Montana is lucky that cities like Whitefish, Columbia Falls and Kalispell do not suddenly close local parks or defund the health department in ideological fights over another law. State fiscal analysts project that Gov. Steve Bullock is faced with another two-year budget surplus, this time over $500 million. Former Gov. Brian Schweitzer maintained an average […]

What does being professional mean to you? To some, it means “Not being an amateur”. So how does the public differentiate amateurs from professionals? In some circles, money is the key. Amateurs don’t get paid, professionals do. For example, an amateur golfer typically isn’t eligible for prize money in tournaments. Once they decide to go […]

Rather than viewing the recent slight uptick in the economy and leveling off in the national debt as a harbinger of a positive future, John Snow believes it is diverting national attention from the debt crisis that continues to pose a mortal threat to our country. Snow, who served as U.S. Secretary of the Treasury […]

Amidst the stalemate that has befallen our federal government, it is refreshing to see a bipartisan approach stand up to the test of Congress. Recently, the Congressional House Natural Resources Subcommittee on Public Lands and Environment Regulation heard from Congressman Steve Daines, and Whitefish City Councilman John Anderson, on the value and importance of our […]

Now in the second week of the “shutdown,” I believe that the true agenda of the Obama administration and his extremist cronies in the congressional Democratic leadership (Reid, Pelosi, Schumer) has never been more clear. They insist on maintaining their “no negotiation” stance despite efforts by conservatives to fund for mandatory items. We’ve seen the […]

By John Fuller In recent days during the government shutdown and continuing-resolution fiasco, Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) became a household name for his 21-hour speech on the floor of the U.S. Senate. Like James Stewart in “Mr. Smith Goes to Washington,” Cruz attempted to persuade the Senate, Congress and the nation of the necessity of […]

With our U.S. debt and liberal entitlements front and center in Washington these days, our inability to hammer out sensible and responsible solutions, both here in Montana and in Washington, is ultimately going to be blamed on the split in the Republican Party if we’re not careful. Most Republicans have common goals: limited government, fewer […]

I’m probably supposed to write something about the dysfunction in Washington, D.C. You know, how the government shut down, closed Glacier National Park and furloughed a bunch of federal employees. But you’ve likely read enough about that, and my opinion is unlikely to change yours. Instead, as I read about political gridlock, this “new normal,” […]

Two big and four tiny Green groups have filed an Endangered Species Act petition (yep, another one) with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS), seeking to list the northern Rockies fisher, at least the second attempt to do so. But I’ll bet my second-favorite rifle this petition is more about political leverage than it […]

In response to the Oct. 2 Uncommon Ground article, titled “Grandma’s Values,” it’s easy for all of us to identify with the ideas put forth about our grandmas’ values. But in our opinion, grandma would want us to lay all her values on the table and she would caution her grandchildren to avoid the urge […]

Last time, we discussed the often forgotten reason for showrooming that happens after price shopping: convenience and time/fuel savings. Remember Kübler-Ross’ five stages of grief? If you’ve forgotten, they are denial, anger, bargaining, depression and acceptance. When applied to showrooming, it isn’t much different. Acceptance and the clarity that accompanies it are where the sales […]

As the president of American Federation of Government Employees Local 2609 at Malmstrom Air Force Base I feel it is my responsibility to speak out about the recent government shutdown and the furloughs that accompany it. There are 11,000-plus civil service employees in Montana affected by the furlough. This is because the House of Representatives […]

One of the most positive aspects of the proposed water compact with the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes is the Unitary Management Board. It creates a local entity for the processing of new uses of water on the reservation. This is a huge improvement over a process dealing with two governments competing for water that […]

By John Fuller The first of October is a triple whammy for Congress and the nation. Since the Democrats have refused to pass a budget for five years, a Continuing Resolution (CR) needs to be passed, Obamacare becomes operative, and the debt ceiling is going to be reached, necessitating either cuts in spending or a […]

Ever heard the one about 95 percent of the lawyers giving all the rest of them a bad name? Well, sometimes, it seems like the same is true for bicyclists. I’ve been riding a bicycle around Montana for 40 years and along the way I’ve had way too many conflicts with motorists. One point that […]