

I must be getting old, because now I’m starting to see things come full circle. Around 1980, after the Trans-Alaska Pipeline began pumping, a Northern Tier Pipeline was proposed. NTP was to be laid from Port Angeles, Wash., to, I think, Clearbrook, Minn., where it would hook into the eastern petroleum pipeline system. I immediately […]

Do you depend on having the best price to win business? If so, are you sure that’s really how you want people to choose your company? I ask that because if you cut your price 10%, that 10% comes out of your profit margin. Perhaps obvious, but not always something folks pay attention to – […]

The events leading to the cancellation of this year’s Great Northern Beer Barter were unfortunate. In order to meet all of the conditions set forth by the Whitefish City Council for the beer barter’s special event permit, we were required to sign an indemnification provision. As our insurance company stated, had we signed the provision, […]

After reading the various letters from the editors of our local newspapers it is fairly obvious that the editors have missed the point regarding the appointment of Lt. Governor John Walsh to fill the seat left vacant by Sen. Max Baucus. Yes, of course, Gov. Steve Bullock has the obligation and responsibility to appoint a […]

If you’ve been watching the Winter Olympics, you’ve likely seen the commercial for consumer goods giant P&G. It shows children falling, his or her mom picking them up, the children growing up, falling some more, and ends with their mother embracing them as their son or daughter accomplishes their lifelong dream – in this case, […]

By Joe Carbonari Gov. Steve Bullock took action that he knew would engender severe partisan attack. He did this because he considered it the right thing to do. It took courage. It was not simply a partisan decision. In 2006 Jon Tester won a close election against incumbent Sen. Conrad Burns that was instrumental in […]

The first few weeks in 2014 have already proven interesting. Starting the year off at 94 cents U.S., the Canadian dollar fell to 89.85 cents on Jan. 23, the lowest in four-and-a-half years. This begs the questions: Has the bottom fallen out of the high Canadian dollar? Has the Flathead Valley’s good luck finally run […]

Daytime temperatures at the Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia, reached 61 degrees. The same day national news warned about a super storm at lower latitudes and 6,000 miles away in Virginia. News said to prepare for a “catastrophic event,” calling it a “beast of a storm.” This month’s local climate rally was bitter cold in […]

There are a few commonly-used phrases in business conversation that raise the hair on my neck. Here are three of my favorites, along with one (‘innovation’) that we hear bandied about in the tech press on what seems like an hourly basis. Industry Norms Best Practices Human Capital Innovation They sound like such good things, […]

Although not unanticipated, the news of Gov. Steve Bullock’s appointment of John Walsh to the vacated Senate seat of Max Baucus is a glaring example of the self- serving corruption we suffer here in Montana. It confirms partisan politics means more to our governor, senator and senatorial candidate than genuine concern for Montana and our […]

Petitions are circulating to put Initiative 168 on the November ballot. This “Sunshine in Political Spending Act” is “to bring integrity back to Montana politics through transparency and accountability of political contributions and expenditures…” Do we want to be a nation of, by and for secret PACs, or a land of, by and for the […]