Since adoption of Montana’s 1972 constitution our governors have vetoed 293 bills in 21 legislative sessions. More than half the vetoes, however, 149, have been cast in just the last two sessions. What’s going on? Well, Democrats say the Tea Party takeover of the Republicans has resulted in passage of a tidal wave of extremist […]

I’ve always been a sucker for spy novels. Give me some intrepid Brit or American buckling swash (secretly) in some Commie totalitarian cesspool, and I’m good, especially if KGB blood spills. So I was in the library looking for another good spy read when “The Way of the Knife” caught my eye. But it’s nonfiction […]

Nothing destroys a work day like distractions. Ever realize that it’s “suddenly” dinner time and all you remember doing since lunch is reading Facebook? That’ll show up nicely on a deposit slip. Hello, stress. Distractions are a product of your work environment, your work habits and how those two things are communicated to others. Your […]

We’ve seen a lot of handwringing over coal trains lately. But frankly, railroads are an essential part of Montana’s growth, more now than probably since the first tracks were laid in the state more than 100 years ago. Whether coal trains, grain trains, lumber trains, or oil trains – it’s all good for Montana. It’s […]

Not much gets accomplished in American politics as the raging battle between the two political parties has gone on for my entire lifetime (70 years.) I started following politics as a very young lad (8 years old) who read the newspaper daily and watched TV news and met my first U.S. president, General Dwight David […]

By John Fuller The establishment of political parties was not an intended consequence in the creation of this Republic. But parties were the predictable result of the struggle for ratification and implementation of the new Constitution. Since that time, we have had a two-party system with a remarkable consistency of constituency. The Federalists-Whigs-Republicans have generally […]

Each year, before walking across a stage for a handshake and a diploma, graduates sit quietly as their top-performing classmates give them a pep talk. Then it’s the commencement speaker’s turn to tell the students the best way to follow their dreams, conquer their goals and live their lives to the fullest. While well intentioned, […]

News of non-approved genetically engineered wheat discovered growing in Oregon put regulators on high alert. With the bulk of Montana wheat exported and Japan and North Korea temporarily suspending orders of western white wheat, markets and farmers were shaky. All GMO wheat related questions were directed to Washington D.C. Montana grows some white wheat, but […]

During a recent trip to Oregon, our journey took us to a dockside seafood restaurant in Newport. As you can see from the photo below, this restaurant offers fresh local seafood in addition to meals made with the local catch. Print readers, see http://www.flatheadbeacon.com/images/uploads/freshlocalsalmon.jpg Take another look at the sign used to describe this salmon. […]

On behalf of the Whitefish Legacy Partners board, we would like to express our gratitude for your support of our conservation, recreation and education work. With your support this year, we plan to build 4.5 more miles as well as maintain the existing 22 miles of the Whitefish Trail. More than 40 local businesses and […]

By John Fuller In 1961, America embarked upon the social practice known as “affirmative action.” It was intended to assist minority, underclass and/or underprivileged groups based on race, gender, or age overcome “overt historical discriminations.” Despite several Supreme Court decisions limiting affirmative action implementation and a much anticipated case (Fisher v. Univ. of Texas) soon […]

Fossil fuel development is not going to develop Montana’s economy. Oil and coal companies are greatly overvalued, according to a new report by the Carbon Tracker Initiative. According to the report, if we are going to keep the Earth’s temperature from increasing more than 2 degrees Celsius, the limit which scientists have said is the […]

For many years, Montana has developed our natural resources – we can think of timber in western Montana, copper in Butte, coal throughout many parts of the state and again a resurgence of oil and gas in eastern Montana. At their economic peaks, each energy industry has created a quick demand for additional services and […]

It’s construction season in Montana and, while at times maddening, it’s at once a welcome sight. As the nation’s infrastructure continues to crumble, our state is spending $372 million building and repairing roads and bridges through the fall – a hefty and much-needed sum. With the collapse of the Interstate 5 bridge crossing the Skagit […]

It comes as no surprise that much of the budget surplus that Montana has enjoyed for the last eight years has come from energy and natural resource development. Oil and gas efforts across Montana, especially our eastern most counties, have provided opportunity across the state and revenue flows to help fund our government services on […]