Feb
25
Gazette Opinion: Kids’ health isn’t a bargaining chip
ByIt’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.
"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.” 