Repeal HB664, and restore numeric nutrient water quality standards
HB664 eliminated numeric nutrient water quality standards across the state. The primary nutrients of concern are nitrogen and phosphorous. When these components exist in high concentrations in rivers and lakes, they allow nuisance algal blooms that deplete oxygen and can cause fish kills. They can also allow harmful algal blooms that have toxic effects on humans and aquatic animals and birds (NOAA). Decades of science tells us that we can prevent algal blooms by measuring and controlling the amount of nitrogen and phosphorous in waterways. Eliminating numeric standards goes against the well-established science.
Although the Montana Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) has developed “narrative nutrient water quality criteria,” this type of regulation will be subjective and will not be effective at preventing water quality degradation until it is too late. Regulating nitrogen and phosphorous levels prevents the overgrowth of algae, but narrative nutrient standards will likely result in not detecting the problem until the rivers are overgrown with algae.
Montana needs to re-establish numeric nutrient water quality standards that are attainable with modern technology and will keep Montana’s rivers and lakes in pristine condition.
federal tax money spent on science improves life in montana
I am a big supporter of science....science education, science funding, scientific thinking. I believe the world is a better place due to science and the many things scientists have learned. And I am a proponent of funding scientific agencies and federal research. See this opinion piece that I wrote for the Missoulian, published on October 30: "
https://missoulian.com/.../article_89f42cdd-c6a1-4d6a...…
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Data centers in montana
Earlier this year, the Montana legislature passed House Bill 424, giving tax breaks to data centers. These mega data centers can use as much as 30% of the power used by the entire state of Montana, and YOU are paying for the upgrades to the energy grid that these centers require! Additionally, they use massive amounts of water for cooling, running our rivers and groundwater dry, or returning it polluted. And they don’t bring a bunch of jobs to Montana. So who wins? Big business! Not you or me. Lastly, most of the deals with these centers are done in private, so that you do not know the details.
If elected I will work to educate folks about the damage these data centers cause, make the data companies pay for their energy and for grid upgrades, or even better, require that they produce their own RENEWABLE ENERGY, the way companies like Amazon and Microsoft are doing. And I will work to make the deals with these massive companies transparent and open to public input.
no kings!
The American Constitution was written to keep the powers of the president in check, with branches of equal power. Trump has repeatedly pushed the limits, firing employees and defunding programs that were explicitly funded by the legislature, and ignoring court rulings. That is why I supported the rally today.
Governor Gianforte has also made attempts to centralize power in the executive branch in Montana, for example, vetoing bipartisan legislation (House Bill 271 and Senate Bill 40) that would have increased government transparency. Gianforte’s office has been sued multiple times for withholding public documents. As a Montana legislator I will support efforts to make government transparent and keep the executive branch in its lane.
Healthcare access
Fifteen years ago today I was sent to the hospital for an emergency C-section after diagnosis of HELLP syndrome. HELLP is a rare syndrome that can occur during pregnancy and has a 25% rate of death if left untreated. I fortunately received top-notch treatment from high-risk pregnancy doctors and had health insurance that did not leave me saddled in debt. For my life, my health, the health of my son, and access to medical care I am eternally thankful. Today I spent the afternoon golfing with my son on his 15th birthday.
However, I know that many Montanans do not have affordable health insurance, and thanks to the “Big Beautiful Bill,” many Montanans will see their health insurance premiums increase substantially, and others will lose their Medicaid coverage. I believe that healthcare is a human right, not a privilege or something that needs to be earned. As your representative I will fight for the right of every every woman to receive prenatal and maternity care, and fore every Montanan to have access quality affordable healthcare.
#healthcare #healthinsurance #medicaid
Cherishing public lands
I spent another beautiful weekend enjoying public lands. I see public lands as one of the greatest accomplishments of our democracy. Everyone can use these lands, regardless of economic or social status. Public lands can be used for hiking, biking, rafting, camping, fishing, hunting, skiing, ATVing, sight-seeing, logging, mining, grazing. No one person or organization gets everything they want, but everyone gets something they want from these lands. This is the same way government should work, with teamwork and compromise everyone gets something, but no one gets everything. As your representative I will work to save public lands, but will also work with lawmakers on both sides to make democracy work for everyone.