Sorted by date Results 653 - 677 of 1183
Over the past decades, campaigns have gotten increasingly vicious, claiming unsubstantiated falsehoods to sway voters. Timing is everything and deceptive ads appear in the last days and hours before the election to influence voters. It’s gotten so out of hand that Montana has enacted the Clean Campaign Act. Part of the reason I’ve chosen to run is to change the level of civility we have in our government. In general, we need to improve how we treat each other. We’ve lost sight in this country of the fact we are the employers of the peopl...
As people of faith, we believe we have the moral obligation to take care of our neighbors. Often that means helping individuals by donating clothes after a house fire or providing dinner after the loss of a loved one. However, sometimes we have the rare opportunity to help thousands of our friends and neighbors across the state. We have that chance now by voting for I-185. This ballot initiative will help us live fuller, healthier lives in three ways: First, it increases the tax on tobacco products. Every year, we lose 1,600 Montanans to...
SWAN VALLEY - I live in the far northeastern corner of Lake County where we are often forgotten about except when we receive our property tax bill to mainly pay for services benefiting Lake County residents in the Mission Valley. Oh that’s right, we have a dumpsite at Porcupine Creek on Highway 83 in the Swan Valley. I don’t know about you but I’m tired of all the fighting that takes place among Lake County residents. It’s bad enough the national political scene is so contentious, but locally there have been years of acrimony with the water c...
I’m really struggling to make a decision on how to vote on Initiatives 185 and 186. I’ve seen the mailers on I-185 that claim it is unconstitutional. If so, why are groups spending so much money to defeat it? Also, considering we think of our form of government as a democracy, telling people that their vote will not count seems a bit insulting. The other problem I have with I-185 is the additional tax on tobacco products. This tax is aimed at a small portion of Montanans (I don’t use tobacco). It seems like it would be too small of a tax base....
As a child immigrant from an archipelago ruled by an oligarchic despot, I’m acutely aware of how precious my vote is. As a U.S. citizen and Independent, I vote. No matter how disgusted or jaded I’ve become with decisions from both parties, I vote. Without fail, in every election, I vote--and for HD 92, I’ve voted for Lee Bridges. Unlike the current and previous incumbents, Lee has lived, worked, recreated and volunteered for over 30 years in the district she would represent, forging productive relationships that would serve her well in represen...
Dear Mike: In your last letter to the editor you accused me and my staff of sending out attack ads against you. Nothing could be further from the truth. In fact, none of my campaign literature or ads have ever even mentioned you. As you said, like you I am proud that our campaign against each other has been conducted by the highest standards of ethics and civility. Over the last few months we have had many conversations and, although we are opponents, they have never been acrimonious. Your last couple of letters have surprised and shocked me,...
In my previous letter, I talked about what we did in the last legislative session. For the next two letters, I wanted to talk about what I plan to do if re-elected to continue serving you in the Legislature. First and foremost, we need to repair the damage to the State Budget from the Special Session. We need to repair the Health and Human services budget, that’s case management, that’s early intervention, disability services and Medicaid Reimbursement rates. We also need to repair the Higher Education budget. The good news is that the Gov...
I just read Mike Marshall’s editorial from Oct. 18. I was appalled at his armchair political attack on Mike Hopkins. Hey, Mr. Marshall, how about I send 40 people to where your mother volunteers to bust in, climb up on the roof, put up posters, shout obstinacies from a bull horn, shove cameras in her face and protest about something unrelated to her? The Kavanaugh issue the protesters were upset with had nothing to do with the GOP office. The GOP volunteers are there to support Republican candidates locally and statewide. It was suggested t...
Thank you, residents of House District 92! You have graciously welcomed me at your homes and at all the many events I have attended this past year. I am a hardworking, blue collar worker and public servant. I live in House District 92 and have for 35 years, while my opponent does not. I understand our issues and I am proud to run on my own merits, listening to all sides of the issues with everyone in my District, regardless of party affiliation. By listening to everyone, without passing judgment, I find we have much more in common than we have...
I was very disappointed to read the comments of Mike Hopkins in our local newspaper. My previous impression of Mike was that he held himself to higher standards. His comments were disingenuous at best. This is misdirection at its worst and highly divisive. It’s highly appropriate to condemn extremism that causes damage to people or property, such as the damage and injury done by conservative marchers in Charlottesville, Virginia in August of 2017. But Mike is implying that first, all the harm is being done solely by Democrats. Secondly, he i...
The upcoming mid term elections are not about Trump; that is two years hence. In Montana, they are not about who is a Montanan or a newcomer or “the real thing.” They are simply about whether Schumer will dictate the activities of the Senate and Pelosi the House. They are whether the track records of the Republican House since 2010 and the Republican Senate since 2014 under Presidents from both parties have seen the country progress or whether the yet unknown agendas of Schumer and Pelosi will do better with Trump still in the White House. We h...
For nearly four years Missoula County Sheriff TJ McDermott has worked tirelessly to provide our community with a Sheriff’s Office that we can be proud of and trust. McDermott has led his staff to accomplish a lot in his first term. All of the expired and outdated safety equipment left by the previous administration has been updated to ensure the deputies and detention officers may do their jobs more safely. Going forward, this equipment has been properly included in the public safety budget. Working with the Commissioners, Sheriff McDermott i...
I’ve known Lee Bridges for over 30 years, since back in the days when she rebuilt and restored antique motorcycles with her late husband, Partsfather. She’s always worked in the blue collar trades; from wrenching bikes, to building her own shop, to going to Vo-tech for machine shop and then for welding, before getting into the sheet metal trade. All the while Lee’s been working, she’s also been a public servant on the local fire department, Sewer Board and Community Council. She’s been on the East Missoula Sewer Board since it started i...
Absentee ballots are out! Its been a long campaign year and while my opponents’ staffers have now decided to send out attack ads lying about my record, I am still proud that our race for HD92 has for the most part been a really civil race. Campaigns are hard. People on both sides put their heart and soul into trying to get their candidate elected and sometimes they feel like attacking their opponent is the best way to elect their candidate. I am proud that throughout this campaign and the 2016 campaign, I have never put together a single a...
Candidates who run for Sheriff should be independent candidates, with no allegiance to any political party. Their allegiance should be to the law and their constituents. Only an independent Sheriff can be free from that allegiance. Travis Wafstet is running for Missoula County Sheriff, as an independent. He believes that the Sheriff should not be concerned with partisan support from either party because he does not believe that the Sheriff should be beholden to anyone. Travis Wafstet is an honest, hard working and intelligent deputy sheriff who...
I was surprised and shocked to read Mike Hopkins’ letter to the editor in the last issue. I know Mike as friendly with a sense of humor, not shrill and hysterical. I can only assume that somebody else wrote the letter and Mike signed it without reading it carefully. It is curious that the letter quotes extreme behavior by left-wing radicals in D.C., when the Republican Party and its adherents have plenty of extreme crazies of their own, even a Republican “mainstream” vice-presidential candidate encouraging the assassination of Congr...
For us it’s simple. Lee embodies the American spirit and what hard work and determination can accomplish over a life well lived. A woman of the trades, Lee is a proud retiree of SMART Local 103 and has had a long and proud career as a sheet metal worker. It doesn’t stop there though. Lee is also a businesswoman and runs her own business. This means that Lee understands what it means to be fiscally responsible and how to meet production deadlines without sacrificing quality. The MACLC is proud to endorse a Woman of the Trades, and we stand wit...
If you want to support our Montana students, here is an important decision and vote which only comes around every 10 years! When voting in November, you will have a choice to support the renewal of the 6-mill levy for Montana’s higher education system (LR 128). Access and affordability for all Montana students is central to the intent and purpose of the 6- mill levy and a positive vote strongly reaffirms your support of Montana’s public colleges and universities. There are two interesting facts that make this more important now than ever: Fac...
As a retired veteran with 42 years of service, I can appreciate the commitment of those legislators who genuinely recognize the sacrifice and dedication of the men and women that faithfully served our country during times of war...and peace. Service is service, regardless of what you did or where you served. Lee Bridges is one of those people that honors the fidelity of all veterans here in Montana. And, in particular, veterans that are struggling with healthcare issues, many of which are unique to the veteran’s experience. Exposure to chemical...
Montana is the greatest state in the greatest nation in the world. It’s why three generations of my family have called Montana their home and it’s why I still farm the same dirt that my grandparents homesteaded more than 100 years ago. Farming instills a strong work ethic and I bring that work ethic with me to Washington. That’s why together, with the input of the folks on the ground in Montana, I’ve worked across the aisle to send 20 bills to President Trump’s desk and he has signed each of them into law. I’m proud to say that many of the...
I-185 is being touted as a health measure. Raising the price of a pack of cigarettes by $2 will encourage more people to quit smoking and pay for Medicaid expansion they say. Hospitals are promoting I-185 for more than a health reason. It is guaranteed income for them and bypasses the discussion in the legislature to put some sideboards on Medicaid expansion. It was projected that 40,000 people would be eligible for expansion four years ago. There are now over two times that number on the program. Did you know that millionaires on paper i.e. la...
US Bank sells “Simple Loans” with 70-88 percent interest in Montana. People take these loans to buy snow tires, cover a mortgage payment or pay medical bills. Montana law caps predatory payday loans at 36 percent interest. But federally-insured banks are exempt from state laws and can charge whatever they want. These are the kind of bad loans that people never get out of, being offered by one of the biggest national banks. High interest rates leave customers reeling for another loan, trapping them into a cycle of debt. I’m sorry, but if it look...
I served with Mike Hopkins in the Montana Legislature in 2017 on the Appropriations Committee and on the Legislative Finance Committee through the present date. Mike’s budget experience, his excellent work ethic and his service to his constituents make him the BEST choice for House District 92. Mike is a steadfast and consistent, hard-working colleague. He has a deep understanding of the way large budgets work but more importantly, Mike understands the way policy decisions impact the budget and vice versa. During the 2017 legislative s...
SEELEY LAKE - I investigated our Sewer situation. Here’s a simple summary: The county is not issuing septic permits where nitrate levels are elevated, so businesses and residents have turned on each other instead of building consensus. The Sewer Board is an extension of this division and is also now expected to serve as a community planning body of civic vision, a task outside its purview. County assumptions justifying a treatment plant are neither convincing nor dismissible. The county seems to be acting conscientiously but it has also f...
I am writing to urge my friends and neighbors to vote for Lee Bridges for House District 92. Lee actually lives in our District and has for 35 years. She actively supports her communities, serving on both the East Missoula Community Council and Sewer Board, and was a first responder with the Volunteer Fire Department. I’m sure you have all noticed her van or truck as she travels our district non-stop, meeting with all of us, listening to our concerns and issues. Lee has a wide breadth of interests and expertise -- she is smart, articulate a...
