Montana is making national headlines lately, and for a very proud reason: We are one of only two states in America operating without a deficit. The state of Montana has balanced its checkbook five years in a row with no tax increases, no cuts to education or other essential services, and with $327 million in […]

People I read, work with, overhear, listen to, casually encounter (etc) seem to fall into roughly three camps regarding the current economy’s job situation: The President (Governor, Mayor, City, County, State, whatever) should give me a job or create one for me. The President (etc) should stay out of it and let natural market forces […]

Bureau of Land Management director Robert Abbey will be visiting Malta on Thursday, Sept. 17. The idea of a 2.5 million-acre, $30- to $300-million “Buffalo Commons” national monument (a proposal that became public knowledge only when part of a secret Department of Interior memo leaked in February) has the natives a little restless. Abbey has […]

Just when you think the Democrats cannot sink any lower playing the race card, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid says, “I don’t know how anyone of Hispanic heritage could be a Republican.” Coincidently Reid’s son is running for governor of Nevada against a Republican of Hispanic heritage. In fact, in the upcoming election the Republicans […]

I watched, with great interest, the “Restoring Honor” rally in Washington, D.C. on Aug. 28. Glen Beck, ultra conservative, and Sarah Palin, Tea Party champion, went on about religion in the political scene today. Beck used words and phrases like, “America today begins to turn back to God and recognize your place to the creator. […]

Despite living in a country that is perhaps more connected than ever before, there are still gross misconceptions about Montana and the rural Mountain West in general. And part of the difficulty in overcoming them is that mainstream pop culture continues to present absurd stereotypes to an impressionable audience of consumers. Last week, a producer […]

It’s very disheartening to hear Eric Feaver, the president of Montana’s largest union, comment to the MEA-MFT about not accepting another salary freeze (Aug. 22 Beacon: “Union Leaders Demand Public Employee Pay Raises”). Here is another case of a union boss pushing an agenda that is detrimental to all taxpayers. The teaching vocation is noble […]

It’s probably at least a one in 1,000 long shot, but Montana Sen. Max Baucus has just introduced a proposal to amend the United States Constitution. The senator’s amendment, in response to a recent U.S. Supreme Court decision allowing corporations to spend without limit in political campaigns, would grant Congress direct authority to regulate political […]

It’s easy to compare the differences between train and air travel. Speed and cost are the obvious ones, which reminds me of the old consultant’s saw: “Quality, Speed or Price, choose any two.” Meaning that you can choose two of those, but the third is likely to suffer. When it comes to long-distance public transportation, […]

I am supporting former Polson businessman, Bill Gallagher for Public Service Commissioner. Decisions made by the Public Service Commission influence energy policy in Montana, regionally, and nationally, and have a very real impact on Montana families, taxpayers, ratepayers and employers. Unlike his opponent, Bill is not a career professional politician. He has real world businesses […]

The purpose of the Public Service Commission is to serve the public interest. So when it came to my attention that PSC candidate Bill Gallagher may not be forthcoming about his ownership and financial interests in a water utility, I was concerned. We need more politicians who run because they want to be in public […]

News comes slow to Niarada, so I’m a few weeks late writing in response to Dave Skinner’s column (July 14 Beacon: Advice for FWP) disparaging the state’s attempt to purchase the Spotted Dog Ranch. This area is a wonderful acquisition that will be enjoyed by Montanans for generations to come. It is 40,000 acres of […]

Montana’s union leaders should tread lightly when making compensation demands to the governor and Legislature in the months ahead. Already, the private sector has little sympathy for the public one and it will only worsen with more statements like this from Eric Feaver, president of the MEA-MFT: “If unable to make salary a salary gain […]

I am a professional educator in Miami, Florida, on vacation in Kalispell with my sister and her family who are local residents. I was so impressed by the recent story, “Wave of New Teachers Part of School Budget Solution.” Kalispell’s School District 5 has solved a budget shortfall by hiring only inexperienced teachers. Simply brilliant! […]

Recently, I met with some Flathead Valley business and political leaders to discuss job creation and other matters of interest to Montanans. As an entrepreneur and investor who works with start-up technology companies, it’s clear that our state’s technology infrastructure is key to many of the companies we are nurturing. Since these technology start-ups create […]