Latest news with #Montanans
Yahoo
4 hours ago
- Business
- Yahoo
The prescription for discord? Discourse.
Former Montana lawmaker Dorothy Bradley and former Republican Gov. Marc Racicot embrace at a rally to stop the dozens of constitutional amendment proposals made in the 2023 legislative sessions. Both were keynote speakers at the Feb. 1, 2023, event. (Photo by Blair Miller, Daily Montanan) On June 22, at the Ellen Theater in Bozeman, Todd Wilkinson, the editor of Yellowstonian, a publication focused on the environmental issues in the Greater Yellowstone, hosted and moderated a discussion between two old political rivals. In 1992, Republican Marc Racicot and Dorothy Bradley campaigned all over the state, conducting more than 20 joint town halls, where they debated the issues of the day. Racicot won in a very close race, and went on to become one of the most popular governors in Montana, up until he made a fateful decision concerning the deregulation of utilities, a piece of legislation that had a long-term impact and has led many Montanans to never forgive him. But it's hard to overlook the fact that Racicot is a man who reflects on these things in a way that is not typical of most politicians, especially from his party. When Racicot endorsed Monica Tranel during the 2022 congressional race, the state Republican party decided to censure him, a particularly confounding decision considering that Racicot was, at one time, the chairman of the Republican National Committee after his term as governor. He also managed George Bush's campaign during the 2004 presidential race. But Racicot never classified himself as a full-on conservative, and he and Bradley both highlighted the fact that during their campaign against each other, they were able to maintain a strong feeling of respect and civility despite their differences. This was one of many issues they pointed to that are contributing to the current political situation. Another was the influx of money, and Bradley pointed out that the maximum donation during their campaign was $35 and they were meticulous about following that. But one of the most striking revelations during the evening for me was when someone asked Racicot whether any of the current Republican leadership in Montana ever reaches out to him for advice. 'They don't even return my calls,' Racicot answered. And although it wasn't exactly a surprise, I still found myself kind of amazed that these people would completely dismiss the years of experience of someone like Racicot. It's not hard to imagine that the same holds true for most of the other former office-holders in our state—people like former governors Brian Schweitzer and Steve Bullock, or former congressman Pat Williams, and especially Jon Tester. It's obviously a product of our current political culture, which values winning over all else, that would produce the kind of arrogance that completely dismisses an entire sector of our population without a thought. But how shortsighted is it to believe that only you and those who think like you have all the answers you need? Or, that asking for advice or feedback is some kind of weakness? People can say that Donald Trump is to blame, but this started way before he descended that golden escalator, back when Newt Gingrich and his cadre of icy collaborators decided that winning at all costs was way more important than worrying about what is important to the voters. This attitude has slowly poisoned the Republican party to the point where they feel completely justified in disowning one of the people who was considered a shining star. And the most maddening part about it is how gleefully and smugly they continue down this path. It's not hard to imagine why. Because so far, it's working. Because of Project 2025, they are no longer relying on Trump to drive the train, and it puts him in the perfect position as someone who just has to keep yelling 'All aboard' and blowing his own horn. He doesn't even have to worry about steering. So where does that leave us? I think Bradley said it best when she pointed out that we are all responsible for where we are, and that we are also responsible for figuring out what to do next. 'Trump is eventually going away,' she pointed out. 'And it's hard to imagine anyone else in his circle having the same sway over the public. So we have to figure out how to proceed once he's gone, and how to repair the damage he's done.' The same holds true for our state. Greg Gianforte is serving his last term, and there's no question that people are becoming disillusioned by the lack of access to our political leaders. Our current office-holders have made it their policy to avoid as much contact with the public as possible, and it's not hard to imagine why. Each time they do that, someone tries to hold them accountable for the many decisions they've made that have done untold damage to the citizens of Montana, with the most outrageous being the (still unexplained) increase in property taxes. Todd Wilkinson and I are starting a new podcast soon, affiliated with Yellowstonian, and one of our first episodes is going to be a discussion about this conversation between Bradley and Racicot. But as a brief preview, I can tell you that most of the solutions they offered were ones we've heard before, and that we will certainly hear again. We need to continue to speak up, gather, make our voices heard, and of course vote. But it was nice to see people with different views coming together to discuss how we got here. And I suspect we will see more of that.
Yahoo
19 hours ago
- Business
- Yahoo
The federal housing programs that are fueling affordability are at risk
Photo illustration by Getty Images. For a growing number of Montana families, homeownership is slipping further out of reach. At Helena Area Habitat for Humanity, we're doing everything we can to change that, but we can't do it alone. We rely on a mix of local partnerships, volunteer labor and federal support to make affordable homeownership a reality for families across our region. Two of the most critical tools in our toolbox are programs administered by the U.S. Department of Agriculture — the Section 502 Direct Loan Program and the Section 523 Mutual Self-Help Housing Program. Today, these programs are at risk. The administration's proposed federal budget would eliminate or drastically reduce both. If Congress doesn't act to preserve them, the consequences for the future of homeownership in Helena—and across Montana—will be severe. The families we serve, many of them first-time homebuyers, will be left with even fewer options in an already challenging housing market. The USDA 502 Direct Loan Program provides low-interest mortgage financing to families who cannot qualify for conventional loans. These mortgages make it possible for hard-working Montanans to purchase safe, modest homes with monthly payments they can actually afford. For many families, a 502 loan is the key that unlocks stable housing and long-term financial security. It's not a handout; it's a pathway to opportunity and resilience. The USDA 523 Mutual Self-Help Housing Program provides operating grants to nonprofits like ours. This funding helps us cover the costs of coordinating volunteers, supervising job sites, and managing construction, all without passing those costs on to the families who purchase our homes. This is what allows us to keep homes truly affordable while maintaining high standards for quality and stewardship. The return on investment is extraordinary: Homes that remain affordable for generations of Montanans and help create lasting neighborhood stability. Together, these programs help us stretch every dollar, serve more families, and plan for the future. Without them, our ability to build at scale and keep housing affordable would be significantly constrained, at a time when the need has never been greater. Nowhere is the importance of these programs more evident than at Rose Hills, our largest and most ambitious project yet. Located on a 250-acre site on Helena's east side, Rose Hills is where we plan to build at least 350 permanently affordable homes during the next decade. These homes will serve working families, seniors, and others who are increasingly priced out of Helena's fast-growing housing market. Rose Hills is a lasting investment in our community. It will feature homes of various sizes, green space, and walkable infrastructure—a true neighborhood built for generations. It represents a vision of what's possible when public support, private commitment, and grassroots energy come together. But without continued support for the 502 and 523 programs, the pace and affordability of this work will be at risk. We recognize that Congress faces tough fiscal decisions, but these two programs are high-impact, cost-effective investments that deliver real results for Montana. They help families build equity, keep workers rooted in their communities, and fuel local economies. Losing them would be a step backward in our efforts to address the state's growing housing crisis. Montanans don't need more barriers to housing; they need bold leadership. We urge Sens. Steve Daines and Tim Sheehy, and Congressmen Ryan Zinke and Troy Downing to stand up for our communities and protect the tools that make homeownership possible. Now is the time to reject these harmful cuts and fully fund the USDA 502 and 523 programs. These aren't just housing programs—they're the foundation for a stronger, more stable Montana. And we need them now more than ever. Jacob Kuntz is the Executive Director of Helena Area Habitat for Humanity.
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Health
- Yahoo
Held lawsuit plaintiffs file climate change lawsuit against Trump, federal agencies
Glenns Lake in Glacier National Park (Photo by Jeff Pang via Glacier National Park and Flickr | CC-BY-SA 2.0). Twenty-two young plaintiffs, led by a contingent of Montanans who earned a landmark victory in the constitutional climate change lawsuit Held v. Montana, filed suit in U.S. District Court on Thursday against the federal government over a series of climate and energy policies. The plaintiffs in the lawsuit, Lighthiser v. Trump, argue three of Trump's executive orders issued earlier this year to 'unleash' the fossil fuel industry and remove climate protections threaten their constitutional rights to life and liberty. 'President Trump's EOs falsely claim an energy emergency, while the true emergency is that fossil fuel pollution is destroying the foundation of Plaintiffs' lives,' the lawsuit states. 'These unconstitutional directives have the immediate effect of slowing the buildout of U.S. energy infrastructure that eliminates planet-heating fossil fuel greenhouse gas pollution … and increasing the use of fossil fuels that pollute the air, water, lands, and climate on which Plaintiffs' lives depend.' The lead plaintiff, 19-year-old Eva Lighthiser, from Livingston, is one of several Montana plaintiffs who also filed the landmark Held case, which prevailed in Montana District Court and, in late 2024, in the Montana Supreme Court. Lighthiser is joined in the suit by Rikki Held, Lander and Badge Busse — sons of former Democratic gubernatorial candidate Ryan Busse — and five others from the Montana lawsuit, as well as young people from Hawai'i, Oregon, California, and Florida. Plaintiffs from Hawai'i were also involved in a successful youth-led climate lawsuit against the state's Department of Transportation. During a seven-day bench trial before Lewis and Clark District Court Judge Kathy Seeley in 2023, Held and 15 youth plaintiffs were found to have a right to a stable climate system under Montana's constitutional right to a 'clean and healthful environment.' The Held decision, affirmed by the state Supreme Court in December, is mentioned numerous times in the Lighthiser case, and several of the same law firms are representing the plaintiffs in the new suit. Eleven federal agencies and their respective agency heads, including the Department of Energy, Department of Transportation, Environmental Protection Agency, and NASA, are named as defendants along with the president. Three of Trump's executive orders — 14156, 14154 and 14261 — declare a 'national energy emergency' and direct numerous federal agencies to 'unleash American energy' by accelerating oil, gas and coal production on federal lands, and bolster fossil fuel development. They also roll back funding that bolstered climate protections, including through the Inflation Reduction Act. Various clean energy grant programs, including wind, solar battery storage and electric vehicles, were also targeted in the orders. The 126-page complaint argues that the federal directives threaten the plaintiffs' health and wellbeing by accelerating harms from the fossil fuel industry and climate change. 'Plaintiffs were born into and now live in a destabilized climate system. Fossil fuel pollution has created this emergency—a dangerous situation for Plaintiffs requiring immediate action,' the suit states. '… EPA reports that climate change effects, including heat, displacement, financial or food insecurity, loss of recreation, loss of sleep, and risk of PTSD (Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder), harm children's health.' The plaintiffs are asking for the court to find the three executive orders 'and any implementing executive actions' unlawful, unconstitutional and invalid, and seek a permanent injunction against implementing and enforcing the orders. In a statement, Deputy White House press secretary Harrison Fields said the executive orders are part of President Donald Trump's efforts to protect Americans. 'Promoting domestic energy production is crucial for shielding American families from price volatility and securing a stable energy supply for our nation and its allies. The President has a proven history of bolstering American energy production and will restore our nation's position as a global energy leader,' Fields said in a statement. A representative for the Department of Justice declined to comment. In a press release about the lawsuit, Lighthiser said Trump's executive orders amount to a 'death sentence for my generation.' 'I'm not suing because I want to — I'm suing because I have to. My health, my future, and my right to speak the truth are all on the line. He's waging war on us with fossil fuels as his weapon, and we're fighting back with the Constitution.' In the suit, the plaintiffs list harms experienced in their young lives related to climate change, including from longer wildfire seasons that affect their health, increasingly extreme weather patterns that affect their livelihoods, and changes to their local environments and cultural homes. The suit also mentions the executive orders' effect on decreasing career opportunities for some plaintiffs, through canceled climate science research and study programs. The complaint also condemns the federal government's directives to implement the executive orders by 'a wholesale scrubbing, suppression and dismantling of government agencies' climate science, thereby blinding the government,' and argues that the President exceeded his constitutional and statutory authority— 'acting ultra vires' — in issuing the executive orders. The youth are represented by Our Children's Trust, an Oregon-based law firm, along with Gregory Law Group, McGarvey Law in Kalispell, and Public Justice. l'These young plaintiffs refuse to be collateral damage in a fossil fuel war on their future,' lead attorney Julia Olson of Our Children's Trust said in a press release. 'They are demanding accountability where it still matters—in a court of law. The executive branch is not above the Constitution, and these young people are here to prove it.'
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
NorthWestern Energy tries to exclude climate change witness as ‘expert' in rate case
The Laurel Generation Station power plant in Laurel Montana as seen in September 2023. (Aerial photography by Ed Saunders) NorthWestern Energy, the state's largest public utility, tried to stop an energy engineer who planned to testify about climate change from participating in a rate case as an expert witness. It also attempted to curtail testimony based on an Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change report. The monopoly utility argued some of the testimony was an attempt to introduce 'inadmissible hearsay and exhibits,' such as the IPCC report. The IPCC is an international United Nations body set up to assess science related to climate with 195 members. The utility also said the energy engineer sought to offer 'improper legal opinions as a nonlawyer' and requested the Montana Public Service Commission strike that testimony. On a 3-2 vote Tuesday, the Montana Public Service Commission supported a staff recommendation to allow the engineer, with the Montana Environmental Information Center, to testify as an expert witness. But the PSC agreed he could not offer legal conclusions, as also recommended in the draft order from staff. A minority on the commission tried to block expert testimony from the witness. The order to allow the engineer to testify as an expert happened when PSC President Brad Molnar urged the commission to avoid a double standard and treat the witness fairly. The PSC is all Republican, and Molnar said if the commission determined the MEIC witness wasn't an expert, a future commission with a different political makeup could use the same rationale to disqualify witnesses for NorthWestern Energy. He also said the commission will have the ability to test the engineer's testimony. 'If there is one golden nugget in there, either substantiated by cross examination or refuted by cross examination, it has been worthy of our time,' Molnar said. Molnar also said the argument to silence the engineer was not based in fact. 'What we have is a desire to stop one person from testifying because one other moving party (NorthWestern) in this soon-to-be drama doesn't want people to hear what he has to say,' Molnar said. 'And I can't go with that.' The dispute is one small debate in another rate case filed by NorthWestern Energy and already drawing scrutiny after a 2023 settlement the PSC approved that hiked electric bills nearly 28%. Montanans have been fighting about the effects of climate change in different political arenas, including at the utility regulatory agency. The witness whom NorthWestern tried to block, Nick Fitzmaurice of the Montana Environmental Information Center, said in written pre-filed testimony the utility has 'neglected to account' for risks that climate change poses to its operations and credit. 'Corporate analysts have specifically and repeatedly noted that 'climate change' creates multiple risks for NorthWestern Energy,' Fitzmaurice said in part of his testimony. 'Moody's identified climate change as posing multiple risks to NorthWestern Energy.' Attempts to cull and curate witness testimony in cases aren't new, but the debate this week shows the pending rate case as another battleground over the role played by climate change in energy costs. In an email to the Daily Montanan, NorthWestern spokesperson Jo Dee Black said the utility was not attempting to disallow information in the case. 'This motion was made not to limit an issue or topic but to ensure the professional standards for qualification as an expert witness were upheld,' Black said. 'NorthWestern did not have any issues with this witness testifying as a lay or fact witness.' However, Anne Hedges, with the Montana Environmental Information Center, said NorthWestern admits it doesn't employ any scientific expert on climate change itself. Hedges said it's disingenuous for the utility to try to bill customers for climate impacts such as wildfire yet try to stifle the person giving testimony about climate change. 'Not having testimony means the commission can't consider climate change at all, and that is exactly what they want,' Hedges said of NorthWestern. 'So good for Brad Molnar. Good for the commission.' In its motion, NorthWestern called on the PSC to strike 'irrelevant evidence' from Fitzmaurice, energy transition engineer for the MEIC. Fitzmaurice holds a bachelor's degree in industrial management systems engineering from Montana State University and has worked in energy policy and modeling, according to his MEIC biography. The utility tried to exclude his statements about its emissions and the economic impacts of climate change in Montana, and it tried to exclude testimony from Kyle Unruh of Renewable Northwest. NorthWestern also disputed Fitzmaurice as an expert witness — experts are allowed to rely on reports, or 'hearsay' not personally experienced, to explain their opinions. NorthWestern, though, said Fitzmaurice should only be allowed to testify as a 'lay witness' — meaning he could testify only from personal experience, which would exclude testimony based on an IPCC report. Witnesses in rate cases file written testimony in advance of hearings. At the meeting this week, PSC legal counsel Lucas Hamilton said staff found some of the testimony Fitzmaurice provided to be 'impermissible legal conclusions' more appropriately submitted later on in the case. However, Hamilton said staff recommended finding Fitzmaurice's testimony relevant, contrary to NorthWestern's motion, although he said its credibility would be up to the commission to determine. Before the PSC approved the recommended order from staff, Commissioner Annie Bukacek moved to disqualify Fitzmaurice, with support from Commissioner Jennifer Fielder. Bukacek said Fitzmaurice 'has not done enough actual work' in his field, and she had yet to meet an 'expert in climatology or energy policy' who didn't have a doctorate degree. 'Standards matter in any field that provides critical information, such as energy policy,' Bukacek said. In response to a question, however, Hamilton said without a point of reference from the parties, the standard for qualifying a person as 'an expert' within the field of energy policy is discretionary. In the meantime, he said, the Montana rules of evidence call for a liberal interpretation of who is an expert — and allow an expert's testimony to be scrutinized. PSC staff attorney Amanda Webster said if the PSC deemed Fitzmaurice a 'lay witness' as opposed to an expert, it would 'effectively preclude him' from testifying altogether. 'There wouldn't be much left of his testimony,' Webster said. The move to oust Fitzmaurice from the list of experts failed, with only Bukacek and Fielder in support. Commissioners Randy Pinocci and Jeff Welborn supported Molnar's move to adopt the draft order prepared by staff. Pinocci said he didn't want a disqualification by the PSC to lead to a costly lawsuit alleging the commission had drawn an improper conclusion about an expert. Unruh, with Renewable NorthWest, declined to comment beyond his written testimony. The order from the PSC denied NorthWestern's move to strike his remarks. Relying in part on an IPCC report, Unruh argues NorthWestern is putting Montana ratepayers at 'substantial economic risk' and 'regulatory risk' by ignoring the effects of greenhouse gas emissions. But Hedges, with the MEIC, said NorthWestern Energy has become more bullish, and the rate case is demonstrating 'their new aggressive position toward the commission and toward customers.'
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Longtime lawmaker appointed to lead the Montana Hospital Association
Rep. Ed Buttrey speaks about House Bill 60 during the 2025 Montana Legislature. (Photo courtesy of Montana Public Affairs Network). Following a national search, the Montana Hospital Association Board of Trustees today announced that it has appointed F. Edward 'Ed' Buttrey as President and chief executive officer for the Association. Buttrey will begin in the role on July 1. In this role, Buttrey will provide strategic leadership for association activities as well as provide direction to the association's charitable arm, the Montana Health Research and Education Foundation, and for-profit subsidiary, MHA Ventures. 'Ed is uniquely qualified to lead the Montana Hospital Association into its next chapter, thanks to his extensive experience in both healthcare policy and decades leading successful businesses. Ed understands the challenges and opportunities facing healthcare in Montana, the various solutions that can help or hinder them, and how to build and lead successful organizations. He has demonstrated a lifelong commitment to improving the lives of the people and communities he serves, and we believe Montana patients will continue to benefit from his vision and leadership,' said Craig Aasved, MHA Board Chair and CEO of Shodair Children's Hospital in Helena. Buttrey, a graduate of Montana State University, is a business owner and long-serving state legislator from Great Falls. As a lawmaker, he's worked on the state's healthcare policies and future, including improving access and affordability, and was the sponsor of the 2015 Montana Medicaid expansion bill and bills to renew and revise the program in 2019 and during the 2025 session. He has served as a board member on the Benefits Health System (Great Falls) Board of Trustees since 2015. In addition to his legislative work, Buttrey has extensive experience in business, with a focus on real estate, hospitality, technology and manufacturing. He has volunteered with numerous local organizations, including efforts aimed at improving healthcare accessibility, supporting youth programs, and promoting economic development in Great Falls and surrounding areas, according to the press release. 'This is an exciting opportunity to move from crafting policy to driving meaningful change in the healthcare system itself. For more than 14 years, I've worked hard on a variety of healthcare policy issues because I have seen firsthand the importance of healthcare to our neighbors, our communities and our local economies. While the MHA is actively involved in the healthcare policy space, it also supports our state's hospitals by providing quality improvement, safety, workforce development, emergency preparedness and other programs that enhance care in rural and frontier communities. I am deeply committed to applying both my legislative and business experience to build a stronger future for all Montanans who rely on the care our healthcare system provides,' Buttrey said. Buttrey will succeed Robert W. 'Bob' Olsen, who has served in leadership positions for the Association since 1989 and has led the organization as president and CEO since 2022. During the course of his more than 30-year career with the association, Olsen has made significant contributions to federal and state regulatory, policy and advocacy matters. He was awarded the MHA Lifetime Achievement Award in 2022 and the Frederick C. Morgan Individual Achievement Award from the Healthcare Financial Management Association in 2025. 'I've witnessed significant changes in Montana's healthcare system during that time, yet one constant has remained: The need to adapt. Montana patients and healthcare providers will be well served by Ed's innovative approaches, ability to bring together diverse stakeholders, and a longstanding commitment to improving healthcare for our state,' Olsen said.
