Amanda Curtis was in Whitefish and Kalispell stumping about the huge disconnect between Montana values and Washington

Congress is hardly working, which leaves plenty of time for political debates across Montana

The only way Amanda Curtis ever becomes a U.S. senator is if young voters, if women voters, and if middle-class voters say that this is their time.

Recent efficiency studies of big buildings found that the energy use of a well-insulated structure is 25 percent lower than traditional construction

Given the propensity of politicians to cut funding for food programs, it’s great to see locals remaining vigilant to help assure that food is readily available to those seeking nourishment

It strikes many as odd and shortsighted that some ideological politicians are again pushing the tired mantra of selling off public lands

It’s become quite apparent that the Roberts’ court has activist intentions

Even today there are no lobbyists in Helena who solely represent the interest of people living in their homes

President Barack Obama’s historic decision to act on carbon emissions will undoubtedly emit years of ideological political rhetoric. The proposal is several hundred pages but calls for a state-based solution to reducing 2005 carbon emissions by 30 percent from coal plants over the next 16 years.

Congress ignores carbon pollution but routinely doles out hundreds of billions of dollars in taxpayer funds for weather-related mitigation like super-storm disaster relief, fierce forest fires and selective crop insurance.

Sen. John Walsh recently introduced the Do Your Job Act, which mandates that Congress cannot recess until a balanced budget passes. By Tuesday’s primary election, the U.S. House will have worked fewer than 60 days in session this year. For that, members earn a minimum salary of $174,000 per year.

Walsh is spot on that Washington should balance the federal budget. But unlike the House, the Senate still must act responsibly. The U.S. House has been attacking health care services like Medicare and Medicaid. The House is full of ideological nonsense like increasing the age of retirement or privatizing Social Security.

Early voting began last week to pick the party candidates for the fall’s general election. Come June 3, Democrats are as likely to nominate Sen. John Walsh and John Lewis to top the ballot as Republicans are to nominate Rep. Steve Daines and former state Sen. Ryan Zinke.

Primary elections are rightly open to all voters; just select a ballot. Gratefully, Montana does not register voters by party. Independents’ votes count.

Like spring planting, new elections are here. A lot of people are simply fed up with political nonsense. Politicians aren’t often focused on practical or simple policies to better the everyday lives of people.

Gridlock is the politician’s tool to effectively protect those fortunate enough to currently benefit from status quo laws and policies. Ugliness in political campaigns assures that fewer people pay attention and more or better candidates stay off the ballot. Less voter focus on policy benefits select interests.

The U.S. Senate passed an extension of long-term unemployment benefits that helps out-of-work workers for five months. The fate of unemployment benefits is now up to the House.

Given that the bulk of the House’s current budget cuts proposal targets programs that help people of limited means, it’s unknown if it will act any time soon on unemployment. But it is midterm elections and the GOP hungers to control the Senate. Unemployment benefits can become a political vehicle for other policy like tax cuts.

The U.S. House finally allowed the president to sign a five-year Farm Bill. Much of the agricultural weather risk policy is good news for farmers producing crops like wheat, barley, corn, or soy. Even milk producers gained access to subsidized crop insurance.

The Farm Bill is a funding mechanism for the food and farm policy of the United States. Time will tell how the USDA interprets and implements the law. Sen. Debbie Stabenow insisted her bill was reform and “not your father’s Farm Bill.”

At the end of the month enrollment for health insurance tax breaks will end. Many oppose the tax breaks Obamacare offers to Montanans who purchase policies at the federal online marketplace.

Since the four-year-old legislation was signed into law, Republicans and their political surrogates still demagogue health insurance reforms and tax breaks for consumers.