Montana’s housing situation is not getting better. Across the state, communities face shortages of good homes that most of us can afford to rent. Without affordable homes, businesses cannot recruit workers. We are asking the most vulnerable to forego basic needs to spend too much on rent. The Montana Housing Coalition (MHC) is a diverse group of local housing authorities, … [Read more...] about Opinion: Montana can – and must – deploy tools to address state’s housing crisis

Whether we realize it or not, garbage is an important thing to us. If it wasn’t, we wouldn’t make so much of it! And all that garbage is generated by us freely acquiring goods in an incredibly competitive free marketplace, where choice is everywhere and the consumer is king. Can you imagine living in a place where there was no choice among goods or services? One brand of … [Read more...] about No competition: Should garbage collection be a monopolized utility?

Helena’s contentious debate on the role of taxes has brought Montana to a critical crossroads: Do we follow the path of states like Kansas, which paid for tax cuts for the wealthiest with major cuts to education, infrastructure, and more? Or will Montana stand up to wealthy interests and instead invest in our people and the services that will move our state’s economy … [Read more...] about Tax breaks for the wealthy today will cost regular Montanans later

The title and purpose of the original legislation is clear, ‘Local Option.’  The original legislation was intended to empower local communities to address specific local needs. State government then and now has encouraged action at the local level, and to limit red tape from State government. Less red tape is exactly what the local option gas tax does.   The decision of our … [Read more...] about Missoula Organization of Realtors: Local option addresses local needs

Montanans are hurting. We are approaching one year since COVID first reached Montana. In this time, we’ve made it through stay-at-home orders, school closures, major strains on our hospitals, and acute stress at every level from the family on up. We’ve lost jobs, businesses, the ability to see family and loved ones, and most importantly, we’ve lost over 1,300 Montanans – … [Read more...] about Opinion: Leaders urge Legislature not to weaken public health protections