Support the Big Sky Rivers Act – HB455

February 18, 2009 in Michele Reinhart, Montana, Water Quality

by jhwygirl

In House Local Government committee tomorrow, Rep. Michele Reinhart’s HB455 will be heard at a hearing scheduled for 3 p.m. Thursday.

With apologies to the late notice. It was something I had intended to get to sooner.

HB455 is titled The Big Sky Rivers Act, and would protect 9 major rivers and a portion of one, with buffers of streamside areas and protections to riparian habitat immediately adjacent. The bill does so by establishing minimal standards, while authorizing local regulations to be enacted, should local governing authorities choose. It also exempts areas that have sewer or onsite wastewater management facilities, existing structures, and agricultural uses.

The 10 major streams?
Bitterroot River
Blackfoot River
Clark Fork River
Flathead River
Gallatin River
Jefferson River
Madison River
Missouri River from its headwaters near Three Forks to the line between Cascade and Choteau Counties
Smith River, and
Yellowstone River from the Montana-Wyoming border to the line between Treasure and Rosebud Counties.

I want to remind everyone – things are moving at breakneck speed now. We’re darn near the halfway point – and bills need to be moving. Take this into consideration: Senate Republicans blocked funding for CHIP expansion – approved overwhelmingly by Montana voters this past election – after just slightly more than an approval in the House of HB157 (which, to note, had bipartisan support).

Apparently, voters didn’t know what they were doing.

But I digress….

Please take the time tonight to contact members of the House Local Government committee and them know that Montana is Nothing Without Its Rivers. Let them know that protecting our rivers means protecting the riparian areas adjacent. Protecting our rivers means protecting them from excessive nitrates and nutrient flow from septic intrusion into the water table. Now is the time….because, as I say: Time’s a’wastin’.

Elsie Arntzen emarntzen@excite.com (Chair of the House Local Government Committee)
Betsy Hands (D) (Vice Chair) betsyhands@gmail.com
Gary MacLaren (Vice Chair) garymaclaren@yahoo.com
Arlene Becker arlene_becker@bresnan.net
Gerals Bennett jbenhd1@hotmail.com
Tom Berry tom@tomberrymt.com
Robyn Driscoll rdriscoll@peoplepc.com
Bob Ebinger buffalojump@imt.net
Wanda Grinde wsgrinde@aol.com
Robin Hamilton robinlhamilton@bresnan.net
Pat Ingraham pathd13@blackfoot.net
Mike Menahan mike@mikemenahan.com
Michael More mp_more@yahoo.com
Scott Reichner sreichner@centurytel.net
Michele Reinhart michelereinhart@gmail.com
Diane Sands hdsands@aol.com
Wayne Stahl wstahl@nemontel.net
Gordon Vance vancehd67@gmail.com

You can also call the Session Information Desk at 406-444-4800 to leave a message for the entire legislative committee. Make sure to mention the bill, by number (HB455). Your message will be delivered directly to the legislators. The TTY (Telephone Device for the Deaf) number is 406-444-4462. The Session Information Desk opens at 7:30 a.m., and closes at 5 p.m.

For more on this important legislation, head on over to Button Valley.

jodi rave responds to rob natelson re: racism

February 18, 2009 in Montana

couldn’t be helped (the distracted professor does have a remarkable likeness to comedian rick moranis) i know-i am a very…very….bad bear.

by problembear

award winning reporter conducts a class in journalism for confused professor.

Does Public Comment Make a Difference?

February 18, 2009 in 2009 Legislative Session, Montana, Rick Laible

by jhwygirl

You betcha.

On Saturday, Sen. Rick Liable withdrew his request for SB314. One day, notably, after his piss-poor interview with editor Perry Backus of the Ravalli Republic.

I’d be remiss if I didn’t point out that I was beaten by a newbee to this – and I’m happy to say it, really. Keep it up. So a hat tip goes out to the Editor over there at The Button Valley Bugle.

Public comment does make a difference.

Wulfgar! Goes There So You Don’t Have To

February 18, 2009 in Media, Missoulian, Racism, Regressives, Tribal issues

by jhwygirl

Don’t miss his latest take-down of Professor Rob Natelson.