Weekly call to action

Montana Legislative News

From Edna Kent of Montanans for Limited Government: “Important legislation is on the horizon. Please be prepared to act quickly as we send out more announcements and calls to action next week as more details on Personhood, Local Food Choice, and other bills becomes available. And a sincere THANK YOU to everyone who continues to participate in this session by messaging, emailing, and calling legislators. Believe us when we say it is making a significant difference!” If you would like to be added to the email list to receive these weekly updates, send an email request to: mtforltdgov@gmail.com.

HB703  YES
Prohibit use of Vax Status or Immunity Passport for Certain Purposes Apr 12, 3 pm, Senate Public Health, Welfare and Safety
Message Committee: https://leg.mt.gov/web-messaging/
SB399  YES
Revise and Simplify Income Taxes Apr 13, 8 am, House Taxation
Message Committee: https://leg.mt.gov/web-messaging/
SB385  YES
Revise Special District Laws Apr 13, 8 am, House Taxation
Message Committee: https://leg.mt.gov/web-messaging/
HR6  YES
Resolution Opposing MUS Requiring COVID Vaccine Apr 13, 3 pm, House Human Services
Message Committee: https://leg.mt.gov/web-messaging/
SB400  YES
Parental rights Apr 14, 8 am, House Judiciary
Message Committee: https://leg.mt.gov/web-messaging/

Did you know?

There is a fantastic website to help us identify the BAD BILLS. With over 3,000 bills being worked on in Montana’s current 67th legislative session, how can anyone keep up? https://www.badbills.com/ has been “helping Montanan citizens navigate the legislative process since 2002”.

What about Federal legislation?

Why reinvent the wheel? Montanans for Limited Government has paved the way for us all to keep well informed on important action for We the People—as Montanans and Americans—can take to maintain our liberties. Click here now to get informed. 

Montana’s 2A Rights URGENT Action Needed

From Gary Marbut of President Montana Shooting Sports Association. Gary has spoken to us at Stand Together For Freedom Mondays:

MSSA Friends,

HB 436 was tabled on Friday by the Senate Judiciary Committee.  HB 436 is to finish the work begun by LR-130 last year, and patch a couple of loopholes left over from HB 102.

Usual pro-gun stalwart Senator Bob Brown made the motion to table HB 436 and was joined by all Democrats and Senator Esp,  and also joined by usual pro-gun stalwart senators Manzella and Regier.  (Note:  Republicans McGilvrey, Hinebauch, and Friedel voted against the motion to table HB 436, so they stuck with us.)  Why did these three pro-gun senators oppose HB 436?  Well, there are several reasons.

1.  These senators are fed up with the inept and offensive lobbying tactics by the National Association for Gun Rights (NAGR).  NAGR was founded by opportunist Dudley Brown to raise money for Dudley using gun rights as bait.  To help justify NAGR’s aggressive fundraising, they have adopted a lobbying style similar to a toddler who throws a screaming tantrum in a public place.  NAGR and people in its orbit will scream and threaten, and generally be abusive to legislators.

NAGR did this with HB 436, which seriously offended these pro-gun senators.  This is why I ALWAYS advise you to be polite when contacting legislators.  NAGR will brag about such abusive tactics, saying “See how effective we are!  We’re getting their attention!”  Yeah, right.

I have told NAGR to stay out of Montana.  Alas, we have no way to enforce that, so we warn legislators to ignore them.  This is not the first pro-gun bill they’ve killed or hampered in Montana with their offensive tactics

All other known gun rights groups agree with MSSA about NAGR, including the NRA, GOA, and SAF/CCRKBA.  NAGR is a bad actor and a gun rights liability.  In fundraising pitches to support their founder Dudley, NAGR will claim sole responsibility for the successes of LR-130 and HB 102 and demand donations because only they can fix the next sky-is-falling gun rights problem.  They have tried to cash in on other MSSA successes before by claiming responsibility for those.

So, the primary reason pro-gun senators Brown, Manzella, and Regier voted against HB 436 was because they were fed up with the antics and tactics of NAGR and its followers.

2.  There is growing tension between the Senate and House.  This always happens late in the session.  The House gets frustrated over House bills being delayed, amended, or tabled in the Senate.  The Senate gets frustrated by Senate bills being delayed, amended, or tabled in the House.  That’s why I like to bring MSSA bills early, as we did with HB 102 and HB 258, before this animosity flares up.  I’ve seen sessions much worse than this one in this regard, especially when the Democrats control one chamber and Republicans control the other.  The House may kill one Senate bill, so the Senate kills three House bills.  Then the House will kill six Senate bills, and so forth.

This tension is not as bad this session with Republicans controlling both chambers, but the tension and frustration is building in the Legislature.  Members of the Senate are running short on patience with House bills now because of some bills favored by the Senate that have not done well in the House.

HB 436, of course, is a House bill, which came before the Senate Judiciary Committee as frustration is building in the Senate over the fate of Senate bills in the House.

3.  Legislators are wearing out.  The Montana Legislature meets for only 90 working days every two years.  Because of this short session (which I believe is good for Montana), legislators have a staggering workload.  They put in very long hours, day after day, and must get up to speed and become accountable on a huge array of topics.  They have been doing this for three months now.  They are just wearing out and the patience of individual legislators is getting quite low.  I sympathize with them for this.

4.  HB 436 is a bit complicated to understand.  Legislators thought they had pretty much gotten the gun rights job done with HB 102.  They reached a long way, politically speaking, with HB 102.  Now we’re back trying to explain that the combined effect of LR-130 and HB 102 needs a couple of patches with HB 436 to be finished.  And this is at a time they’re being abused by NAGR over HB 436, they’re getting frustrated with House treatment of Senate bills, and they’re worn to a frazzle.

So, you can see that this situation is kind of a perfect storm of negative conditions for HB 436 – wind, rain, hail, and lightning when there is still work to be done outside.

We need to persuade senators Brown, Manzella, and Regier to resurrect and pass HB 436 with the sponsor’s amendment.  MSSA is not NAGR.  These senators are our friends!  BE NICE, BE POLITE, and be respectful.  Do NOT threaten.  Use “Please” and “Thank you” – a lot.  But, do contact them by phone, message, AND email asking them to please reconsider, revive, and pass HB 436 with the sponsor’s amendment.

There’s not much time for this.  The session is getting towards the end.  The deadline for Senate-amended general bills to be returned to the House is the end of this coming week (Friday, April 16th).  Plus, if we can get HB 436 sprung from the Senate Judiciary Committee, it will still need to appear on the Senate floor for Second Reading and Third Reading.  That gives us Monday and Tuesday, and maybe Wednesday to get HB 436 acted on by the Committee.

Thanks for your help!

HB 258 update:  HB 258 is finished with the enrolling process.  It must now be signed by the President of the Senate and Speaker of the House before being sent to the Governor.  Coming soon.  Stay tuned …

Best wishes,
 –Gary Marbut, President Montana Shooting Sports Association http://www.mtssa.org Author, Gun Laws of Montanahttp://www.mtpublish.com

Update from Montanans for Vaccine Choice (MTVC)

Thanks to Glenda Edgeworth for this update sent from Maria Wyrock, Director, Montanans for Vaccine Choice:

Congratulations! ? ? Our bills HB 702 anti-discrimination to vaccine status and prohibiting immunity passports & HB 703 limiting vaccine passports for certain purposes have made it to the Senate!  We cannot celebrate just yet.  Do not be mistaken, we have to fight for it even harder in the Senate, the battleground will be the voting on the Senate floor.  Actions items to follow this week will reflect that. These two will be heard on Monday, but the goal is to get HB 702 out first and keep HB 703 as back-up in reserve. If the Senators kill HB 702 on the floor, then the HB 703 will come out fast and furious to the floor. We are asking leadership to schedule HB 702 for the Senate floor Monday the 19th – and we need every person who can show up that day to be there by noon! 

To quantify the monumental accomplishments that YOU helped gain for these bills is to look at the total messages thru 4/8 FOR (means asking for YES votes):
 > HB 415 + HB 702 (the same bill) = 3,642
 > HB 703 = 7,380
*Now we need to RAMP up the web message FOR HB 702!!! 

BILLS UPDATES & ACTIONS:

SB332 – Foster care immunizations – this bill has to be voted on in COMMITEE any day now – please send an urgent message to the committee asking for DO PASS as it was written! 
https://leg.mt.gov/web-messaging/
Monday 4/12 House Floor session
HB 334 – revising medical exemptions to school immunization – Status – passed House & Senate, House 2nd reading and voting on amendment from Senate ONLY, if it passes 2nd reading, it will be read or 3rd, if it passes 3rd reading with majority vote, it will go to Governor’s desk to vote on it. 

Monday 4/12 at 3 pm – HB 702 & HB 703 – Senate Public Health Welfare, Safety Hearing – this is a FRIENDLY COMMITTEE – if you testify, please keep it very brief! 
Please send in web messages for HB 702 to the list we are concerned about the most
https://leg.mt.gov/web-messaging/
> Bruce (Butch) Gillespie – Steve Fitzpatrick – Brian Hoven – Russel E Tempel – Duane Ankney – John Esp – Walt Sales – Jeffrey Welborn – Terry Gauthier – Daniel Salomon

Send the following a thank you for great voting record on vaccine rights and choice, please also support and help us secure MORE VOTES because we might not have enough votes in the Senate. 
– Mike Cuffe – Carl Glimm – Keith Regier – Mark W. Blasdel – Bob Keenan – Greg Hertz – Bob Brown – Ryan Osmundson – Mike Lang – Steve Hinebauch – Kenneth Bogner – Jason Small – Doug Kary – Tom McGillvray – Chris Friedel – Cary L. Smith – Brad Molnar – David Howard – Gordon “Gordy” Vance – Jason W. Ellsworth – Theresa Manzella

Tuesday 4/13 at 3 pm – House Resolution 6 – Resolution opposing MT University System requiring COVID vaccination
(H) Human Services Committee Room 152
Send web messages in support FOR HR 6 – https://leg.mt.gov/web-messaging/

Wed 4/14 at 8 am – SB 400 Parental Rights in (H) Judiciary Room 137 – Send web messages in support FOR SB 400
https://leg.mt.gov/web-messaging/

Link to register to testify over zoom for those that deadlines are not missed – https://leg.mt.gov/public-testimony/
JOIN OUR PUBLIC TELEGRAM FOR ACTION UPDATES AND UNCENSORED NEWS! 
https://t.me/MTvaccinechoice

In Liberty & Health,

Maria Wyrock
tel. 952-999-0717
Director, Montanans for Vaccine Choice (MTVC)
Like & Follow our New Public Facebook (MTVC of 10.4K followers was taken down)  
https://www.facebook.com/MTHFRalliance

Weekly call to action

Legislation updates from Montanans for Limited Government:

HB09  NO Cultural and Aesthetic Grants (this is not a constitutional function of government!) Apr 6, 9 am, Senate Finance and Claims Message Committee: https://leg.mt.gov/web-messaging/

HB602 YES Require warrant for search of consumer DNA database. Apr 9, 8 am, Senate Judiciary Message Committee: https://leg.mt.gov/web-messaging/

SB199, Montana Local Food Choice Act, is still working its way through the Legislature. Be prepared in the coming weeks to act quickly. If Governor Gianforte fails to green-light raw milk and food producer freedom of choice, it will demonstrate a lack of conviction for liberty. You can reach his office and speak to a real person at 855-318-1330

If you would like Montana legislative email updates directly from Montanans for Limited Government, please contact Edna Kent at mtforltdgov@gmail.com.

Weekly call to action

This week’s urgent legislation: Your voice makes a difference.

Federal Legislation

Urge Sen. Tester to Stand for Your 2A Rights! Please call Sen. Tester at 202-224-2644 or email him info@jontester.com and urge him to NOT BACK DOWN to Senator Chuck Schumer on the filibuster. Schumer wants Tester to support nixing the filibuster and to pass gun control in the Senate with 51 votes. Right now with the filibuster, the Senate has to jump over the 60-vote threshold. Without the filibuster, the senate only needs a simple majority vote against our 2A rights.

Montana Legislation

SB100  YES Welfare Fraud Prevention Act March 30, 3 pm, House Human ServicesMessage Committee: https://leg.mt.gov/web-messaging/

HB337  YES Personhood March 31, 8 am, Senate Judiciary Message Committee: https://leg.mt.gov/web-messaging/
(Please scroll down or click here for more information and thoughts on this bill from Dr. Annie Bucacek.)

HB334  YES Revise Laws on Medical Exemptions to Vaccines March 31, 3 pm, Senate Public Health, Welfare and Safety Message Committee: https://leg.mt.gov/web-messaging/

B580  NO Revise Laws Related to Political Committees March 31, 3 pm, Senate State Administration Message Committee: https://leg.mt.gov/web-messaging/

HB115  Comment Increase Penalties for 5th and Subsequent DUI
April 1, 9 am, Senate Finance and Claims Message Committee: https://leg.mt.gov/web-messaging/

HB162 YESExempt SS benefits from MT Individual Income TaxCall House Taxation Committee: 406.444.4800

SB215 YES RFRA Find your House Rep: https://www.leg.mt.gov/map/ Message your House Rep: https://leg.mt.gov/web-messaging/ Call your House Rep: 406.444.4800

HB112 YES Protect women’s sports Find your Senator: https://www.leg.mt.gov/map/ Message your Senator: https://leg.mt.gov/web-messaging/ Call your Senator: 406.444.4800

House Judiciary Committee https://leg.mt.gov/web-messaging/ Wed, March 31, 8 am

HB702 YES Prohibit discrimination based on Vax Status or Possession of Immunity Passport

HB703 YES Prohibit use of Vax Status or Immunity Passport for Certain Purposes (medical privacy and civil rights protection)
Also message these committees on HB702 & HB703: House Appropriations, House Biz & Labor, House Education, House Human Services

*****Remember: you can use the click back button for ease and efficiency in messaging all these committees. *****

HB334 YES Revise laws on medical exemptions from vaccinesWed, March 31, 3 pm, Senate Public Health, Welfare & Safety Message Committee: https://leg.mt.gov/web-messaging/

SB332 YES Revise Immunization Laws Related to Foster CareBy Wed, March 31Message House Human Services Committee: https://leg.mt.gov/web-messaging/

SB400 YES Parental RightsWed, Apr 1, 8 am, Senate Judiciary Message Committee: https://leg.mt.gov/web-messaging/

Update on SB199, Local Food Freedom Act, has made it out of the House Committee! Stay tuned for updates. 

Thanks to Edna Kent of Montanans for Limited Government for these great weekly update that we can forward on to you. Check out their newest blog post. It contains a plan for communicating with Senators Daines and Tester.

Join Dr. Annie Bucacek to stand for Life in Helena this Wednesday.

From Dr. Annie, President of Montana ProLife Coalition, regarding HB 337—Personhood Amendment Bill, which will be heard by the Senate Judiciary Committee this Wednesday 3/31/2021 @ 8 am: Please join me at the Capitol building for this momentous occasion, a proclamation of the worth God has given us. The hearing will be in Room 303, the beautiful room that used to be the Supreme Court Hearing Room. If you are going to sit in the balcony, please sign in first.

If you have a written testimony, please bring 12 copies to submit…print your name plus Presented to Senate Judiciary Committee 3/31/2021…I share with you some talking points below.

Anyone honest with themselves knows even at our best moments we are flawed…Nevertheless, I take God at His word that, we are the pinnacle of His creation. And those unborn babies are the most pure expression of that inestimable value.

If you haven’t already, please contact the Senate Judiciary Committee and ask them to vote YES for HB 337 Personhood… email and text is great…and click here to send a message to the entire SJC. After you send the message to the committee, hit the back arrow and send a message to Susan Webber on the SJC who is personally prolife but doesn’t vote that way. It takes very little time once you have your message cut and pasted the first time.

SENATE JUDICIARY COMMITTEE

Keith Regier (R, Kalispell) 406-756-6141 Keith.regier@mtleg.gov;

Tom McGillvray (R) 406-698-4428 Tom.mcgillvray@mtleg.gov;

Diane Sands (D, Missoula) 406-251-2001 senatorsands@gmail.com

Bryce Bennett (D, Missoula)  406-546-3629  Bennettformontana@gmail.com;

Bob Brown (R, Thompson Falls) 406-242-0141  Bob.brown@mtleg.gov;

John Esp (R, Big Timber) 406-932-5662  johnesp2001@yahoo.com;

Chris Friedel (R, Billings)  406-272-2245  chris@chrisfriedel.com;

Steve Hinebauch (R)  406-365-7967  steve.hinebauch@mtleg.gov;

Theresa Manzella (R)  406-546-9462  Theresa.manzella@mtleg.gov;

Susan Webber (D, Brownin) 406-450-1894 nitzitap@3rivers.net

Copy and paste this list to email them all at once:
Keith.regier@mtleg.gov,
Tom.mcgillvray@mtleg.gov
senatorsands@gmail.com
Bennettformontana@gmail.com
Bob.brown@mtleg.gov
johnesp2001@yahoo.com
chris@chrisfriedel.com
steve.hinebauch@mtleg.gov
Theresa.manzella@mtleg.gov
nitzitap@3rivers.net;

In addition to the SJC, Please give focused attention on the following Republican (Sen. Hoven has voted against Personhood 4 of the last 5 sessions) and Democrats…

Brian Hoven (R, Great Falls)  406-761-8533  brian.hoven@mtleg.gov;

Mike Fox (D, Hays MT, tribal council, retired military)  406-399-0479 Fbbuffalo@yahoo.com;

Edie McClafferty (D, Butte)  406-490-5873  edie.mcclafferty@mtleg.gov;

Mike Sweeney (D, Philipsburg)  406-560-0171  mike.sweeney@mtleg.gov;

Ryan Lynch (D, Butte) 406-498-6625  ryan.lynch@mtleg.gov;

Next Monday, April 5th: Author, Matt Trewhella, will join us via Zoom

In addition to being pastor of Mercy Seat Christian Church (founded in 1989) in the Milwaukee, WI area, Pastor Trewhella is also founder of the pro-life organization Missionaries to the Preborn, author of the book The Doctrine of the Lesser Magistrates: A Proper Resistance to Tyranny and a Repudiation of Unlimited Obedience to Civil Government, and lectures frequently on righteous resistance and the lesser magistrate doctrine. Through his research and teaching on the biblical duties of the lower magistrate, Pastor Matt Trewhella came across the Magdeburg Confession, an important historical work that became the first in the history of mankind to set forth in a doctrinal format what only later came to be known as the Lesser Magistrate Doctrine. His website is https://defytyrants.com/. Pastor Trewhella and his wife Clara live in the Milwaukee, WI area. They have eleven children.

Mark your calendar for May 1st: Unmask Missoula Now!

We are going back to Missoula on Saturday, May 1st, to hold a Proclamation of Freedom against the Covid mindset so prevalent there. Please spread the news with your own email contacts, friends, family, neighbors, and associates. We have full permissions to print and hand out this flyer: click here now to download the flyer.

We have cut our teeth on the sign rallies in Hamilton and the recent one in Missoula. Now it is time to make a real splash which the media and the liberals cannot ignore. Large numbers of warm bodies who want to be free are imperative to drive home the message (Thanks to Roger Mitchell for the flyer and copy).

Talking Points on abortion written by Dr. Annie Bucacek

THERE IS NO QUESTION AS TO WHEN LIFE BEGINS That human life begins at conception is not philosophy, theology, or political ideology but established scientific fact. It was known in 1973 the unborn child has its own genome, separate from mother, and distinctively human.  At conception, the entire genome is present that will be there at birth and beyond. Gender, hair and eye color, and other heritable traits are established at conception. There is no difference in the genetics of any of us now and when we were conceived. The only difference between each of us then and now is time and an environment with nutrition and other conditions conducive to growth. Anyone who says they don’t know when human life begins is either ignorant or dishonest.

WOMEN/GIRLS VICTIMIZED by PROFIT-DRIVEN CLINICS The abortion industry exploits women for profit. Profit from abortions performed is nothing compared to the money being made off the illegal sale of aborted baby body parts. We know this from the well documented exposure of Planned Parenthood in recent years. This lends credence to the belief by many, that this same organization encourages risky sex for young people and unplanned pregnancy for the sake of their profit. The abortion industry is not existing to help girls and women, but to exploit them. Women and young girls are victimized by profit driven clinics with encouraged early sexuality before the girls and boys are ready or even interested in sex.

MOTHERS are COERCED into ABORTION It is estimated that over 50% of abortions are coerced…one study up to 64%…coercion by father of the child, parents, grandparents, peers, abortion industry workers. The threats in the coercion may include loss of relationship(s), home, job, may involve violence. In a survey of post abortive women, 83% said they would have continued the pregnancy if they had received support. As a society, we need to support these women. Passing Personhood won’t solve all the problems, but will be a step as it will give moms legal protection against the force loss of their children.

ABORTION with REGRETS In published statistics, many women regret their abortions. You’d be hard pressed to find a woman who, faced with challenging circumstances and considering abortion, regrets they decided instead to have the baby. Yet, many if not most post abortive women have deep regrets. Some are never able to conceive. There is no question: abortion exploits and damages women.

ABORTION DOES NOT EMANCIPATE WOMEN How we respond to the unborn, the weakest among us, tests our humanity and challenges the depth of our commitment to equality. In spite of massive efforts to hide what abortion is, the woman knows or will figure it out at some point. Whatever life burdens she already carries, having an abortion further saddles her with having killed an innocent, helpless, and fully human being. A fleeting and feeble “freedom” indeed!

CONTRACEPTION, ECTOPIC/TUBAL PREGNANCIES, and MISCARRIAGES will NOT be CRIMINALIZED with PASSAGE of PERSONHOOD Contraceptives have been available since 1960, 13 years before Roe V Wade. Ectopic pregnancies and miscarriages were not investigated for criminality prior to Roe V Wade. They will not be criminalized with the passage of a Personhood Amendment.

RAPE, INCEST, DOMESTIC VIOLENCE and WOMEN’S STATUS are NOT ENHANCED by DEHUMANIZATION of BABIES—WILL NOT BE WORSENED by PASSAGE of the PERSONHOOD AMENDMENT Despite massive efforts to hide what abortion is, one carrying an unwanted pregnancy knows or will figure it out at some point. Regardless the poor timing, possibly traumatic circumstances of the pregnancy and the understandable desire to end it…maybe even conception from the horror of rape/incest. Later in life, when they conceive under better circumstances and study the life of the unborn, they realized they killed their innocent baby. For people with a conscience, it seems easier to forgive the perpetrator of the crime against them than for them to forgive themselves for destroying their child. Giving birth to a child conceived in rape could be traumatic, but getting an abortion doesn’t erase the primary trauma of the race itself…and that trauma is magnified by abortion. We cannot predict with certainty how a post abortive mother will deal with abortion trauma, but we can make two statements with 100% certainty: 1. their child is dead. 2. The child’s death doesn’t erase the rape. Rape victims often heal from the harm done to them by others, but the physical, emotional, and spiritual scars remain from destroying their child.

RAPE and INCEST Killing innocent people is never a solution, and abortion does not erase the trauma of rape. Later in life, when rape victims conceive under better circumstances and study the life of the unborn, they realized they had killed their innocent baby—For those with a conscience, it tends to be easier to forgive the perpetrator of the crime against them than  to forgive themselves for the crime against their child. The rape is of course traumatic, giving birth to a child conceived in rape could certainly be traumatic.  So is the knowledge that you killed your own child. We cannot predict how a post abortive mother will handle the trauma of abortion, but we can make two statements with 100% certainty: 1. their child is dead. 2. The child’s death doesn’t erase the rape. Most rape victims heal from the harm done to them by others, but the physical, emotional and spiritual scars remain from destroying their unborn children.

STFF Weekly Call to Action

URGENT GUN LEGISLATION:

Contact U.S. Senators with a NO vote on the following over-reaching gun bills: HR-8, HR-127, HR-1446 and HR-1808. These bills passed the U.S. House. Hearings will be conducted in the Senate Judiciary Committee. These bills are an assault on our 2nd Amendment rights and were designed to pave the way for total gun control by the federal government in direct opposition to our 2nd amendment. This is a blatant and obvious move by liberal leftists to disarm the American citizenry. Many Communist regimes have employed the same anti-gun rhetoric and subsequent actions in order to disarm and weaken any resistance of the populace. Our Constitution and the 2nd amendment right were specifically included in order to prevent an over zealous government from running over citizens. There is no justification for these bills to become law and no evidence to support that they would prevent any future violence to any great degree. Please ask Senators to vote NO on these four over-reaching bills. Reach government officials and hold them accountable. Click here now.

Remind them how to vote: Contact Montana legislators this week.

Montanans for Limited Government is a fantastic source of consolidated information for Constitutionally Conservative citizens. Email them to get the latest updates on legislation at mtforltdgov@gmail.com. Here is the website address: https://mtflg.org/

Here is the latest update, sent by Chairman, Edna Kent:

HB337, Personhood, has passed the House and is headed to the Senate. Now is the time to contact all Democrat Senators and ask for their YES vote on this. If Senators are unwilling to let HB337 be put to the vote of the people of Montana as a ballot measure, then they do not believe in the voice of the people. The closest we can get to affecting the kind of government we want is when we, the people, vote through the process of ballot measures. Legislators are to represent us, not rule over us in an authoritarian manner. Being opposed to ballot measures is akin to saying voters cannot be trusted to make decisions.Legislators need to let the people of Montana speak on such a critical matter as Personhood. Find Senators (select Senate in the dropdown box on the left): https://www.leg.mt.gov/legislator-information/ Message Senators: https://leg.mt.gov/web-messaging/

The Religious Freedom Restoration Act is heading to the House. Contact your House Rep and ask for a YES vote on SB215. Find Your House Rep: https://www.leg.mt.gov/map/ Message Your Rep: https://leg.mt.gov/web-messaging/

LEGISLATIVE ACTION

HB257 YES Revise laws relating to government mandates and businesses
March 22, 8 am, Senate Judiciary
Message Committee: https://leg.mt.gov/web-messaging/
HB501 YES Failure to wear face covering or carry proof of vax not considered criminal trespass
March 22, 8 am, Senate Judiciary
Message Committee: https://leg.mt.gov/web-messaging/
SB332 YES Revise immunizations laws related to foster care March 23, 3 pm, House Human Services
Message Committee: https://leg.mt.gov/web-messaging/
SB315  YES Born-alive Infant Protection Act March 26, 8 am, House Judiciary
Message Committee: https://leg.mt.gov/web-messaging/
SB283 YES Clarify expulsion law for firearm in vehicle on school parking lotMarch 26, 8 am, House JudiciaryMessage Committee: https://leg.mt.gov/web-messaging/

What if there was no Health Officer?

Just think how different life would be different if health officers didn’t have the power they do. We can still turn this around through legislation. Contact legislators on the following two bills:
HB121 YES Require elected official approval of local health board and officer actions. Business, Labor and Economic Affairs Commitee: https://leg.mt.gov/web-messaging/
HB230 YES Generally revise emergency and disaster laws. Senate Judiciary Committee: https://leg.mt.gov/web-messaging/

Patriot Cruisers ride again.

The youth of Ravalli are hosting a Vietnam War Veterans Day Cruise and BBQ. The event takes place this Sunday, March 28. Cruisers will meet at Murdoch’s in Hamilton at 2pm and travel together throughout the valley. Final destination will be the corner of US93 and Schearbrook Lane, north of Stevensville for the cookout (bring your own chairs). Please come thank and honor our veterans, and support the kids as the future leaders of our community.

This week in Stevensville: Burnt Fork Development Update

Tonight, March 23 at 6pm!

A Q & A meeting with the developer’s representatives, PCI, has been set-up at the request of Town Council member Jaime Devlin (a Creekside neighbor). Bring your questions; ask; pay attention to the answers. The meeting will be held at the school Stevensville School Multi-Purpose Room300 Park Avenue Building D.

The other meeting, a Town Council meeting, is scheduled Thursday, March 25, at the Stevi Library. This meeting starts at 7 pm. At the March 11 Town Council meeting, the mayor announced that this meeting would also include a public hearing. Notices about the hearing were NOT printed in the local newspaper in advance as required by state law and Town regulations. Letters were not mailed to adjacent property owners, either. The legal status of this public hearing is in doubt, but for those wishing to comment – or see local government in “action” — plan to attend (Thanks to Jim K. for the info!).

Dr. Annie said “yes”!

Our Monday night guest speaker, Dr. Annie Bucacek, has offered her email address for inquiries. Ask to get on her own email lists for updates on what she is learning: annie@hhckalispell.com

Weekly Call to Action

CRITICAL LEGISLATION FOR THE WEEK:

From Senator Theresa Manzella: Senators are getting a “TON” of emails against HB 258, which protects our 2nd Amendment from the Federal Government. The Senate Judiciary Committee is meeting TODAY for the hearing. Please tell the entire SJC committee to vote YES on HB 258. You can send your message here. Select “Committee,” (S) Judiciary, and HB 258.

House Bill 337 will be heard on the House floor this Thursday, March 18 sometime after 1pm. It defines “personhood” as “all members of mankind at any stage of development, beginning at the stage of fertilization or conception, regardless of age, health, level of functioning or condition of dependency.” If it passes, we will vote on the measure in November 2022. This bill needs a big YES. Contact House representatives here.

Hanging from a bridge….

On Saturday, we are headed to Missoula with signs to join the Worldwide Rally for Freedom happening around the globe. We will gather at 2pm on the South Reserve Pedestrian Bridge. Signs will be provided by Roger of faceoffreedom.org. If you know how to video a live event please contact Alan at (505) 603-8499. Carpooling and caravaning are available. Click here to learn more.

What precinct do you live in?

At Monday’s meeting, local rancher, Tony Hudson, shared more about serving on the Republican Central Committee in Ravalli County. There are many precinct seats open for our county. Check your voter id to know what precinct you are eligible to represent. Click here to learn about the Central Committee.

Next Week: The Return of Dr. Annie Bucacek

Next week, Dr. Annie Bucacek will join us again by Zoom to present the master plan behind Covid. If you missed Dr. Bucacek the first time she spoke to us, you won’t want to miss her this time around! She was one of the first medical professionals to call out the hoax of the virus.

County waste water regulations are approved.

Last Wednesday’s 6pm Ravalli County Waste Water continuance meeting ended with a relatively quiet sigh after 2 years of deliberations. We made a difference by praying and showing up! The board finally approved the regulations. Commissioners shared that variances were always available and that the county would work with residents through their individual cases, if need be. Ultimately, the regulations make for a functional foundation that can be improved upon as needed.

The next County Board of Health Meeting will be held at 1pm on April 14th.

There are many other decisions being made in Ravalli County on appointed and elected boards. Learn more about board openings here.

Standing together for Stevensville’s students.

At Last Tuesday’s Stevensville School Board Meeting, STFF presented over 500 signed letters supporting free choice for students and parents to Superintendent Bob Moore. We made varied comments to the board to let them know we do not support the current mask policy. While our request for another vote was not immediately granted, board member Sarah Armijo moved the conversation about mask policy be continued at next month’s school board meeting (it will be an in-person meeting only). Thank you to STFF members who stood up for the students and parents of Stevensville.

Your love and generosity – loud and clear.

We exceeded our goal of $1,000.00 and raised a total of $1,500, presented to the sheriff’s office last week, in honor of our fallen Ravalli County Deputy. A big thank you to everyone who gave to support the Andy Jessop family.

This week’s meetings and calls to action

It pays to show up!

At last Wednesday’s Ravalli County Waste Water meeting, a lot of common sense was brought to the Health Board from STFF members. There was an encouraging spirit of cooperation and collaboration throughout the meeting. Because of our suggested edits, new drafts (see below) were required for review and approval, which postponed a decision to this coming Wednesday. A big thank you to Commissioner Jeff Burrows, who went beyond protocol and offered to get all the commissioners’ approval of documentation before the official Board of Health approval. He also proposed a joint meeting and suggested a later start time to accommodate residents’ work schedules.

Ravalli County Health Board Waste Water Regulations Continuance of Second Hearing will be a joint meeting of the Commissioners and the Board of Health.

Wednesday, March 10 @ 6:00pm at the Ravalli County Administration Building, 215 S 4th St., Hamilton, Mt. For Zoom meeting details, click here now.

The marked-up version of the draft (all the proposed changes) and the draft with all approved changes to be reviewed on Wednesday are available here below.

Again, thank you, Shashin Hume for the original summarized regulations with talking points that helped us propose changes at last week’s meeting. View Ravalli County Waste Water Regs-Contesting Talking Points

A big NO to Stevensville Town Council

Thursday’s Town Council meeting at the LDS church in Stevi was disheartening. All comments were against the development except for one from the realtor who facilitated the sale of the land. A group of STFF members took action to pray at City Hall and at the proposed site last Friday. This is a high density development that will over-tax existing infrastructure and water resources. It doesn’t make sense, and the board needs to get their ducks in a row. The final Zoom hearing happens tonight.

Click here for Zoom meeting info, agenda and documentation.

Burnt Fork Subdivision Facts, Concerns, Costs

Read a compelling and comprehensive letter to the Bitterroot Star from resident Jim Kalkofen. Click here now.

SHOW UP FOR 30 MINUTES ON THURSDAY: The town council will make their final decision for the Burnt Fork Estates at Thursday’s meeting (details below). Mayor Dewey’s decision to hold the meeting in the small community room at the public library in Stevi effectively strangles resident attendance numbers and thereby discussion. If we and are locked out, we will assemble on the sidewalk. A photo or TV footage showcasing the mayor’s intentional efforts at eliminating dissenting opinions will make a great statement.

Discussion and decision Town Council meeting will be held at 7pm on Thursday, March 11 at the North Valley Public Library Community Room: 208 Main Street Stevensville. For agenda, documentation and more details, click here now.

500+ letters signed!

Thanks to all the STFF volunteers who helped collect over 500 signed letters at Super 1 and Burnt Fork Market over the week. STFF members kicked off the campaign with a prayer walk at the school, and God confirmed He heard our prayer! Super 1 even took down their own big mask sign while we were there! The letters support parents and students for the option of mask wearing at school, and will be presented to the Stevensville School Board at Tuesday’s meeting. Please make this meeting a priority and come fight for the children. Click here now for meeting details.

Would you consider running for office?

Who will step into a position of influence for the children? We can all pray for godly, conservative candidates to step forward. Maybe you are the one for the job. Ravalli County School Boards have a number of seats coming up for elections on May 4. Candidates must file by March 25. Click here to contact district offices for more details.

Aid for Deputy Andy Jessop’s family.

We will collect funds again tonight to support the family of fallen Ravalli County Deputy, Andy Jessop. Our goal is to reach $1,000.00. The money will be presented to Sheriff Holton in the name of Stand Together For Freedom. If your Freedom Team would like to contribute to the donation, please contact Alan. 505-603-8499

Montana is 2A STRONG. Thank you, Gary!

Last Monday, Gary Marbut, president of Montana Shooting Sports Association and author of “Gun Laws of Montana” shared encouraging news about 2A rights being upheld in current Montana legislation. Gary will send you pertinent updates if you email him at gary@marbut.com. You can support his excellent work by becoming a member of MSSA. Visit the website now.

Stealing Montana’s Water*

Montana Water Rights Protection Act is Illegal

As we have talked about in our Monday night meetings there is a serious threat coming to our community and state, it is in the form of legislation falsely called “The Montana Water Rights Protection Act” S3019. This water is being carried by Senator Steve Daines and wholly supported by Gov. Bullock.

This legislation abandons the protections Montanans enjoy under both the US and Montana Constitutions. Below are ten flaws of S.3019 that make it illegal on its face.

  1. The US Constitution is ignored and irrelevant. Article IV provides full faith and credit to States, full privileges and immunities of citizens, and no new states created within a state. S.3019 recognizes the CSKT as a sovereign nation instead of the legally established trustee of the US government. Governor Bullock signed away the First amendment of Montana citizens and executed an intentional violation of the Fifth Amendment (takings without compensation) when he illegally rammed the core bill (Montana S.262) through the Montana Legislature in 2015. Bullock ignored the power of the State of Montana under the Tenth Amendment, among other US Constitutional violations.

  2. The Montana State Constitution is Flexible. The CSKT water compact tramples upon Article II and Article IX of the Montana State Constitution by removing the popular sovereignty and inalienable rights of Montana citizens, taking water rights attached to property deeds and transferring off-reservation Montana waters to a federal “trust” for an Indian tribe. Article IX requires “a clean and healthful environment in Montana for (all) future generations.”Water is livelihood, or lack of livelihood. Transferring water from Montana citizens into a Federal trust to benefit a single tribe is abhorrent.

  3. The CSKT Constitution is all of sudden insignificant. Article VI of the CSKT Constitution declares that the Tribal Council’s powers and duties are subject to any limitations imposed by the US Constitution.

  4. US Supreme Court rulings on treaty law and water is being ignored. One hundred and fifty five years of treaty law and settled Supreme Court law that has established ample ”Federal reserved water rights” has been adjudicated fair in providing ample water for all the tribes people and enterprises. Just one of many Supreme Court rulings being ignored is the 2013 decision in Tarrent v. Herrmann unanimously asserted that “States have the absolute authority over all navigable waters within lands ceded to a state upon statehood.”

   5. Tribal Sovereignty is Superior to and more Precious than State Sovereignty.  Two major tribal privileges have caused elected officials of Montana to elevate tribal sovereignty over state sovereignty: 1) tribal governments directly finance incumbents and candidates. No other American governments may do so. Reservations place polling precincts within their boundaries where the Secretary of State has no access or jurisdiction and cannot ensure fair election practices. Many Montana elected officials have resisted changing these practices and say yes to the desires of the tribes even to the detriment of Montana and its citizens.

   6. The Federal Government, State and Tribe Have to Steal Water Rights Attached to Private Property Deeds. The entire ability to implement the proposed CSKT Compact is contingent upon surreptitious and nefarious removal of private water rights, and illegally transferring such rights to the Federal Government on behalf of the tribe. This is theft of water right without compensation and instrumental to the success of S.3019.

  7. A Montana Senator’s Oath of Office Must Prioritize the Tribes. The Federal Government has a “trust relationship with Indian tribes. States do not have this relationship unless they intentionally self-impose a State “trust” relationship with the Indian tribes. Montana did exactly that a couple decades ago. Montana elected officials either cooperate with tribes or have difficulty getting elected or remaining in office.

  8. A Territorial War Power Act against the State of Montana is the Right Way to Implement a Tribal Water Compact. In Senate Bill (S. 262) passed by the Montana Legislature it states “The Secretary of the Interior…has authority to execute this compact…pursuant to 43U.S.C. 1457…” This Statute is a Territorial War Power that may be applied in federal territories, but never against a State. Montana elected officials either naively or intentionally agreed to this travesty. There has been no discussion or action by state officials to protect state sovereign authority specific to this Compact.

9. All of a sudden the Montana State Legislature is Subservient to a Senator’s Decision. Montana Legislature’s bill, S.262 was wrapped into and amplified in Senator Tester’s Compact Bill, S.3013, which died in committee and later expanded upon and reintroduced by Daines in S.3019. This version of the bill further expands tribal authority over Montana waters and adds multi-millions ($1.9billion) to be exact, to the Compact way beyond what the Montana Legislature approved. Senators Tester and Daines overruled and grossly exceeded the decisions of the Montana Legislature, with no complaint from Montana elected officials. 

10. This Compact determines that Montana’s Waters should be Owned and Managed by the Federal Government via Proxy. The Proposed Water Compact transfers the state’s authority over its waters in eleven Western Counties to the Federal Government, to be held in “trust “for a single Indian tribe. Should this Compact be ratified by Congress, all other Montana tribes will demand the same water benefits. The end result will transfer all Montana waters to the Federal Government to be managed on behalf of Indian tribes.

This is a horror story for Montana, but this compact sets a terrible precedent for the rest of the nation if it becomes law. The Federal Government is using tribes as willing pawns to federalize the waters of the western states.

Unless State elected officials live up to their sworn obligations to protect the State of Montana, its citizens and resources, the Federal Government and tribes have smooth sailing for dismantling the balance of power between the Federal Government and the states. Water is life on the land. Tribal financing of elected officials is having undue influence in our state allowing egregious legislation like this to aid an overreaching Federal Government.

*Information sourced from Elaine D. Willman, MPA