Current Issues

For generations, we’ve been told that politics and religion shouldn’t mix. But when you read the Gospels, that claim falls apart. Jesus spoke often about leadership, justice, authority, and accountability. His ministry wasn’t detached from civic life-it confronted corruption, challenged entrenched power, and taught what righteous governance looks like. Jesus regularly engaged the Sadducees, the…

Recently, the Whitehall Ledger published an article by Rep. Llew Jones arguing that Montana’s economy has “shifted” from natural resource industries to tourism, service work, and high-end real estate – and that our tax system and future economic vision should shift along with it. In other words, we should accept this new direction and build…

For decades, Americans have been told there are only two choices for healthcare. You can pay rising premiums for traditional insurance, or you can rely on government programs that grow bigger and more expensive every year. But there’s actually a third option-one that’s already helping families save thousands of dollars: medical sharing plans. Both faith-based…

While House District 69 Representative Ken Walsh sponsored HB 680, it passed with overwhelming support from the Legislature, making it a mistake shared by many that never should have happened. HB 680 changes how Montana treats two of its most important historic places: Virginia City and Nevada City. These towns are not just state-owned property.…

I’m new to state politics – and I’ll be honest, from the outside it looks like a game. But once you’re inside it, you realize quickly it’s no joke. Too many people treat lawmaking like a sport, where scoring points matters more than doing what’s right. But this isn’t a game – it’s people’s families,…

Legislators don’t get paid much for the incredible work they do – it’s long hours, tough decisions, and plenty of sacrifice. For many, interim study committees are one of the few chances to earn a little extra. But the real question is: are all of them necessary? Most of the time, we already know what…

While machine errors can be verified with paper ballots and hand counting, the far bigger threat lies in the cracks of our system – where laws are ignored, deadlines are stretched, and registration loopholes are exploited. If we want to restore confidence in our election process, we need to look beyond the machines and address…

Every legislative session in Helena, lawmakers roll out their “good bills” – proposals they say will fix what’s broken, protect the rights Montanans care about, or keep government in check. But too often, those promises don’t survive the journey from committee to the Governor’s desk. Somewhere between the first draft and the final vote, bills…

In a Republic, faith in the voting process is the cornerstone of every election. Without it, the entire system falters. It doesn’t matter who wins or loses-if citizens don’t believe the ballot counting process was fair, then our democracy loses its foundation. As someone who has spent decades in the technology industry, I can tell…