by Helena Lovick | May 29, 2025 | Global Warming, Legislature, Taxes, Town Hall Meeting
Great Falls, MT
On Wednesday May 28th, a group of local organizers, Citizens 4 Government Transparency, hosted a Town Hall with the 2025 Cascade County State Legislators. The legislators present were Jane Weber (D-HD-19), Jeremy Trebas (R-SD-10), Wendy McKamey (R-SD-12), Steve Fitzpatrick (R-HD-24), and Eric Tilleman (R-HD-23). Before I start joking around, I’d like to mention that I do give these legislators credit for being willing to hear from the public. It seems so many legislators, in particular Republicans, avoid their constituents and refuse to face any public backlash. So tip of the hat to these legislators for showing up.
Is Global Warming Real?
About 100 people were present in the audience, and a steady stream of questions were presented to the legislators from the crowd. The highlight of the night was when an audience member asked the legislators if they believe in global warming. Jane Weber quickly raised her hand and said, “I do!” Then hilariously the entire Republican contingent asserted that they didn’t. Seriously in 2025. Truly stupid, bury your head in the sand denialism. But we have people out here not willing to vaccinate their dogs against rabies, so the bar is truly in hell with anti-science beliefs.
So check, climate change isn’t real for Republicans. Hope that works out for them since we’re on a warming planet together. At least the crowd scoffed with me!
Let’s Make Income Inequality Worse
A question I raised during the town hall was about HB 337. As reported by the Montana Free Press: “House Bill 337 reduces the state’s top-bracket tax rate down from 5.9% to 5.4% over the next two years. It also raises the maximum threshold for the state’s lower tax bracket, where income is taxed at a lower 4.7% rate, and expands a tax credit available to lower-income working families.” All of the Republicans present voted for it, and the governor signed it into law in April.
I asked, if we have to make cuts to essential services in the future, would the Republican delegation be willing to reverse the income tax cuts they had made? Of course, not a single one of them answered that question, they just talked around it.
Then Representative Steve Fitzpatrick started talking about how making $41,000 a year isn’t rich, so people making that wage should get a tax cut. Cool, cool. Quick question, why are people making $41,000 annually lumped in with people making $250,000+ annually? As you can see in the table below, in Montana, all income from $41,000+ is taxed exactly the same.
Crazy idea, but we could and should focus on distinguishing between people making only $41,000 a year from millionaires so that the tax rates can be cut for the middle and lower class income earners and NOT CUT FOR THE ULTRA RICH. Instead, Gianforte is aiming for a flat tax rate to help the rich get even richer. (A flat income tax applies the same rate to all taxpayers, regardless of their income). How much more can you squeeze out of people below the poverty line, you damn ghouls?!
And on that note, let’s focus on electing representatives that want a fair tax system and legislation to actually help address the inevitable effects of global warming. A girl can dream.
by Helena Lovick | Apr 26, 2025 | Militia and Hate Groups, Protests, Rallies
Several rallies have sprung up in Great Falls in response to the extreme cuts to government services being implemented and proposed by the Trump administration. Thousands of federal workers have lost their jobs, federal funding for research, cuts to VA services, proposed cuts to Medicaid, and more have damaged the ability of the US government to effectively serve the people and prepare for the future.
A grassroots movement called “50501” has been helping to coordinate nationwide demonstrations since the second Trump inauguration. Well, the only real coordination the 50501 movement does is to select a date for nationwide protests. Then local organizers do all of the legwork for individual protests.
In Great Falls, several 50501-inspired rallies have been organized including a rally on March 4th, April 5th, April 19th, and one is slated for May 1st.
Images of Event Flyers for Local 50501 Rallies
I’ve attended dozens of rallies in Great Falls, and these recent rallies have been some of the largest if not the largest in our city that I’ve ever seen. For the Great Falls April 5th rally, over 800 people gathered outside the Federal Courthouse and along the Central Ave W bridge. It’s almost like the people are pissed about the reckless cuts and undermining of government services. Let’s make government more efficient and cost less by gutting it completely. Sure, that’ll work out great for….billionaires, not so much for everyday Montanans.
Right Wing Trolls
Of course, right wing trolls are annoyed that people aren’t worshipping their cult leader. Shit stirrers posted “just asking” questions and rounded that up to death threats. An exchange seen on Facebook was screenshot and sent to our blog a few days before the April 5th Rally. The post and alarming responses such as “I’m shooting if it gets too funny” were posted in the Ask Great Falls Montana Group. I checked and saw the post live in the group on March 30th, I saw several threatening comments be taken down or hidden by the group administrators. And now I see that the post was completely taken down.
Screenshots of Troll Comments about Great Falls April 5th Rally
It sucks when people post crap like that to be intimidating and to feel big. But activists can’t let it stop their work; we just have to be as prepared as we can be.
Likely these trolls didn’t like the outpouring of support the rally was generating. Luckily, the threats of violence never materialized and just a pathetic group of about 5 counter protesters showed up. 800 rally attendees to 5 counter protesters. Welp, it looks like a large majority of people aren’t brainwashed to wave a conman’s flag.
View of April 5th, 2025 Rally in Great Falls
Upcoming Rallies in Great Falls
If people want to continue to visibly resist the current bullshit happening in our country two rallies are scheduled this coming week.
Flyer of April 29th Medicaid Rally
A Hands Off Medicaid Rally will be held in Great Falls at Noon on Tuesday, April 29th, at the Great Falls Federal Courthouse, 125 Central Ave W.
Another May Day Protest will be held on Thursday, May 1st at 5:30 PM at the Great Falls Federal Courthouse, 125 Central Ave W. The Facebook event can be found here.
by Helena Lovick | Mar 22, 2025 | Elections
Great Falls, Mont.
Recently a couple friends sent me this screenshot of an emailed response from State Senator Jeremy Trebas (R-Great Falls) (see below).
Jeremy’s response to a voter requesting he vote no on HB 258 during the 2025 Montana legislative session.
As slimy and rude as that response was….it sure seemed like something Jeremy would say! But I wanted to make sure What the Funk wasn’t sharing any fake news, so I sent in a public information request to the Legislative Services Division of the Montana Legislature. I asked for a copy of emails Jeremy sent from his legislative email account (jeremy.trebas@legmt.gov) with the term “pronouns” in the email body, sent in 2025 (from January 1, 2025 to present 3/20/2025).
And, um, oh it’s real. And it gets worse.
Here is the email that started it all:
Huh, in response to a citizen’s thoughtful and well-laid out reasons to vote against a bill….Jeremy zeroed in on “she/her” in the signature line!
(Makes total sense to an insane bigot I guess.)
In his typical bizarre manner, Jeremy Trebas sent back the reply of “I don’t put much credence in the “science” of people who have to put pronouns in their bio.” Welp, Montanans, if you have pronouns (like 100% of people do), Jeremy does not want to hear from you!
How Jeremy responded to concerns of the public
The screenshot of the pronoun email must have reached several other Montanans around the time I saw it, because a half a dozen people emailed Jeremy Trebas about that exchange. Of course, Jeremy then chose the path of being increasingly rude and dickish. Reciting stupid troll language at people with legitimate concerns about his behavior such as “K bro,” “Move out of your parent’s basement,” “no one I’ve heard from so far is a constituent, only radical leftists who believe boys can be girls,” and on and on.
In response to Jeremy’s disrespectful answer to their email, one person sent back the flabbergasted question, “This is how you communicate with the public?” and Jeremy (obviously lying) replied “No, only you.” HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAH. I can’t breathe. Yeah, no, it is not only you my friend. Jeremy is an internet troll who loves to be an asshole to anyone who isn’t in his weird cult of MAGA mixed with Libertarianism. For some representative examples, we’ve previously discussed Jeremy Trebas’s rude internet commentary style here and here.
Based on his own biases, Jeremy also likes to claim that no one criticizing him is a constituent. Jeremy doesn’t understand that people’s email addresses aren’t labeled with a person’s specific legislative district. And even if they aren’t his constituents, Jeremy must not know that his work in the legislature affects ALL Montanans. Sure would be nice if Jeremy would stop being a dick and be respectful when Montanans reach out to him with their concerns.
Below are screenshots of Jeremy doubling down on his bigotry again and again. Wow. Is this a person Montanans want representing them…for ANYTHING?
(In the screenshots, I blocked the identifiers for the citizens who emailed Jeremy, but they are technically public information.)
by Helena Lovick | Feb 27, 2025 | Elections
This month, several Republican Montana Legislators voted in favor of House Joint Resolution 7 (HJ 7), a resolution congratulating Donald Trump on his 2024 victory. In a disturbing, but not surprising twist, HJ 7 contains numerous clauses emphasizing how in sync and how sycophantic the Montana Republican Party is with Trump fascism. HJ 7 is still winding its way through the Montana legislature after it passed the House. You can read the full resolution here. Yay votes from Great Falls legislators included Ed Buttrey (R, HD-21), Eric Tilleman (R, HD-23), Steve Fitzpatrick (R, HD-24), and Steve Gist (R, HD-25). It’s noteworthy that no Montana Democrats voted for it, and there sure is a reason for that.
Here’s a sampling of the clauses in the resolution that highlight the Montana GOP’s embrace of fascism
“[D]uring his campaign, President Trump faced and triumphed over baseless, politically motivated charges and relentless attacks orchestrated by partisan adversaries.”
Oh you mean the part where he was found guilty of 34 felony charges of falsifying business records in his hush money efforts during his 2016 campaign?
“…the Montana Legislature overwhelmingly acknowledges and wholeheartedly supports President Trump’s unwavering commitment to strengthening the United States of America through sound governance, a robust economy, and the promotion of unity among its citizens.”
Sound governance? Where he fired thousands of Forest Service employees based solely on if they were in a probationary period? Promotion of unity????????? The man that insults private citizens like Taylor Swift, because she endorsed his opponent. That promotion of unity?
“…Montana vigorously supports and encourages President Trump in his relentless efforts to combat the insidious ‘woke’ agenda.”
Oh more unity? Give me a fucking break.
“…the people of Montana and the Montana Legislature urge President Trump to continue his valiant fight against the radical left, specifically targeting individuals and groups such as “The Squad” and Senator Bernie Sanders”.
Don’t speak for me or the people of Montana, you fascists.
“BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Secretary of State transmit a copy of this resolute resolution to the President of the United States Donald J. Trump, to the Vice President of the United States J.D. Vance, and to each esteemed member of the Montana Congressional Delegation. THE DISTRIBUTED COPY MUST INCLUDE A LIST OF FULL FIRST AND LAST NAMES AND TITLES OF ALL OF THE LEGISLATORS WHO COSPONSORED AND VOTED YES ON THIS RESOLUTION.”
Of course, they need to highlight how much they are sucking up to their corrupt leader. These legislators are a joke, and they make a mockery of their role as public servants.
by Helena Lovick | Feb 23, 2025 | E-City Beat Watch
Great Falls, Mont.
In our occasional E-City Beat Watch, recently Great Falls City Commissioner Rick Tryon put up a post about a Facebook page called “The Montana Resistance”. In his blog post, Rick tried to conflate the page with the “Hate has no home here” movement, because some local activists liked the FB page’s dark humor memes. According to Rick, that FB page “is inciting violence and hate against folks in our community.”
Below are a few images from the Montana Resistance page that Rick’s blog post highlighted.
Oh, you don’t like “the armed left” Rick? How interesting…
Back in 2019, I organized a rally for some common-sense measures to reduce gun violence. I reserved the band shell at Gibson Park to speak up after a horrific August weekend of gun violence including 20 people murdered at a Walmart in Texas, and nine people killed in Dayton, Ohio. The rally’s focus was calling for strengthening of red flag laws and universal background checks on gun sales.
Well, Mr. “I don’t incite violence” Rick, who was running for the Great Falls City Commission at the time, saw an opportunity to strengthen his gun-humping brand. Rick organized a pro 2nd Amendment protest adjacent to our rally and posted whiny remarks all over his public Facebook wall trying to rally people to join him. How dare people try to reduce deaths and injuries from gun violence!?? The audacity to want less murder! Thanks to Rick’s efforts, dozens of people made intimidating comments about wanting to bring their ARs, and I even saw a comment that said, “We need executions” on one of Rick’s posts. Nice. Really peaceful. Rick, don’t you know that you can delete inappropriate comments like that on your posts? Or were you cool with it? Oh, and sure Rick made some weak ass comments on his posts to not bring firearms to the rally. Seems too little too fucking late. Only in good old Great Falls was the risk of violence enough to have plain clothes security at the event. Thanks Rick!
At the time, someone told me not to worry about Rick, because he is just a bully and a coward. And, yes, that’s accurate. Rick is just a bully and a coward. But he has a platform that he uses to stir people up. I wasn’t worried that Rick would shoot me. I was worried that someone he incited to chant about the 2nd Amendment would try to harm us.
As a public official, Rick should know better.
When you have a platform like that, you have a responsibility to consider the weight of your words. And I haven’t seen any tempering of Rick’s dumbfuckery. Rick is either too stupid to know the effects of his actions OR he doesn’t care and does it any way. So miss me with Rick’s whining about a FB page with some edgy anti-Nazi memes and his laughable efforts to connect it to the “Hate has no home here” crowd. These groups obviously aren’t related, but maybe Rick needs to introduce himself to the Paradox of Tolerance. Why are you so eager to protect Nazis, Rick?
