No headline

Don’t sign bill taxing hybrids

Gov. Bullock, please do not sign a bill to tax the owners of hybrid and electric cars. I purchased my first Prius 17 years ago for the following reasons: 1) to keep from polluting the atmosphere. 2) To quit guzzling a natural resource. 3) To reduce traffic noise. 4) To cut down my expenses.

I feel that the proposed tax increase on a select number of people who are trying to be good citizens is ludicrous.

I wonder who will be next? Will it be smart car owners because their cars are so small that they don’t wear out the pavement fast enough? Or will it be those of us who recycle everything because we don’t fill up the dump fast enough?

Thank you from all of us who drive smart in Montana. —Jeanne Tallman, Whitefish

Legislative report

It has been great to return to the Montana House of Representatives for the 65th legislative session. As we wind down, I’m happy to report we have passed some good legislation to help the state deal with important issues including suicide prevention and the increasing problem of invasive species on our public lands and in our waters.

It’s well-known that Montana has one of the highest suicide rates in the U.S., and that number is even higher in our native communities. House Bill 118 has passed both the House and the Senate and addresses suicide prevention in Montana. It provides that the state’s suicide prevention officer, within the Montana Department of Health and Human Services, will coordinate suicide prevention activities, create culturally appropriate awareness campaigns and conduct research aimed at better understanding the problem of suicide in Montana.

House Bill 622 (sponsored by my colleagues across the aisle Republicans Mike Cuffe, of Eureka; Bob Keenan, of Bigfork; Mark Noland, of Bigfork; and Al Olszewski, of Kalispell) received very strong bipartisan support by both the House and the Senate. The bill will help the state fight a relatively new scourge to Montana’s waters — aquatic invasive mussels. It establishes an invasive species council, creates the Upper Columbia Conservation Commission, establishes the Missouri River containment and quarantine program and revises the location and timing of inspections in the statewide invasive species management area.

I proposed HJ 37, a joint resolution to study the threat of plant pests (or invasive pests) to agriculture, the environment and Montana’s economy. This study will help us continue to address current threats and better prepare for potential future non-native infestation. —John Fleming, St. Ignatius Democrat, House District 93

Even without mail ballot, make sure you vote

Well here we go again. The Republican-controlled Senate has successfully killed the amendment to a bill that would have saved the Montana taxpayers $750,000. County election officials, against their will, must now open polling places and hire election judges for the special election. The Republicans’ claim that conducting an all-mail election for the open U.S. House of Representatives seat would give the Democrats an advantage is no more than voter suppression. All registered citizens would have received a ballot by mail and many more Montanans would have had the opportunity to vote.

The homebound seniors, Montanans with health issues, college students and many citizens unable to get to the polls because of work hours and the inability to get an absentee ballots will be prevented from voting in this very important election. I fail to see how the Republicans can conclude that all of the previously mentioned people are Democrats. This rejected amendment is obviously and simply an effort to manipulate the election in favor of their candidate Gianforte. All three candidates, Rob Quist, Greg Gianforte and Mark Wicks, should have an equal opportunity without party manipulation.

This is an urgent call for all registered Montanans to vote. If you are not registered, do so. You can register at the Election Department from now through May 25 (election day). Your voice must be heard regarding the selection of our single Montana U.S. House representative. —Jerry Reckin, Kalispell

A clear choice — socialism vs. capitalism

The choice to fill the congressional seat vacated by Ryan Zinke is clear.

Socialist Rob Quist, an itinerant musician who believes in the godless precepts of a big brother government that provides for your every need and controls every aspect of your life from the cradle to the grave vs. Greg Gianforte, an entrepreneur and free-market capitalist businessman who believes in individual liberty and responsibility as fostered by a small government set forth by our Founding Fathers in the Constitution.

How will you choose? —Bob Faulkner, Kalispell

Quist: An easy choice to send to Washington

The people of Montana have a choice in the election for U.S. House of Representatives.

Neither Republican nor Democrat are without blemishes; no one is perfect and we all recognize such simple truth. But could someone explain to me how Greg Gianforte will “hold the special interests accountable” (as his commercials promise) when those interests are paying top dollar for him to be a member of the U.S. House of Representatives? On top of all the dollars coming from the likes of the Koch and Mercer Families, we now have been graced with the visit of Donald Trump Jr. for a quick couple of day visit to Kalispell, Bitteroot Valley, Billings and back to Greg G’s castle town of Bozeman. I guess Donald Jr. will be able to brief Greg in the techniques of holding money, power and personality accountable as they visit.

Rob Quist is not perfect and has plenty of spots, but he has lived in Montana as a native son, traveled the state and entertained us as a singer, poet/songwriter and musician for five decades. Quist certainly knows Montanans and the many issues and challenges we face. A life time with its spots and dirt come with such territory. I can only advocate and encourage the voters of the state will chose one of their own, and accept the dust and mud a lifetime splashed on him, as opposed to the clean scrubbed image of a guy who likes to believe Jesus walked with dinosaurs, hangs out with other “one-percenters” on a private estate (public NOT welcome — especially if you have a fly rod) and has little idea of what the average Montanan faces on a daily basis.

It’s an easy choice for this Montanan. —Tom Harding, Whitefish