Archive for February, 2009
It’s not often that state and federal changes align for the immediate benefit of Montana children as they did in the Nov. 4 elections. Seventy percent of Montana voters supported the Healthy Montana Kids initiative. On the national level, a strong supporter of the States Children’s Health Insurance Program 
was elected president. The reauthorization of SCHIP, which provides health coverage to about 6 million American children through state-federal partnerships, was one of the first accomplishments of President Barack Obama’s administration. Montana Sen. Max Baucus was a chief author of the children’s legislation, which was supported by Sen. Jon Tester and Rep. Denny Rehberg.
To read the whole story in the Billings Gazette, Click Here.
By Mike Dennison, Helena Independent Record
A bill to increase state funding for public schools by 3 percent in each of the next two years won solid endorsement from the Montana House Tuesday morning, although the final legislative word on school funding may be weeks away.
Still, the 82-18 vote in favor of the $48 million bill is a far cry from the controversy that usually stalks school-funding issues before the Legislature. Read More→
Protecting our kids from online predators
Posted by:
Rep. Margaret MacDonald
Keeping our communities safe is a top priority for me. For years, I’ve worked through community organizations like the PTA and the Montana Association of Churches to improve our quality of life. That’s why when I heard that one in every five children who uses the Internet is sexually solicited online, I decided to see if more could be done to keep our kids safe. Many children use online networking sites like Facebook or MySpace, and these kids are frequently contacted by strangers - girls more often than boys. Tragically, kids are sometimes lured into meeting with the predators who contact them. Read More→
By Peter Metcalf
When it comes to passing streamside setback legislation in Montana, river advocates hope the third time’s the charm.
House Bill 455, also known as the Big Sky Rivers Act would effectively limit new housing development along select major rivers in Montana. The House Local Government Committee will hear the legislation Thursday. Read more… at New West Development.
HB 435 - Equal Pay for Women
Posted by:HB 435, sponsored by Rep. Franke Wilmer (D-Bozeman) was heard on Friday before the House Business and Labor committee. HB 435, titled “Close Gender Wage Gap” would follow on the national Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act recently passed into law, making equal pay for equal work a reality here in Montana. Read More→
"I think that it’s going to all work out, with the changes that we have agreed to. It’s not as much (spending for some programs) as I would’ve hoped, but apparently it’s more than other people wanted. As usual, we are trying to find the middle.” 
"[On term limits:] You empower the executive, you empower the lobbyists and that's not good for the system because then we lose what the citizen Legislature brings.” 