Serving Southern Jefferson County in the Great State of Montana
Serving Southern Jefferson County in the Great State of Montana
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U.S. Senator Jon Tester announced $6,125,000 in Department of Transportation (DOT) grant funding for Montana State University’s Western Transportation Institute from the National Center for Excellence for Rural Road Safety. “Montana’s roads and bridges have been long overdue for a serious upgrade, and this funding, along with my bipartisan infrastructure law, will ensure that travel in rural Montana will be safer for years to come,” said Tester. “Montana families and businesses rely on our highways and interstate system to move across ou...
Governor Greg Gianforte and Department of Public Health and Human Services (DPHHS) Director Adam Meier announced today that Montana No Kid Hungry (NKH) has awarded a total of $150,980 through grants to 11 local organizations across the state to support food access and nutrition projects. “Strengthening the local food system will help improve access to healthy and local food, support Montana’s farmers and producers, and provide a boost to the economy,” Governor Gianforte said. Montana No Kid Hungry is a public-private partnership between DPHHS...
I hope you’ve had a wonderful and safe holiday season thus far! Since 2021 has come to a close, I wanted to take a moment to round it out by sharing some of my highlights for the year. We’ve had quite a year here in the United States Senate, and all along I’ve been focused on delivering real results for Montanans. 1. The signing of my bipartisan infrastructure package into law.No surprise here, my top highlight is the bipartisan infrastructure package, which delivers urgently-needed investments to Montana that will support our small busin...
5 was a year of ups and downs in the minds of the American public. The year began with public concern about the state of U.S. democracy, yet positive ratings for newly-elected President Joe Biden; ratings that would turn more negative over the course of the year. In the spring, there was some optimism about the pandemic as vaccine rates rose and then some concern as a new COVID variant emerged at year's end. Many of the political divisions we've seen in recent years endured throughout 2021...
Governor Gianforte provided guidance to Montana employers and employees impacted by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) rule mandating vaccines for employers with 100 or more employees nationwide. “Montana law is unequivocal: employers are prohibited from discriminating based on vaccination status,” Gov. Gianforte wrote in guidance to Montanans. “While employers may encourage employees to vaccinate, they may not tie or modify any terms of employment based on vaccination status.” On November 5, 2021, OSHA published the “CO...
The Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services (DPHHS) announced today an investment of $3.7 million over the next 18 months to provide a financial boost to over 1,300 Montana Medicaid recipients with significant medical needs. “This investment puts money back in the pockets of over 1,000 vulnerable Montanans with challenging health care needs,” Governor Greg Gianforte said. “This will not only help these individuals with their health care costs but will also ease everyday living expenses for those who need it most.” Montanans who w...
As I write this, the quarters of a white-tailed buck deer I harvested over the Thanksgiving weekend hang in my garage. It’s not that I couldn’t find time in the last 10 days to get the cutting, grinding and packaging done. I won’t butcher it until I get back the testing results for Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD). CWD is an always-fatal neurological condition that’s spreading rapidly in our country’s deer herds. It also affects elk and moose. Much of its workings are still a mystery to researchers. CWD is not caused by bacteria or a virus. Ra...
Governor Greg Gianforte announced Montana’s unemployment rate decreased 0.3% in November to 2.8%, tying the lowest unemployment rate ever recorded in the state. Strong job growth continued in November, with over 3,000 jobs created. “Montana is closing out the year with yet another month of record-setting employment and strong growth in our labor force,” said Governor Greg Gianforte. “As we enter a new year, we’ll continue enacting our pro-jobs, pro-growth agenda to complement the unmatched work ethic of Montanans.” Since Governor Gianforte w...
You may apply for assistance at any time during the year by contacting the local eligibility office or Tribal LIHEAP office serving your community. Click on “local eligibility office” to access phone numbers. If you cannot reach your local eligibility office, call Montana’s toll-free number at 1-833-317-1080. The State of Montana, through the Department of Public Health and Human Services, offers three programs aimed at helping eligible Montanans. The Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) pays part of winter energy bills and may b...
People recruited to run for the legislature are told it is for three months, every other year. Truth is that it is for 90 days spread over four months; and constituent interaction never stops. Lately vaccine mandates/exceptions, real and imagined, fill my inbox. Here is where we are with state law. HB 702, sponsored by Rep. Jeniffer Carlson (R) Manhattan Mt. passed the House 63-33 with one Republican, Geraldine Custer, voting “no”; no democrats voted yes. HB 702 clarifies that persons providing employment or services may not discriminate bas...
I own a closet full of guns. But nowhere in that closet is ammunition. That is locked up elsewhere, reflecting a rule I was taught in childhood. Guns are powerful, even deadly, tools. If you own one, it’s on you to keep it safe. That is what the parents of a Michigan teenager failed to do, and their son murdered four of his fellow high school students. Not long ago, safety seemed gospel for gun owners and the gun industry alike. But something has changed. Responsibility has been discarded in a twisted form of gun idolatry. That change is d...
Montanans have traditionally worked together to solve thorny issues related to wildlife conservation and public lands. That’s the Montana way. But, unfortunately, conflict has replaced collaboration as the status quo. In recent years, elk management has become one of the most divisive issues in the state, dividing groups who once worked together towards shared goals and harming our hunting traditions. Elk, in particular, have become politically charged. It’s time that the citizens of Montana take back elk management from the politicians and...
Governor Greg Gianforte launched the 2021 Montana Governor’s Veteran Commendation and is seeking nominations for the award. “Our veterans and their families have sacrificed so much in defense of our freedoms and our way of life. Even after their time in military service, many Montana veterans have kept the flame of service burning by helping others in their community,” Gov. Gianforte said. “I’m asking Montanans to help me identify and recognize these outstanding Montana veterans, and I look forward to honoring these heroes for their service t...
U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Secretary Tom Vilsack announced the Department has begun accepting applications for up to $1.15 billion in loans and grants to help people in rural areas get access to high-speed internet. This announcement comes on the heels of the recently enacted Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, which provides another nearly $2 billion in additional funding for the ReConnect program. USDA anticipates issuing a new Notice of Funding Opportunity to make the additional funds in the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law available in...
As a hunter and angler who’s lived in the Upper Clark Fork River valley between Deer Lodge and Anaconda for more than 30 years, I can attest to the damaging legacy of mining on our waterways. In 1908, a massive flood carried toxic mine tailings from Butte down the Clark Fork River, contaminating the river and the floodplain. To this day, hundreds of millions of dollars have been spent to clean up these toxic mine tailings in Butte, Silver Bow Creek, and the river. For 30 years, I’ve worked with local citizen groups to fight for a proper cle...
Governor Greg Gianforte announced the number of employed Montanans hit an all-time high in October as Montana’s unemployment rate fell to 3.1%, a low achieved only six times over the last 45 years, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Total employment grew by nearly 2,400 jobs while the labor force expanded by nearly 1,200 workers. “By opening Montana for business, we have more Montanans working than ever before,” Governor Greg Gianforte said. “We’ll continue enacting policies that create more Montana jobs, increase opportuni...
While the 2022 Election Calendars have not been posted yet by the Secretary of State’s office, those who are interested in filing for the position of Jefferson County Commissioner should reach out to the County Election Office in January. A Declaration of Candidacy form must be submitted to the Jefferson County Election Administrator and a fee must be paid to file. The fee is based on the official’s salary. After the Declaration is filed with Jefferson County, paperwork has to be filed with the Commissioner of Political Practices. Specific dat...
In honor of Veterans Day on November 11, Governor Greg Gianforte issued a proclamation declaring Montana a Hidden Heroes State to recognize military caregivers. “Montana is proudly home to one of the highest numbers of veterans per capita in the nation. We’re also home to countless military and veteran caregivers, whether they’re parents, spouses, siblings, or friends,” Gov. Gianforte said. “By proclaiming Montana a Hidden Heroes State, we’re recognizing those who are serving these vital roles in our communities.” As a Hidden Heroes state,...
Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee Chairman Jon Tester (D-Mont.) and Ranking Member Jerry Moran (R-Kan.) are championing bipartisan legislation to improve rural veterans’ access to medical disability examinations. Geography or mobility issues often limit rural and housebound veterans’ access to quality and timely medical disability examinations. The Senators’ Reform and Update Rural Access to Local (RURAL) Exams Act of 2021 aims to address this inequity by increasing transparency of the medical disability examination program and authori...
Governor Greg Gianforte issued the following statement regarding COVID-19 vaccination mandates by employers in Montana: “Despite President Biden’s efforts to mandate vaccinations for employers and their employees, Montana law remains the law of the land, and no employer in our state should use President Biden’s OSHA rule, now halted by a federal court, as a basis for imposing illegal vaccination requirements on employees.” Codified under Montana’s Human Rights Act, House Bill 702 prohibits discrimination based on an individual’s vaccination sta...
In Montana we don’t have to worry about a knock at the door at night followed by a gruff voice declaring, “This is the state police, and we want to talk to you.” Every four years we Montanans vote for our County Sheriff, the head of law enforcement for our counties. Likewise, in our local elections, we vote for city commissioners or council members and mayors who control the city police. Local control of law enforcement is a firmly established governmental principle here in Montana and in much of the rest of the nation. Even at the national lev...
Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks recorded more than 2.9 million visitors at state parks from January through September of this year. Compared with the same time period last year, visitation decreased by 2%, and compared to 2019, it increased by 27.1%. After a record setting July, many parks experienced a decrease in visitation as smoke from regional wildfires enveloped much of Montana for extended periods. “As we look back on another summer of extremely high visitation at state parks across Montana, it’s clear they provide not only ext...
Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks announces that the application period to apply for a shooting range improvement grant is now open. Completed applications must be received no later than Feb. 1, 2022. Montana’s Shooting Range Grant Program, administered by FWP, provides funding to nonprofit shooting clubs, organizations, local governments and school districts to build and improve public shooting ranges throughout the state. To learn more about the Shooting Range Grant Program and to download this year’s grant application, visit FWP’s websi...
The Montana Fish and Wildlife Commission is seeking public comment on proposed grizzly bear relocation sites. Senate Bill 337, which was passed by the 2021 legislature, requires the Fish and Wildlife Commission to approve all sites where grizzly bears will be relocated by FWP. FWP staff, working with other land management agencies, have assembled a list of potential release sites in each of the Cabinet-Yaak, Northern Continental Divide, and Greater Yellowstone ecosystems. All proposed relocation sites are located within current grizzly bear...
Together with the Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services (DPHHS), Governor Greg Gianforte announced a new, statewide $3.8 million program to help eligible Montanans pay for water and wastewater expenses. “This program will go a long way to help ensure Montanans maintain access to water at their home, without worrying about disruptions to service,” Gov. Gianforte said. Data gathered from the larger cities across the state indicate that many households are 60 or more days past due with amounts ranging anywhere from $50 to $1,...
