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Politics

Politics shapes our communities, and Western Montana News is here to keep you informed. From local elections to national policy, we cover the issues that matter most to Montana residents. Stay up to date with in-depth reporting, analysis, and commentary on the decisions impacting our state and beyond.

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Freedom Caucus Thwarts Enviro-Socialist Agenda

HELENA, MT (59601) – Montana Freedom Caucus members dealt a fatal blow to Senate Bill 255 in the House of Representatives. If passed, this bill would have prioritized the state’s largest utility provider and presented artificially low rates to incentivize electric vehicle (EV) ownership, rather than letting the free-market drive demand. In his opening statement,…

The Other Side of the Montana Constitution

For some time now I’ve watched the popular efforts of Montanans to improve their state constitution, and the anguished opposition by figures in Montana’s former political establishment. The response amounts to a sanctimonious “How dare they?” One example: Former Governor Marc Racicot’s Feb. 1 capitol speech, in which he equated reform efforts with attacks on…

What is the Problem with the GOP?

The once Grand Old Party has a major self-inflicted wound. As an institution, it is failing its constituency miserably. A recent Monmouth University poll demonstrates that 61% of the GOP’s Republican voters do not believe the 2020 Presidential election was a valid, fraud-free election. Yet the Republican Party political machine keeps insisting that election was…

No More Nuclear Sponges

Growing up in Montana during the Cold War, I often found myself under a school desk as we went through frequent nuclear fallout drills. Montana is a state known as being a part of the “nuclear sponge,” where it is universally known that Russia targets our nuclear missile facilities, and we would absorb any large-scale…

Former Missoula Councilor Vindicated After “Sleepy Inn” Pandemic Boondoggle

From the Missoula Current in 2020, “Council member Jesse Ramos led the opposition [to the purchase of the Sleepy Inn Motel] by disputing the recommendations of trained health officials, saying the shelter wasn’t necessary, was too expensive, and the pandemic would soon pass. At the end of the night, he tipped his hat to his…

Montana GOP Doubles Down on Blocking New Delegates to State Convention

A spark has been lit and a fire is kindling. Yes, a fire! Why a fire? Because, should it continue, it could consume an entire state political party, or at least those within said party, that are desperately clinging to power. The party I speak of is the Republican Party here in Montana. The first…

The Light at the End of the Tunnel is Not In Hoping for Better Government and Politicians

I have an admission to make. I hate political parties and serve as the County Chairman for the Republican Central Committee where I live. I also tend to avoid politicians and lobbyists, and now work at the Montana State Capitol on a frequent basis—as a lobbyist surrounded by politicians. No doubt you are asking why…

Montana Citizenship Voting Bill Leaves More Questions Than Answers

House Bill 402 is a bill that attempts to bring Montana’s voting system into line with Montana’s Constitution, and in particular with Article IV, Section II, which requires that electors be U.S. citizens. The bill states that “[…] verification of a person’s citizenship is fundamental to fulfilling this Constitutional requirement” and intends to do so…

Montana Freedom Caucus Legislators Urge “No” Vote on Central Bank Digital Currency Bill

HELENA, MT (59601)—The Montana Freedom Caucus opposes Senate Bill 370, which would create the necessary framework for a Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDC). The push for a CBDC is the biggest attack on financial freedom that our country has ever seen. Imagine being forced to have a bank account directly with the Federal Reserve rather…

Ravalli County Republicans Buck State GOP, Schedule Convention

On July 16th, 2022, the Montana GOP issued a new rule to all county central committees. This rule moved all county central committee conventions dates to August 1st through November 1st, well after the state GOP convention scheduled for June 9th. Traditionally, local county central committee’s hold their own conventions prior to the state convention…

Hope

Forced mask and vax mandates, centralization of digital currencies, sexualization and grooming of children, wars and rumors of wars, train derailments, food processing plant fires, selling our national sovereignty to the World Health and other globalist organizations, food-water-energy security under attack, faith and patriotism in the cross hairs, and so much more. We are surrounded…

One Red Balloon

Ninety-nine red balloons Floating in the summer sky Panic bells, it’s red alert! There’s something here from somewhere else! The war machine springs to life Opens up one eager eye Focusing it on the sky When ninety-nine red balloons go by Nena, “99 Luftballoons” By now most people in America know that China launched a…

Missoula Republican Chair Calls Police on Another Member

Missoula County Republican Central Committee Chair, Vondene Kopetski, called the police on yet another Republican during Tuesday night’s monthly Central Committee meeting. In 2021, Kopetski called the police on another individual at a committee meeting, a new member, claiming to police that the person had committed elder abuse because of a difference of opinion. Kopetski’s…

Defend the Guard

The following is a testimony written in support of House Bill 527 currently in the Montana State Legislature. There are many arguments used to distract people from the core purpose of this “Defend the Guard” bill, and my testimony addresses each of those arguments in sufficient detail. I wrote this with the sole intention of…

Montana DOJ Investigating Ballot Shredding in Carbon County

Video compiled and obtained through public records requests by citizens in Carbon County shows Elections Administrator Crystal Roascio shredding what appear to be tri-folded mail-in ballots on election night, November 8, 2022. Attorney for the county, Alex Nixon, confirmed the documents were votes, but claimed that Roascio was simply shredding “ballot copies” received by email…

Speeding Through the Fourth Turning

In 1997, William Strauss and Neil Howe published a book titled The Fourth Turning, where they examine five hundred years of history and uncover a pattern, one they believe will help people better understand modern history. They claim history moves in cycles composed of four “turnings.” Each turning lasts approximately twenty years and they always…

Montana Records Retention Laws Violated By State, Counties in Elections Software Contracts

Election fraud has been a hot-button issue lately, with films like 2000 Mules exposing ballot harvesting operations, and journalists in Montana and around the country uncovering connections between the United States’ voting systems and elections software company Konnech, which reportedly has connections to China. Locally, there are concerns that the state’s voting process is in…

Montana Freedom Caucus Announces Tax Rebate Bill

HELENA, MT – The Montana Freedom Caucus (MTFC) announced House Bill 307 at the Montana State Capitol yesterday. Representative Jerry Schillinger, House District 37, discussed how this bill will return a greater amount of revenue back into the pockets of Montana’s taxpayers when compared to any other rebate bills. He credited the work of the…