by Ken Toole | Mar 5, 2025 | Legislature
Meet Great Falls Republican Senator Daniel Emrich
Great Falls Senator Daniel Emrich sponsored SB 381 which directs the Montana Department of Natural Resources Conservation (DNRC) to sell certain public lands. The bill allows people who have lived in Montana for at least ten years to purchase up to five acres of certain state lands to be identified by DNRC.
Emrich pitched his proposal as one way to provide affordable housing and to raise state revenue at the same time. After the committee hearing, where numerous questions were raised which Emrich could not answer, he punted to the DNRC, saying that the agency would have broad rule making authority which would fix any problems that came up. Deferring to administrative rule making is common among legislators who are poorly prepared to advocate for their own bills.
The Poorly Prepared Senator
Emrich’s bill drew immediate opposition from tribal governments, conservation organizations and others. During the hearing it became apparent the bill was poorly thought out and raised many questions which could not be answered by Emrich or the staff of DNRC. Follow this link to watch the full hearing. https://citizenportal.ai/Search/View?dp=1&key=2415978-5d89fc62191832280e209a7897242cbb&start=744&end=1698
No Supporters So The Bill Died (Thankfully)
No supporters testified on behalf of Emrich’s bill. Several days after the hearing, the committee voted unanimously to table (kill) the bill.
by Ken Toole | Feb 26, 2025 | E-City Beat Watch
In the last couple of weeks, city commissioners Rick Tryon and Joe McKenney have come out in strong defense of allowing local governments to control management of their various functions. But they kept on their blindfolds and didn’t name which political party is stifling local governments. Too bad both of them ignore the fact that the vast majority of the laws on the books which are strangling local governments came from conservative Republicans in the legislature. All of this, done in the name of reducing regulations and taxes, leaves cities, counties and school districts struggling.
McKenney Is Upset He Didn’t Get The Memo
McKenney bent over backwards to put a conservative polish in his blog post. Lamenting the anti-local government bills in this legislature, he wrote, “Last time I checked, conservatism was about keeping the government small and decisions local. Since when did ‘Big Government Knows Best’ become a conservative slogan? Did I miss the memo?”
McKenney didn’t miss the memo. Republican hostility to local governments hasn’t changed much over the years. Republicans in the legislature were pretty much the same during McKenney’s four terms in the Montana House of Representatives. Maybe he wasn’t paying attention. Or maybe his service on the city commission changed his opinion?
Tryon Piles On. . .But Never Mentions It’s The Republicans
Then there is Rick Tryon’s blog post on the same topic. Tryon’s ire is directed at Great Falls Republican Senator Jeremy Trebas’ SB 266, which takes certain planning decisions away from local governments. In his usual bombastic style, Tryon writes, “Hey, Great Falls, do you want Big Brother Helena to control how citizens in Great Falls choose to budget, zone our community, and manage our resources? I say, ‘Hell no!’”
In a report on legislative property tax bills, The Montana Free Press quoted Tryon saying, “I directly blame the Montana legislature for the property tax problem. And it’s strangling local government.” Tryon’s only half right. Governor Gianforte’s inaction in the face of inflationary property values in Montana, and then blaming local governments, is also a driver in the current property tax mess.
The Montana Free Press story went on to explain that HB 20 is one bill that seems to have “legs.” Great Falls area legislators supporting this bill are Buttrey, Fitzpatrick, Miner, Nikolakakos (George and Melissa), Tilleman, Gist and McKamey. These are all Republicans. The lone “no” vote so far in the process is Democrat Jane Weber.
It’s good to know Tryon and McKenney support local government authority and autonomy. But their effort to put that in the context of “conservative values” rings hollow. Truth is Republicans love playing “reduce regulation and cut taxes” politics. It’s great for getting elected, but not so good for actually managing city government. This is what you get when your rhetoric outpaces common sense.
by Ken Toole | Feb 20, 2025 | Elections
I wrote this February 25, 2011, 14 years ago. I wrote it in response to the drubbing democrats took in 2010, Obama’s first mid-term election. Since that time we have had more elections dominated by republican victories. Every time democrats lose we engage in self flagellation and hand wringing about needing a new “message”. Committees form, discussions follow, and fingers point. In the end we settle for the lowest common denominator and messages we think will attract the “moderate middle”. Clearly, that approach has failed us.
Dear Democratic Leaders,
I am Democratic base. Please feed me!!
I’m tired, weak and discouraged. I haven’t been fed in a very long time. Last election I just couldn’t muster the strength to get out to the polls, let alone write checks or volunteer. Please feed me!! I need red meat. I can’t survive on a diet of gun rights, tax cuts and developing natural resources. I don’t get excited about shooting wolves, or selling coal to China, or cutting the business equipment tax. And extending the Bush tax cuts and opposing the Dream Act gave me a stomach ache.
Republicans Don’t Do It This Way
The Republicans feed their base. They never miss a chance to drop a big t-bone on the plate. They stand up and talk about banning abortion, putting a pistol in every pocket and making gay people illegal. They smother the red meat with spices like deregulation, privatization and cutting taxes. I can still watch their base gnawing on the bones. They are so fat and sassy they sometimes bite each other because they are so darned energized. Why can’t you feed me?
I know, I know, you’re feeding me jobs, jobs, jobs. And that’s just fine, I suppose. . . .if you like bland oatmeal all day, every day. Of course we all like jobs but what is behind the problem? Why aren’t you talking about deregulated corporations out-sourcing work, the attack on labor unions and bankers sitting on piles of cash? What you are feeding me is more like day old bread than red meat.
What About Traditional Democratic Message?
I really liked it when you fed me things like helping senior citizens, protecting the environment, and making rich people pay their fair share of taxes. Now, that was really good stuff. It gave me a lot of strength and energy. It was good for my digestion.
A couple of years ago you gave me some really good appetizers. All the talk about reforming health care and addressing climate change really got me salivating for the main course. But when I sat down at the table I ended getting served gruel prepared by big special interest groups. . . .just like I had been getting for years.
Only Yellow Lines And Dead Skunks In The Middle Of The Road
You seem more interested in inviting those other guys to dinner than making sure I have enough to eat. You love using their recipes and serving their wine. Well, I don’t like their food and I don’t like them preparing the menu. In fact, I don’t like having them at our table. It gives me gas.
I know you think I’m peevish and demanding. You think I’m idealistic and don’t understand how to cook a good meal. That’s fine, but you still seem to want me in the kitchen all the time. What am I supposed to do there. . . .the dishes?
Please, Give Us Some Red Meat!
Put a menu in front of me with recipes made from the ingredients we both used to love so much. Put a thick steak on the grill exposing how the super rich are screwing the rest of us and cover it with a special sauce made with traditional Democratic values like standing up for the little guy, investing in education, and controlling big corporations. I can almost smell the sweet aroma now.
So feed me! I want to be there for you. I want to have the strength to help you carry the day. But I just can’t do it without some protein.
Ken Toole
With apologies to my vegetarian friends
by Ken Toole | Feb 16, 2025 | Guest Articles, Uncategorized
Senators Daines and Sheehy certainly can’t stand on principle when they can’t stand at all.
by Ken Toole | Feb 5, 2025 | Guest Articles
By Susan DeCamp
In 2008, I took an oath to the Constitution as a new Foreign Service Officer while standing under the flagpole in front of the Tactical Operations Center on a Provincial Reconstruction Team base in Farah, Afghanistan. I would go on to spend a total of 10 years in Afghanistan, working for USAID. It was my thing.
Fighting Poverty Under Fire In Afghanistan
As a USAID Development Officer, I lived on remote bases in containers, barracks, and on the Embassy compound. I have been under small arms fire, mortar fire, rocket fire, bombs, and the occasional earthquake. My military colleagues were the most intelligent, strategic and impressive people I have ever met in my life. We worked closely together to actualize counter insurgency initiatives based on the book written by General Petraeus. The military sought to protect the population from the Islamic terrorists as represented by the Taliban, ISIS and what have you. USAID sought to stabilize the country through poverty mitigation.This included: access to education for boys AND girls, access to healthcare, agriculture, infrastructure like roads and schools, government systems, and business support.
The Afghanistan president at the time, Hamid Karzai, insisted we call it reconstruction. In fact, it was building an entire economic system from scratch. (For a history of the Afghanistan conflict, read Ghost Wars by Steve Coll). We may have bitten off more than we could chew, but here is the most important point – these are the basic building blocks of a thriving, growing economy, any economy, anywhere.
Mission and Purpose of USAID
USAID is a “soft power” agency used by the government to head off potential military conflict and terrorist safe havens through the alleviation of poverty and ignorance. We were the “hearts and minds” approach that would hopefully promote democracy around the world, embrace diplomacy, and prevent our young people from being sent off to die in wars in foreign countries.
The US Agency for International Development (USAID) was created in 1961 via executive order of President Kennedy. Its creation was based on the success of the Marshall Plan after World War II. It became its own agency in 1998 by an act of Congress. USAID serves as part of the executive branch of government, but it is Congress that provides the budget. USAID funding amounts to less than 1 percent of the total national budget. USAID personnel were posted alongside the military to keep them apprised of who was doing what, where, and when throughout the country. We were part of the counter insurgency (COIN) strategy adopted by the coalition of the willing – known as the International Security and Assistance Force (ISAF).
Women’s Empowerment In Afghanistan
I managed a program in Afghanistan called “Promote.” Promote received a special appropriation of funds from Congress and was strictly for Afghan women’s empowerment projects. We were required to touch the lives of 75,000 Afghan women. Security was poor. Pakistan had been steadily sending Taliban, ISIS, and other terrorists into the country. (If you are interested, read the book The Wrong Enemy by Carlotta Gall).
I busted my chops making sure that all was above board with Promote. Having served for so long in the country, I knew most of the players, and I worked hard to make sure internal controls were in place and the projects were documented and effective.
A Special Inspector General With An Axe To Grind
In 2012 John Sopko was appointed Special Inspector General for Afghanistan. We had just about reached the end of the first year of Promote. This was the phase we called rollout, which entailed opening offices around the country and hiring over 90 percent Afghan staff to reach Afghan women. Sopko announced he would be auditing the program. It was the first year of a 5 year program, violating normal audit standards. He tortured us with endless meetings, demands for data, and began to issue his own press releases attacking USAID, and attacking Promote.
The lies came easily to Sopko. I spent time on the phone with Congressional staffers, debunking the lies. I was told by USAID leadership that I could not issue my own press release or correct the record. In the meantime, Promote clipped along doing some amazing work for Afghan women. Politico published an expose of Shopko’s behavior in 2016 titled, “The Donald Trump of inspector generals” https://www.politico.com/story/2016/05/john-sopko-afghanistan-reconstruction-goats-222418
Trump Handed Afghanistan To The Taliban
I was there when Trump sent McMaster to Kabul to seek an end to the continuing conflict. Ignoring McMaster’s advice, Trump sent his team to negotiate with the Taliban terrorists, ignoring the Afghan government we had spent blood and treasure to strengthen.
Trump was responsible for the deal that handed the country to the Taliban. He deliberately spat on the lives of American soldiers who had died and were disabled in the fight against the international threat of Taliban terrorism – just to make people think that we had failed. Lest we forget, Osama Bin Laden was operating out of Afghanistan to attack Americans. My heart was broken, as we knew what giving billions of dollars in US investment to the Taliban meant for Afghan women. Under the terrorist regime, the schools for girls were closed immediately. (See Politico, Sept. 17, 2020 “McMaster Rebukes Trump Over Taliban Talks”)
One More Page In The Republican Play Book
This is how it’s done, folks. These tactics also work on the Department of Education, Environmental Protection Agency, Food and Drug Administration, US Postal System, Social Security Administration, Medicare, etc. Republicans have been quietly gutting these important public support agencies, and lying about it, for years with their malicious political appointees who are only there to destroy. All because billionaires want even more power and do not want to pay taxes or contribute to the well being of our country. What takes centuries to build can be destroyed in days by evil, power seeking men and women.
