Montana Senate President Jeff Essmann, R-Billings, and Speaker of the House Mark Blasdel, R-Somers, worked and voted for the 2009 property tax reappraisal law. This policy established property tax mitigation policies for homes, small businesses, farmers and timberland owners. Reappraisal interlaced property tax policy to the real estate boom years of 2002 to 2008. Both […]

The sordid details of legislative infighting made statewide newspaper headlines. That’s not new to Montana politics. The Montana Legislature often exhibits its ruthless political mannerisms. What was surprising in the leaked political emails was not the tone, nor the quest for raw political power, but rather a seemingly simple redistricting statement by Senate President Jeff […]

The Montana Legislature ventured into its third week of policymaking with public overtures of cooperation and collaboration. That’s a welcome change from the last legislative session, which was dominated by socially derisive bills. The Legislature traditionally convenes biannually for a maximum of 90 days. In some sessions work gets done; other Legislatures do little but […]

As the 63rd Montana Legislature convenes, about one-third of the lawmakers are new. Flathead voters sent a couple freshman representatives to Helena. Some House veterans transferred to the Senate. Term limits reliably mix up the Legislature. Term limits throw out the good with the bad policy brokers. On day one of this Legislature, roughly two-thirds […]

The Whitefish farmer, who earned his political stripes by accompanying busloads of seniors across the Canadian border in search of cheaper medicine, is now termed out from serving as one of the most popular governors in Montana history. Democratic Gov. Brian Schweitzer was never elected to office prior to serving as governor. But Schweitzer did […]

People may still be digesting those fantastic Thanksgiving turkey and ham feasts that were customarily served with mashed potatoes, sweet yams and pumpkin pie. Yet it is time to ready ourselves for more food, family and friendship. Winter solstice is an easy time of year to be grateful for the joys of life and give […]

Over 1 million political television advertisements and the estimated $6 billion spent on nationwide elections produced no landmark changes. Advertisers undoubtedly benefited from the stimulus of secret money spending, but people were stung by a relentless barrage of undisclosed politics. In the end, all the money in the world was no match for an effective […]

Open public lands and the great outdoors are enormous economic drivers for the Flathead Valley. The Daily Inter Lake in an editorial titled “Kidsports is a key city asset” wrote that securing the recreational easement in Kalispell “is an idea that deserves serious attention.” The newspaper wrote in part that, “It could be an entirely […]

The GOP and politicians like rep. Derek Skees and U.S. Rep. Dennis Rehberg share a common campaign theme of repealing “ObamaCare” at any cost. Pragmatically, that’s just silly. Real people deserve better health care. At a Kalispell debate, Rehberg advocated for more insurance pools and interstate mobility of insurance policies. Sen. Jon Tester patiently explained […]

A conservative U.S. Supreme Court transformed Montana elections into spending sprees. Suddenly secret, corporate and unlimited dollars flooded Montana with negative political advertising. Sharla Tester wrote, in an email about her husband Sen. Jon Tester: “But in this election, he’s not only running against an opponent – he’s fighting against outside special interest spenders who […]

The Flathead deserves more active leaders in the next Montana Legislature who are willing to help build the local business and recreational climate of the valley. In 2009 former Rep. Dee Brown, R-Columbia Falls, proposed a pair of bills in the Legislature with potential consequences for Whitefish residents. Regarding House Bill 329, a state fiscal […]

Political figures must set aside differences, come together, and focus on issues that matter to our kids’ future. Montanans deserve leadership that gets along. Gov. Brian Schweitzer worked well with Republicans during his eight years serving Montana. During a prime-time slot and at the last night of the Democratic National Convention, Schweitzer said, “We’ve had […]

Well over $1 billion is annually generated in statewide property taxes, the vast bulk from homeowners and small business owners. Property that is physically connected by crossing a county or state boundary and property that is functionally operated as a single entity, but may not have a physical connection, is centrally assessed. One hundred-and-thirty corporations […]

The Montana Supreme Court ruled that Legislative Referendum 123 was unconstitutional and could not be placed on the ballot. The Montana Legislature improperly delegated its constitutional authority to allocate taxpayer money for public services like education, fire protection or foster care, and enact tax cuts. The Tea Partiers of the last Legislature put the question […]

In the past, Montana Power Company lobbied a GOP-controlled state Legislature with the seemingly simple notion of deregulating the industry. The GOP signed deregulation into law, ridding Montana of the lowest electricity rates in the country while drastically cutting property taxes for major power and telecommunications industries. Big industry’s property taxes were cut in places […]