Helena speaks up: Letters to the editor for the week of Feb. 19, 2021
Our weekly round-up of letters published in the Independent Record.
Friday, Feb. 12, was a dark day. On a 30-19 vote, the Montana Senate voted not to confirm Margie Campbell, a former legislative colleague, to complete her four-year term on the Montana Human Rights Commission. She was appointed by Gov. Bullock after the 2019 session adjourned, so required Senate confirmation this session. The sponsor of the resolution to confirm her, SR 17, asked his colleagues, at the hearing, to vote "no," as requested by Montana's newly minted Gov. Gianforte. The Senate obliged.
Until the Senate voted her out, Commissioner Campbell was the only Native American voice on the Human Rights Commission. She served three terms in the House of Representatives, in 2005, 2007 and 2009. She currently serves as chief diversity officer at MSU Northern. She holds a doctorate in education. Her qualifications are unmatched and impeccable. By law, the new governor already gets a majority of appointments to the five-member Commission, and the Senate confirmed those three appointments on the very day it denied Commissioner Campbell the right to serve the remainder of her four-year term.
More offensive yet, our new governor was waiting in the wings for the Montana Senate to do his bidding. On the same dark day it rejected Commissioner Campbell, the Senate requested a resolution be drafted to fill her seat.
These actions affirm that the days of working across the aisle, deferring to interim appointments by an outgoing governor, respecting former colleagues, and searching for qualified appointments to serve on our boards and commissions are out the window. I had hopes Montana was better than this. My hopes are shattered.
I serve on the Human Rights Commission for two more years. I write this letter solely in my personal not official capacity.
Ann Brodsky
Helena
Just a year ago vaping/e-cigarette related lung illnesses gripped national headlines. Literally, kids were dropping dead. Then the pandemic hit and overshadowed the national coverage of the vaping crisis.
Addressing toxic e-cigarette aerosol, communities across Montana decided to take action against this public health threat. School administrators, teachers, health care workers and parents worked with local governments to add e-cigarettes to their Clean Indoor Air Act to protect the public from toxic secondhand vaping.
Now the Legislature is passing HB 137 to allow smoking e-cigarettes indoors. After almost 20 years of no smoking indoors we are going to now open it back up and allow for these vaping products?
This should sound crazy and an epic step backwards for public health but take a minute to discover who is behind it. It will make more sense.
Rep. Marshall of Hamilton is a half owner of three vapes shops, sits on the board of the e-cigarette lobby, lost a lawsuit against the state, and is suing over other efforts to curb the crisis. Rep. Marshall stands to gain from the normalization of the e-cigarette/vaping products.
Is this where we are at now? Letting the fox pass policy for the chickens?
Reg Hageman
Helena
This legislative session appears to be focused on intruding on families and children struggling with gender identity, informing women that they are not bright enough to work with their physicians to determine health decisions, assuring that religious based organizations don't have to report political contributions because they are special, taking away rights for LGBTQ individuals that assure their ability to fully function in all parts of society. What's next? Perhaps authorizing camps in the woods run by fervent individuals intent on "beating the gay" out of children? Montanans are dealing with a pandemic that results in business and employees struggling to survive, ranchers and farmers doing everything they can to continue their family businesses, schools needing infrastructure help to maintain safety for students and educators and local governments working beyond their capacity to maintain services. Here's an idea: maybe there could be some attention dedicated to these issues and less attention on private issues not needing legislative intrusion.
Cathy Kendall
Helena
Gov. Gianforte, lifting the mask mandate was reckless and political. It was not in the best interest for the good health of Montanans. The COVID-19 pandemic is hurting the economy of Montana, not the mask requirement. You said that you trust Montanans to be responsible and wear masks. However, daily our state legislators were exhibiting exactly the opposite behavior in our Capitol building during a statewide mask mandate and now during the Lewis and Clark County mandate. The CDC just announced that masks are more important than ever due to the virus variations and are recommending wearing double layers of masks. Yet in the face of this scientific advice, you have lifted the mandate.
Saturday, the day after you lifted the mandate, we entered an independent retail business in which the mask mandate had been respected and where we felt safe shopping. But Saturday in order to enter the shop, we had to walk past five individuals at the checkout, none of whom were wearing masks. Now the burden to enforce the Lewis and Clark County mandate falls on the retail store personnel and clearly you have emboldened individuals to ignore the mandate. Why should the store personnel have to choose between making a scene by asking their customers to follow the mandate or putting other customers at risk? Those of us who wish to be responsible can refuse to enter shops where the store personnel are not policing their customers but then the beleaguered retailer is hurt by your actions. Certainly, this is not helping our economy.
And if that is not enough, you signed a bill so that businesses cannot be held responsible for requiring their employees to work in an unsafe environment where masks are not required. The employer may be protected from liability but it is the workers and customers who are exposed to the virus.
Your actions are exactly opposite of what we should be able to expect from a governor with the safety of Montanans in mind. Please reconsider and restore the mask mandate until the pandemic is under control.
Ann Waterman
Helena
It seems there’s a lot of chauvinistic pigishness going on these days. First the governor thinks he can decide for everyone who the best judges will be, then the Republicans want to take charge of medical care for young people. WHO ARE YOU GUYS?
Beverly Fox
Helena
The most joyful place I have been in a year is the COVID vaccination clinic at the fairgrounds. The volunteers directing traffic and taking care of paperwork in the cold, the nurses, doctors and pharmacists administering the shots, many of whom are also volunteers, are smiling laughing and dancing. The patients are so thankful that many are bringing food and hand warmers to the volunteers. Most are waving as they drive off and some are even crying with relief. Businesses in town are donating food to the volunteers and providing supplies to help keep them warm. Besides being joyful the operation is a logistical marvel. PureView Health Center and St. Peter's Health have done a marvelous job of organizing and implementing the clinic. The clinic is a wonderful example of the great feeling of community we have in Helena. Finally I want to give a shout out to our county health officer. She has worked tirelessly for the past year to protect us all from this virus. Thanks to you all.
Chris Hunter
Helena
Sen. Daines voted to acquit Donald Trump on the technicality that he believes the impeachment of a president after he has left the office is unconstitutional. The senator must have been napping when his colleagues voted before the trial that the Senate does have the authority to proceed with that trial.
It is hard to imagine that he napped through hours of compelling and factual evidence of Trump’s seditionist acts, but what other explanation could there be? No human being with a soul and any sense of morality or sense of simple right versus wrong could have dismissed what was seen, heard and felt in one’s heart during those hours. Even Mitch McConnell condemned the former president as “practically and morally responsible” for the insurrection.
I do have to agree with part of the senator’s stance. He said that those who attacked the Capitol "should be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law." I suggest that we start with Sen. Steve Daines as an accessory to the crime of sedition.
Eventually it will be my turn to vote and I will vote, no confidence for Sen. Daines.
Paul Pacini
Helena
To all the people who worked to provide COVID vaccines. We would like to personally thank all the personnel directing traffic at the fairgrounds, working out in the cold to ensure we had all the necessary paperwork ready when we received our shots, to all the medical personnel providing vaccines and the personnel who made sure we waited our 20 minutes to ensure no reactions to the vaccines occurred and to everybody that worked through the coldest day this year (subzero temperatures), to ensure the second dose of the COVID vaccine was provided to the public.
We also talked to friends on the telephone who also received their first vaccines on Tuesday and Wednesday and they had nothing but praise for all the personnel working at the fairgrounds.
Their vaccine process worked so smoothly and not even one little glitch happened. Helena is very lucky to have such dedicated people helping one another during this pandemic. From the personnel outside in the subzero temperatures to the people inside the buildings, their attitudes were totally amazing. A heartfelt Thank You to all of you, so very much ...
Bill Roberts
Helena
Science Circus is so much more than just an event. It's a part of our culture in Helena. The fact that us seniors get to participate in such a exciting event is really important during such an uncertain time. Even though Circus had to change and adapt a bit this year, we are extremely excited to get to still bring a little bit of science magic to the public. As a child, I absolutely loved going to Science Circus with my family, it was one of my favorite parts of the year. Now, as a senior, I am extremely grateful for the fact that I still get to experience the joy that comes with Circus, even if it is a little bit different than years past. This year, we have decided to bring the Circus into your homes, with multiple take-home experiments to choose from. A sense of normalcy is something that everyone could use right now, and, hopefully, this gives everyone that.
JoElla Patrick-George
East Helena
Much praise to the Lewis and Clark County Health Department for the outstanding COVID vaccination process. In particular we are most appreciative of the staff and volunteers at the fairgrounds for their efficiency and congeniality in guiding us through the experience this past Wednesday, regardless of the rugged weather conditions. The organization and administration of the vaccination clinics certainly brings a strong positive to the strain we’ve all sustained over this past year of the pandemic. Very impressive!
Richard Josephson
Helena
As the days become longer and the nights shorter, I am concerned that the darkest moments of this pandemic are yet to come. Most people are insulated from the personal reality of COVID-19 related death; Intensive Care Registered Nurses experience it all too often. A short while ago, as my colleague perused the local obituaries, we recognized nearly half as being patients who had passed from COVID-19. More recently, the family of a young man (who was a son, and a father) thanked me as a proxy for the entire health care team who worked to save him, but we were unsuccessful. There is much about COVID-19 we do not know, but we do know that wearing masks does more to protect others than ourselves. Mask-wearing has become confused with a political agenda and constitutional rights; instead, it should be an expression of basic humanity to not expose others to the risk of illness or death. Let’s choose to help protect our entire community regardless of the directive from Gov. Gianforte.
Aaron Gams
Helena
Absolutely not! Gov. Gianforte should not be allowed to directly appoint Montana judges or Supreme Court justices. This is an obvious and blatant power grab by the governor to de-democratize the judicial selection process and politicize the only independent branch of government. It also appears to be a way the governor will be able to wield executive branch power over the judicial branch. This would assure that the conservative legislation coming out of the Republican legislature this session and subsequent sessions will not face successful legal challenges in the courts. For Lt. Gov. Juras, it looks like sour grapes as she lost a race for Montana Supreme Court justice in 2016. If Gov. Gianforte has direct appointment power for Montana justices, Lt. Gov. Juras could get her wish and get an appointment to the high court with the next open seat. This proposal should be soundly rejected by both conservatives and liberals alike.
Ted Scherf
Helena
The Helena High Science Circus is a beloved tradition that generations of Helena citizens look forward to every year. As a young girl, I eagerly awaited the Science Circus every year. There are dancing fires, explosions and cookies; the perfect activity for children of all ages in our community to engage in fun experiments while also learning many things. Now, I’m a senior and it was my job to help make the Science Circus happen this year. The science seminar class understands the value of this annual tradition as well as its importance to the community. I am beyond thrilled that we have found a way to continue to engage Helena’s children with science for yet another year of Science Circus. It’s unfortunate that we cannot have the “traditional,” circus that takes place in the high school gym with demonstration booths lining the walls, but I believe this is the best possible way we could execute the Science Circus this year. I hope that the entire Helena community has as much fun doing the kits as we had making this possible. If you can partake in this wonderful tradition, we would appreciate it greatly. Thank you so much for the support.
Emily Hagengruber
Helena
We were just getting to feel encouraged with the lower COVID-19 numbers. Then our governor in his infinite wisdom lifted the mask mandate.
He did it to help his fellow Republican leaders and businesses. While we agree the businesses need help but at the cost of what the CDC recommends.
I know when we go in stores now when we see people not wearing masks we leave and go elsewhere.
Thank You,
Joe & Doreen Filson
Helena
Mr. Daines,
Here again I write to you in hopes that there really is a human in there somewhere. EVERY letter I have written to you comes back as a partisan Republican form letter (how do I know this? Because the other Republican in Congress from Montana sends exactly the same responses to me). I watched yesterday...did you? Or, were you just like Josh Hawley and Rand Paul sitting there not paying attention and with your purely partisan mind made up? The House Managers laid out a timeline that I saw and wrote to you about as it happened. What was your response? A partisan Republican form letter every damn time! You are a traitor. You are a seditionist supporter that is just as to blame as Hawley and Cruz who both perpetuated the lie over and over and over. It is very apparent that you and the majority of Republicans who occupy space in the Senate care nothing for “Blue Lives” unless it suits you and your agenda. It is very apparent that you and the majority of the Republicans occupying the Senate do not believe in justice. Do your job!
James Muskovich
Helena
I read the United States Constitution again last night searching for any reference to the Republican or Democratic Party, once again finding none. Rather than marching lockstep behind either Sen. McConnell or Schumer, the Constitution demands that each Senator decide the issues before them independent of party affiliation. Today those Senators must decide perhaps the most important issue they will face in their careers, whether former President Trump committed impeachable offenses for which he should be sanctioned. The Constitution does not assign that duty to any party, but instead to each individual member as independent jurors listening to the evidence and making their own decision. I urge the Senators of this state and of all others to put partisan politics aside and decide for themselves whether former President Trump has violated his oath of office, his constitutional duties or committed high crimes and misdemeanors.
David Scrimm
Helena
We don't need the Republican Party of recent years. We don't need any more “grim reapers” as Senate majority leaders. We need Republicans who recognize the power of consensus building and compromise. We need Republican leaders who place more value on integrity and the country than on retaining power. (Actually, we need more of that among Democrats and independents as well as Republicans.) We need Republicans who seek to inform and lead their constituency base rather than constantly seeking to placate it. We need Republicans who spend less time fretting over whether transgender students should be allowed to participate in sports, and seeking to add more guns in more places, and more time addressing the actual needs of our country such as the pandemic, the economy, hunger, to name a few.
I am hereby pleading with all those Republicans who are seeing the folly of the last four years, please stay with the Republican party! Too many are leaving. Please do not turn your party over to the conspiracy theorists and self-servers. We need you to stay and help revive the GOP. We need a new, stronger, wiser Grand Old Party.
Galen McKibben
Helena
Science Circus is not only important for our senior class but rather for the local Helena community. In a normal year, Circus has been something families could come to for some family fun while also exploring the wonders of science. In a variety of simple but intriguing experiments, students from Helena High have always "wowed" the attendees while also putting on a fun and enjoyable circus. However, this year is anything but normal and as a result Circus has to change accordingly. Students in this year's Circus now are on track at having a virtual circus in which science is brought to the homes of the Helena community. Circus has been an activity that everyone can enjoy making it all that more important to put on; a sense of normalcy in an abnormal time.
Ryan Beatty
Helena
I write in opposition to SB 140, now pending before the Senate Judiciary Committee. I encourage everyone who is concerned about good government and the independence of the judiciary to contact legislators to oppose this bill.
There is an old political adage: Don’t fix it if it is not broken. I believe this applies to SB 140, which seeks to completely politicize judicial appointments to the District Court and to the Montana Supreme Court. While the current Judicial Nomination Commission is not perfect, it does give citizens an opportunity to voice opinions, before a decision is made on a judicial appointment. The operative word is “ before.”
The governor’s proposal reverses this sequence. Perhaps the public will still have an opportunity to speak, object to a particular appointment, but that occurs after, not before the governor’s decision is announced. What this means is that the burden shifts.
Under the current system, the public can speak on a nominee’s qualifications before a nomination decision is made. Thus the public’s chance to speak to the nominee’s qualifications is meaningful. Under the governor’s proposal a nominee will be disqualified only if the public can establish that the nominee is unqualified after the nomination is already announced.
I find it interesting that one of the supporters for the governor’s proposal was the retired U.S District Judge Cebull who left the federal judiciary for his racist and misogynistic comments during the Obama administration. While he offered comments supporting a change to the judicial nomination process, perhaps it is better to remember that he passed muster, despite his flaws, under a process very much like what the governor proposes, except the governor’s proposal will not have the same degree of scrutiny as the federal appointive process does.
Why change a working functional system? There is only one reason. Apparently the governor is concerned that some of his candidates for the District Court and the Montana Supreme Court might not pass scrutiny under the present process. Do we need a change just to assure the governor’s nominees can assume a judicial office? I don’t think so.
Ronald Waterman
Helena
Phrases used in Republican sponsored HB 102 for gun rights include "Prohibition on infringement of Constitutional rights," "rights that the people have reserved to protect themselves from government interference," "reducing or eliminating government-mandated ... " and, "citizens are prevented from exercising their fundamental right." Why is it that this same strong level of opposition to government overreach and the determined protection of constitutional rights is not being extended to the multitude of Republican sponsored bills before the state Legislature, such as bills dealing with women's rights, voter rights, transgender rights, and fair taxation/revenue generation to support goods and services for low-income people? At his State of the State address, Gov. Gianforte spoke of wanting to reduce government regulations. Yet, he has already indicated he will sign bills that do the opposite and violate women's rights. And now, another Republican sponsored bill will eliminate the Judicial Nominating Committee and public involvement, giving the governor direct appointment power. Republican lawmakers, YOU are the very thing you denounce, THE GOVERNMENT.
Lynne Boone
Helena
