Gallatin County Republican News

Gallatin County Attorney Takes ICE Dispute to Supreme Court Instead of Complying with AG Knudsen

Mon, 04 May 2026 17:28:50 GMT

Audrey Cromwell files petition seeking judicial clarification rather than directing her office to share confidential criminal justice information with federal ICE agents

Gallatin County Attorney Audrey Cromwell announced today that she has filed a petition with the Montana Supreme Court asking the justices to resolve her ongoing standoff with Attorney General Austin Knudsen over sharing Confidential Criminal Justice Information (CCJI) with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).

In the filing, Cromwell claims she has “no policy to rescind” and accuses the Attorney General of issuing “theatrical directives” instead of providing a formal legal opinion. She argues that releasing the information could expose the county to liability and violate Montanans’ constitutional right to privacy.

Gallatin County Republicans continue to believe this is the wrong approach.

Public safety should not be delayed by legal maneuvering or endless court proceedings. When local officials refuse to fully cooperate with federal law enforcement on criminal justice matters, they put the safety of every resident in Gallatin County at risk. Montana is not a sanctuary jurisdiction, and our elected officials should not be acting like one.

This latest move by Cromwell — filing suit instead of simply directing her office to comply with the Attorney General’s reasonable request — only prolongs the uncertainty and keeps the focus on legal technicalities rather than protecting our communities.

The Gallatin County Republican Central Committee stands firmly with Attorney General Austin Knudsen and full cooperation between state and federal law enforcement. We will continue to monitor this situation closely.

We urge every conservative in the Gallatin Valley to stay informed and make your voice heard — especially in the June 2 Republican primary. We need elected officials at every level who prioritize public safety and the rule of law over delay tactics and privacy excuses that shield criminal activity.

Read the full Supreme Court filing here:

https://supremecourtdocket.mt.gov/case-info/active/29178

Previous coverage on this issue:

Soros-Backed Dark Money Network Funneled $500,000 into Montana’s “Fake Republican” PAC Conservatives4MT

Mon, 04 May 2026 16:38:04 GMT

New campaign finance records reveal Western Futures Fund — funded by the Sixteen Thirty Fund (heavily supported by George Soros and Swiss billionaire Hansjörg Wyss) — sent $500,000 to Conservatives4MT to support RINO candidates in the 2026 primaries

The paper trail is now public and undeniable.

Screenshot 1: Campaign finance receipts showing large transfers from Western Futures Fund to Way Back PAC

Screenshot 2: Nonprofit Explorer record showing connection to the Sixteen Thirty Fund (1630 Fund)

Screenshot 3 – Committee filing showing Conservatives4MT receiving $250,000 from Western Futures Fund and Way Back PAC

S creenshot 4 – Conservatives4MT spending summary on specific candidates

According to these public records, the Western Futures Fund sent $250,000 to Way Back PAC and another $250,000 directly to Conservatives4MT — for a combined total of $500,000 .

The Western Futures Fund itself received millions from the Sixteen Thirty Fund (1630 Fund) , a major left-wing dark money organization that raised $282 million in 2024 alone . Major funders include George Soros and Swiss billionaire Hansjörg Wyss.

This money has been used for independent expenditures supporting many of the same moderate/RINO candidates the Montana Republican Party has labeled “Fireweed Frauds.”

Gallatin County Republicans have been warning about this coordinated scheme for months. The MTGOP’s recent resolutions calling out the “Fireweed Frauds” and the Progressive Dirty Money Network have now been proven correct with hard financial records.

Montana voters deserve full transparency. When hundreds of thousands of dollars from Soros-linked dark money groups are flowing into Republican primaries, it is an organized effort to hijack our party from the inside.

We urge every conservative in the Gallatin Valley to look closely at who is really behind the ads and mailers in the June 2 primary. Demand honesty and vote for candidates who actually stand for the Montana Republican Platform.

Vote Republican on June 2 — and keep Montana red.

Cromwell Stands Firm: “No Policy to Rescind” as AG Knudsen Threatens State Takeover Over ICE Cooperation

Tue, 28 Apr 2026 20:20:53 GMT

Gallatin County Attorney continues to defy Attorney General Austin Knudsen’s deadline, demanding a legal opinion instead of full cooperation with federal immigration enforcement

Gallatin County Attorney Audrey Cromwell is refusing to back down in her standoff with Montana Attorney General Austin Knudsen.

In response to Knudsen’s April 6 deadline demanding she rescind her office’s position on sharing Confidential Criminal Justice Information (CCJI) with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), Cromwell stated clearly: “No policy to rescind.”

Instead of complying, she reiterated her earlier demand that the Attorney General issue a formal legal opinion on the matter. Knudsen’s office had warned that failure to reverse course would result in the state taking supervisory control over the County Attorney’s office.

According to reports, Knudsen’s deputy communications director, Chase Scheuer, confirmed they received Cromwell’s response and are reviewing it to determine next steps.

This ongoing refusal continues to block full cooperation between local law enforcement and federal ICE agents on criminal justice information sharing. Gallatin County Republicans have repeatedly stated that public safety should not be held hostage by legal technicalities or delay tactics.

When local officials create obstacles for federal immigration enforcement, they put the safety of every resident in the Gallatin Valley at risk. Montana is not a sanctuary jurisdiction, and our elected officials should not be acting like one.

The Gallatin County Republican Central Committee stands firmly with Attorney General Austin Knudsen and the rule of law. We will continue to monitor this situation closely and urge all conservatives to stay informed and make their voices heard — especially ahead of the June 2 Republican primary.

We need elected officials at every level who prioritize public safety and full cooperation with federal law enforcement.

Previous coverage:

Rep. Shannon Maness: It’s Time to Stop Hiding Behind the “Party Bosses” Excuse

Tue, 28 Apr 2026 17:00:33 GMT

Gallatin County Republicans agree — voters deserve honesty and accountability from candidates who run as Republicans

In a timely guest column in the Bozeman Daily Chronicle, Rep. Shannon Maness (HD 70) directly confronts the “party bosses” rhetoric being used by some Republican candidates this election cycle.

Maness points out that this coordinated attack on “party bosses” almost always comes from the same group of legislators who have repeatedly joined with Democrats to pass larger spending and bigger government legislation. He notes that the Montana Republican Party has an elected leadership chosen by county central committees and sitting legislators — all accountable to the voters — and a platform voted on by the party.

The column makes a strong case: the Montana GOP is finally holding candidates accountable to the Republican Platform. Those who don’t like the scrutiny are lashing out at the very system designed to represent conservative voters.

Gallatin County Republicans fully agree.

We embrace healthy debate, independent thought, and working across the aisle to accomplish good legislation that benefits Montanans — but we do not support handing the majority control given to us by the voters over to the minority Democrats in order to advance their agenda.

The Montana Republican Party continues to protect the trust of Montana Republican voters who desire accountability in government and honesty from their candidates.

As Rep. Maness correctly states, it’s time for candidates to be honest with voters. If they cannot support the core values and beliefs of the Republican Party, they should not use the Republican banner to get elected.

The June 2 Republican primary is the perfect opportunity for Gallatin County voters to choose candidates who will actually uphold the Republican Platform — not those who attack the party when it holds them accountable.

We encourage every conservative to read Rep. Maness’s full column here:

https://www.bozemandailychronicle.com/opinions/guest_columnists/rep-shannon-maness-who-are-the-party-bosses-gop-candidates-are-talking-about/article_ae6160eb-7b0b-4cbd-90da-72bd787e6937.html

Vote Republican on June 2 — and demand real accountability.

AG Knudsen Escalates Pressure on Gallatin County – Demands ICE Information Sharing by Monday 5pm or State Takes Supervisory Control

Mon, 27 Apr 2026 18:58:00 GMT

Montana Attorney General gives Gallatin County Attorney Audrey Cromwell until 5 p.m. Monday to issue a memo allowing sharing of confidential criminal justice information with ICE for civil enforcement — or face direct state oversight

Montana Attorney General Austin Knudsen is escalating the battle over cooperation with federal immigration enforcement.

In a new letter dated April 23, 2026 , AG Knudsen is demanding that Gallatin County Attorney Audrey Cromwell immediately direct all relevant personnel to share Confidential Criminal Justice Information (CCJI) with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) for civil immigration enforcement functions.

The county has until 5 p.m. Monday, April 27 to comply by issuing the required memorandum. If Gallatin County refuses, the state will invoke supervisory control over the County Attorney’s office.

This latest demand comes after months of back-and-forth. Cromwell continues to maintain that there is “no formal or informal policy” restricting cooperation with ICE, while the Attorney General’s office insists the county’s position violates state law and endangers public safety.

Gallatin County Republicans have consistently called for full cooperation between local and federal law enforcement. Public safety should not be held hostage by legal technicalities or delay tactics. When local officials create obstacles for ICE, they put the safety of every resident in Gallatin County at risk.

We stand firmly with Attorney General Austin Knudsen and the rule of law. Montana is not a sanctuary jurisdiction, and our local officials should not be acting like one.

The Gallatin County Republican Central Committee will continue to monitor this situation closely. We urge every conservative in the Gallatin Valley to stay informed and make your voice heard — especially as we head into the June 2 Republican primary. We need elected officials at every level who prioritize public safety and full cooperation with federal law enforcement.

Previous coverage:

The link to the full KBZK story is here:

https://www.kbzk.com/news/local-news/montana-state-officials-demand-gallatin-county-share-confidential-criminal-justice-information-with-ice

Bozeman City Commission Prioritizes Ukraine Sister City Over Local Police Traffic Control

Mon, 27 Apr 2026 18:52:49 GMT

While police traffic enforcement goes unfunded, the City finds money for international sister-city programs, more bike paths, dog parks — and even scheduled “First Contact Day” on Easter Sunday

The Bozeman City Commission continues to show where its priorities truly lie.

According to concerned residents, the City claims it cannot afford to give the Bozeman Police Department any additional funding for basic “traffic control.” Yet at the same time, commissioners are moving forward with plans to spend taxpayer dollars on a new Sister City partnership in Ukraine , along with expanded spending on bike paths, dog parks, and other non-essential projects.

This comes on the heels of the Commission’s decision to designate Easter Sunday as “First Contact Day” — a tone-deaf move that many residents saw as disrespectful to one of the most important Christian holidays of the year.

How are they spending our tax dollars?

While Bozeman families struggle with skyrocketing property taxes, limited parking, and rapid development that is fundamentally changing the character of our community, the City Commission appears more focused on international symbolism and progressive amenities than on core public safety and quality-of-life issues that directly affect local residents.

This pattern is becoming all too familiar:

Absurdly fast growth and over-development that is destroying Bozeman’s small-town ambience
Chronic parking shortages in a city that keeps approving more high-density housing
Prioritizing feel-good international programs and recreational projects while basic public safety needs are deferred

Gallatin County Republicans believe local government should first and foremost serve the people who live here and pay the taxes — not chase national or international headlines.

The good people of Bozeman must decide how far left they are willing to let their city commission go. When basic traffic enforcement is deprioritized while money flows to sister cities abroad and symbolic gestures on major holidays, it raises serious questions about fiscal responsibility and common sense.

Residents deserve better. They deserve a City Commission that puts public safety, responsible growth, and respect for local values first — not one that treats taxpayer dollars as a blank check for progressive pet projects.

We encourage every conservative in the Gallatin Valley to stay engaged, attend City Commission meetings, and make your voice heard. Bozeman does not have to follow the path of other liberal cities that have lost their way.

 What do you think Bozeman’s priorities should be? Let us know in the comments or email the City Commission directly.

MTGOP Declares Fireweed Candidates “Fireweed Frauds” – Not “Orphans” as the Chronicle Claims

Tue, 21 Apr 2026 17:58:51 GMT

Candidates paying Fireweed thousands of dollars per month are officially labeled “Fireweed Frauds” for working with the Progressive Dirty Money Network that funds Democrat-aligned legislation and ideology

The Bozeman Daily Chronicle is trying to paint a sympathetic picture, calling certain Gallatin Valley Republican candidates “orphaned” because the Montana Republican Party has refused to support them.

The Montana Republican Party has a much clearer and more accurate description: “Fireweed Frauds.”

In its latest official resolution, the MTGOP Executive Board has rescinded recognition of these candidates as Republicans. The resolution states they have engaged in a “coordinated scheme” with the Progressive Dirty Money Network — out-of-state progressive billionaires and PACs funneling millions of dollars into Montana primaries through dark-money nonprofits and the consulting firm Fireweed Campaigns Inc.

Here’s exactly how the money flows:

Candidates are paying Fireweed $3,000 per month for campaign management services plus $900 per month for compliance work. Fireweed itself receives hundreds of thousands of dollars from the same Progressive Dirty Money Network that has funded far-left ballot initiatives, including the 2024 Abortion initiative (CI-128), Ranked-Choice Voting initiatives (CI-126 & 127), and this year’s Judicial Elections initiative (CI-132).

That money is not neutral. It funds a firm founded and staffed by former Democratic Party operatives whose expertise is designed to elect moderate Republicans who then support Democrat-backed legislation and ideology — exactly as the “Nasty Nine” did when they handed control of the Senate to Democrats in 2025.

Download the full MTGOP Fireweed Resolution here

Gallatin County Republicans stand firmly with the MTGOP. We embrace healthy debate, independent thought, and working across the aisle to accomplish good legislation that benefits Montanans — but we do not accept handing the majority control given to us by the voters over to the minority Democrats in order to advance their agenda.

As the resolution states, the Montana Republican Party continues to protect the trust of Montana Republican voters who desire accountability in government and honesty from their candidates.

The Chronicle’s “orphaned” narrative completely ignores the facts. These candidates chose to take and spend money from a firm built to undermine Republican values while running under the Republican label.

The June 2 Republican primary is your chance to reject the Fireweed Frauds and elect principled conservatives who put Montana first.

Vote Republican on June 2.

MTGOP Formally Opposes CI-132 – “Nonpartisan” Judicial Elections Are a Dangerous Deception

Tue, 21 Apr 2026 17:36:58 GMT

Montana Supreme Court has repeatedly struck down Republican legislation protecting women, children, voters, and the 2nd Amendment — now the same dark-money network wants to lock in “nonpartisan” judicial elections

The Montana Republican Party has formally passed a resolution strongly opposing Constitutional Initiative 132 (CI-132) , the so-called “nonpartisan” judicial elections measure.

According to the official MTGOP resolution, the current “nonpartisan” system does not remove politics from the judiciary — it only hides it from voters. The Montana Supreme Court has acted as a partisan Democrat bench , striking down reasonable Republican legislation passed by elected representatives while claiming plaintiffs had no standing and using far-fetched interpretations of the Montana Constitution.

Since 2020, when Montanans elected a Republican Governor, Senate, and House, left-wing activists have filed 73 lawsuits targeting Republican bills. The Supreme Court has blocked or overturned many of them, including:

HB 121 – Protecting women’s bathrooms and private spaces
HB 112 – Protecting women’s sports
SB 99 – Protecting children from surgical mutilation
HB 136 – Protecting unborn babies from agonizing pain
HB 102 – Allowing students to exercise 2nd Amendment rights on campus
SB 169 – Strengthening voter ID for free and fair elections
HB 506 – Prohibiting ballots from being sent to minors under 18
HB 176 – Moving the voter registration deadline back one day

The resolution notes that the Montana Legislature twice tried to bring transparency by moving Supreme Court elections to district-based races (so voters could better know the candidates from their own area). The Supreme Court struck those laws down, claiming the legislature had no power to define judicial qualifications — even though the Montana Constitution explicitly gives the people’s representatives that authority.

The MTGOP resolution also highlights that the coalition pushing CI-132 includes organizations funded by the same Progressive Dirty Money Network (including Fireweed Campaigns) that is behind many of the far-left ballot initiatives and the Fireweed Candidates in the Republican primary.

The Montana Republican Party believes judicial elections should remain, but they should be reformed to be free, fair, and honest — allowing candidates to run with a political designation so voters know exactly who they are voting for.

Download the full MTGOP Resolution Opposing CI-132 here

Gallatin County Republicans stand with the MTGOP in opposing CI-132. This initiative is not about removing politics — it is about shielding activist judges from accountability while hiding their true agenda from voters.

We urge all conservatives to vote NO on CI-132 and to support candidates who will fight for fair, honest, and accountable courts.

Vote Republican on June 2.

School Reform is Unaffordable: Montana Taxpayers Would Pay $1,827 Per Household

Tue, 21 Apr 2026 16:21:15 GMT

Commission Member Tom Burnett Warns Massive New Spending Will Burden Families With Almost No Improvement in Student Proficiency

How can we fix Montana’s schools? Do they need fixing? How are the students doing? How are the teachers doing?

Student proficiency in math and reading is at 40%; schools need fixing. Many students are being cheated.

I am a member of the School Funding Interim Commission, a group of twenty members appointed by the Legislature. We’ve met for months. We’re wrapping up the first of a 2-part process. We’ve looked at high-performing schools in other states and countries to find reforms that could be implemented in Montana. Part 2 is to examine the costs. The costs are staggering.

Universal Pre-K would cost $102 million a year, or $214 per MT household-on top of the school property tax the household is already paying.

Aid to schools for maintenance would cost $94 million a year, or $197 per MT household.

Aid for buildings would cost $222 million per year, or $466 per MT household.

More funds for special education would cost $292 million, or $613 per MT household.

To give a $10,000 raise to each member of the school staff and faculty would cost $125 million, or $263 per MT household.

There was discussion about subsidizing teachers’ housing.

To “fully fund” school-based mental health services would cost around $35 million, or $74 per MT household. That just hires the recommended number of psychologists and counselors. Other costs are involved.

$1,827 per year per household.

How much would all that taxing improve student proficiency? But little, I would guess.

The Commission had listening sessions around the state. Facilitators asked if Montana’s educational needs can be met at the current level of funding if officials can allocate funds efficiently and flexibly. “86% of Roadshow participants did not agree.” Public education advocates such as union members showed up. I’ve asked friends and family: Do you want your school taxes to go up? 100% said no.

I praise every good work done by teachers and administrators. Some students achieve much of their potential.

Improvement is very hard in a machine with so much friction. Self-interest is strong; collectives’ interests are strong. Proper incentives are few. The vigor of competition has been stamped out.
As a member of the commission, I advocate for improvements within existing revenues. I’m saying no to tax increases, either on your property taxes or your income taxes.

Written by T om Burnett, Bozeman

MTGOP Releases Official “Honor Roll” – All Four Gallatin-Endorsed Candidates Recognized for Platform Loyalty

Thu, 16 Apr 2026 22:57:52 GMT

Caleb Hinkle, Jed Hinkle, Randy Chamberlin, and Trevor Walter Earn Official State Party Recognition for Upholding Conservative Principles

The Montana Republican Party Executive Committee has officially released its “Honor Roll” of candidates who demonstrated strong support for the Montana Republican Platform in the 2026 Primary Election.

The resolution recognizes the work of the Conservative Governance Committee (CGC), which was created to screen self-declared Republican candidates. The CGC sent detailed questionnaires based on the Party Platform to 169 candidates. Of those, 124 returned the questionnaire. The CGC reviewed every response — and legislative records for incumbents — to identify candidates who truly align with Republican principles.

The CGC identified Honor Roll Candidates in every Republican contested legislative race.

Gallatin County Republicans’ Endorsed Candidates Make the Honor Roll

The Gallatin County Republican Central Committee is proud to note that all four of our officially endorsed candidates earned a place on the MTGOP Honor Roll:

Senate District 34 – Caleb Hinkle (Belgrade, Gallatin County)
House District 67 – Jedediah Hinkle (Belgrade, Gallatin County)
House District 68 – Randy Chamberlin (Bozeman, Gallatin County)
House District 69 – Trevor Walter (Sheridan, Gallatin/Jefferson/Madison Counties)

These four candidates have proven their fidelity to limited government, lower taxes, fiscal responsibility, individual freedom, and traditional Montana values.

The resolution reaffirms the Party’s commitment to upholding the Republican Platform and encourages all Republican Central Committees and voters statewide to recognize these Honor Roll Candidates.

The Gallatin County Republican Central Committee fully supports this resolution. We urge every conservative in the Gallatin Valley to support these principled candidates on June 2, 2026 .

Absentee ballots will be mailed May 8. Visit our updated 2026 Voter Slate Card on the website for full details.

Vote Republican — Keep Montana Red.

MONTANA'S OPEN PRIMARIES: YESTERDAY’S FIX, NOW TODAY’S FLAW!

Thu, 16 Apr 2026 17:44:46 GMT

When Reform Goes Rotten

Written by Bill Lussenheide

Montana’s open primary didn’t just appear out of thin air— it was born in 1912 , when voters finally got tired of the Anaconda Copper Mining Company running the show like it owned the place (because, more or less, it did). Party bosses and smoke-filled conventions were picking candidates in back rooms, and regular Montanans were expected to clap politely and fall in line. So voters grabbed their shiny new initiative powers and blew that system up. The open primary let anyone walk in, pick a ballot, and have a say . At the time, it was a political jailbreak—and a justified one.

Fast forward 114 years , and the jailbreak is still running… long after the prison closed.

The copper kings are gone, the party machines are fossils, and Montana is now so solidly Republican that the GOP primary is often the only election that matters. But we’re still using a system designed to fight a century-old corporate monopoly, as if the ghost of Anaconda might come back and start picking legislators again.

Meanwhile, the modern reality is less dramatic but more absurd: the system is getting gamed.

With no party registration, anyone can show up, grab a Republican ballot, and help decide the outcome. In safe GOP districts, that’s not a minor detail—that is the election. The result? Fake RINO candidates who wear the Republican label just long enough to win , then govern however they please, with no regard or loyalty to the Montana GOP Platform!

What was once a reform has become a loophole you could drive a campaign bus through.

A closed primary would simply mean Republicans choose Republican candidates , Democrats choose theirs, and everyone stops pretending this open system is still some noble Progressive relic. It’s not— it’s a century-old workaround that’s outlived the problem it was designed to fix.

Retiring it wouldn’t dishonor the reformers of 1912. It would recognize the obvious: they solved their problem. We’re just stuck with their solution—long past its expiration date.

Bill Lussenheide

Update: Gallatin County Attorney Defies AG Knudsen on ICE Cooperation – Standoff Continues

Fri, 10 Apr 2026 05:33:59 GMT

Update: Gallatin County Attorney Defies AG Knudsen on ICE Cooperation – Standoff Continues

On April 2, Montana Attorney General Austin Knudsen gave Gallatin County Attorney Audrey Cromwell a clear deadline: April 6 to rescind her office’s unlawful position that refuses to recognize U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) as a criminal justice agency entitled to Confidential Criminal Justice Information (CCJI).

That deadline has now passed.

On April 6, Cromwell sent a formal response to the Attorney General. She did not rescind the policy or issue any formal change in how her office handles ICE requests. Instead, she claimed there is “no blanket policy” restricting cooperation with federal agents and described the original October 2025 email as nothing more than a “one-off, case-specific legal inquiry.”

Rather than complying with the Attorney General’s demand, Cromwell flipped the issue back to Knudsen’s office. She is now requesting a binding legal opinion from the Attorney General on whether counties can share non-public CCJI with ICE for civil or administrative matters without a court order.

The Attorney General’s office responded that they are “reviewing the county attorney’s response to determine any necessary next steps.” No further action has been announced.

Gallatin County Republicans believe this is not the time for legal games or delay tactics. Public safety should not depend on endless legal opinions while federal law enforcement is trying to do its job. When local officials create obstacles for ICE, they put the safety of every Gallatin County resident at risk.

We continue to stand firmly with Attorney General Austin Knudsen and full cooperation between state and federal law enforcement. Montana is not a sanctuary jurisdiction, and our local officials should not be acting like one.

The Gallatin County Republican Central Committee will keep monitoring this situation closely. We urge every conservative in the Gallatin Valley to stay informed and make your voice heard — especially in the June 2 Republican primary. We need elected officials at every level who put the rule of law and public safety first.

Previous Article: AG Austin Knudsen Demands Gallatin County Attorney Reverse ICE Policy

Gallatin County Republicans Endorse Constitutional Conservatives for the June 2 Primary

Fri, 10 Apr 2026 04:47:22 GMT

Gallatin County Republicans Endorse Constitutional Conservatives for the June 2 Primary

The Gallatin County Republican Central Committee is proud to announce our official endorsements for the 2026 Republican primary. These candidates demonstrate strong Constitutional Conservatism — a commitment to limited government, lower taxes, fiscal responsibility, individual freedom, and traditional Montana values.

We urge all conservatives in Gallatin County and surrounding districts to support these principled leaders on June 2, 2026 .

Senate District 34 – Caleb Hinkle
Rep. Caleb Hinkle is a proven fighter for limited government and has been endorsed by Americans for Prosperity–Montana. As a current House member from Belgrade, he has consistently stood for pro-family policies, fiscal restraint, and constitutional principles. Caleb is challenging the moderate incumbent in SD 34 and will bring strong conservative leadership to the Montana Senate.

House District 67 – Jed Hinkle
Rep. Jedediah Hinkle is a fifth-session legislator and current Majority Whip who chairs the House Fish and Wildlife Committee. A 4th-generation Montanan, Jed has a proven record of protecting life, freedom, property rights, and fighting for lower taxes and fiscal accountability. He is the steady, principled conservative voice Gallatin County needs in the House.

House District 68 – Randy Chamberlin
Randy Chamberlin, CEO of Montana Steel Industries, is a successful businessman and strong conservative running for HD 68. He brings real-world experience and a commitment to pro-growth, limited-government policies that will protect jobs, reduce regulations, and keep taxes low for working families in the Belgrade area.

House District 69 – Trevor Walter
Trevor Walter is a 4th-generation Montanan and constitutionalist who describes himself as a “problem solver, not a politician.” Running for HD 69, Trevor stands firmly for limited government, fiscal responsibility, strong support for the 2nd Amendment, and policies that help rural Montana families thrive.

These four candidates represent the best of conservative values in our area. They will fight for less government, lower taxes, more freedom, and the kind of Montana we want to leave to our children and grandchildren.

Vote Republican on June 2

Absentee ballots will be mailed out on May 8th. Make your voice heard and help keep Gallatin County and Montana red. Visit the updated 2026 Voter Slate Card on our website for full details.

The future of our valley depends on electing strong conservatives who will push back against the progressive policies that are hurting families across the country.

Red States Are Booming With Babies While Liberal Cities Collapse – Why Keeping Montana and Gallatin County Red Is Critical

Fri, 10 Apr 2026 04:36:12 GMT

Red States Are Booming With Babies While Liberal Cities Collapse – Why Keeping Montana and Gallatin County Red Is Critical

While liberal cities across America continue to struggle with crime, homelessness, and an exodus of families and businesses, red states are quietly thriving — especially when it comes to the most important measure of a healthy future: children.

New data from the Centers for Disease Control and the Institute for Family Studies shows a clear national divide. In 2023–2025, the states with the highest fertility rates are overwhelmingly red states: South Dakota (2.01 births per woman), Texas (1.81), Utah (1.80), and others. By contrast, the bottom ten states for fertility are all blue: Vermont (1.30), Oregon (1.35), California (1.48), and more.

At the same time, Americans are voting with their feet. Red states gained hundreds of thousands of new residents through domestic migration in 2025, while blue states lost hundreds of thousands. Families are leaving high-tax, high-crime, anti-family environments in cities like San Francisco, Chicago, Portland, and New York for more affordable, safer, family-friendly red states.

Even here in Montana, the pattern is visible — but it is fragile.

Gallatin County (home to Bozeman) still shows strong natural population growth, with 1,141 births compared to just 686 deaths in the most recent data — a net gain of +455 residents from births alone. By comparison, Missoula County has seen births and deaths nearly equal for several years running, resulting in essentially flat natural growth — a trend much closer to the decline seen in liberal cities nationwide.

Yet Bozeman is not immune to the forces dragging down other blue-leaning urban areas. A strong progressive voting bloc in downtown Bozeman, combined with Democrat majorities on both the City and County Commissions, has already shifted local policy leftward. The 2023 redistricting further tilted many Gallatin legislative districts toward Democrats, making it statistically harder for conservatives to hold ground.

This is exactly how the “doom loop” begins. Liberal policies — soft-on-crime approaches, skyrocketing housing costs, business-hostile regulations, and cultural messages that devalue traditional family life — slowly erode the conditions families need to thrive.

To prevent Bozeman from turning into Missoula — or worse, Portland or Seattle — we must keep Montana and Gallatin County red.

Red policies and red values create the environment where families choose to stay and have children: limited government, strong rule of law, lower taxes, and respect for life and personal responsibility.

The data is clear. Families are choosing red states and red values nationwide. As conservatives in the Gallatin Valley, our job is to make sure Bozeman and Gallatin do not follow the same path that has hollowed out so many other once-thriving cities.

The June 2 Republican primary is your chance to push back. Support candidates who stand for limited government, public safety, fiscal responsibility, and pro-family policies. Stay engaged with the Bozeman Study Commission. Make your voice heard at every level.

Our children — and the future of Bozeman and Gallatin County — depend on it.

Fireweed Republicans: They Really Should Be Wearing A Donkey Suit!

Tue, 07 Apr 2026 20:05:21 GMT

Fireweed Republicans: They Really Should Be Wearing A Donkey Suit!

Written by Bill Lussenheide

There’s something incredibly amazing about the sheer brazenness of it all. In an age where

political branding is carefully focus-grouped and polished to a mirror shine, along comes

FIREWEED —a consulting outfit that doesn’t just blur party lines, it joyfully sets them on fire

and roasts marshmallows over the ashes. Marketed with all the subtlety of a neon sign in a

blackout, FIREWEED has apparently found a lucrative niche: helping “Fake Republicans”

sound just convincing enough while cashing checks and taking cues from the other side of the

aisle, AKA Democrats.

Enter Shelley Vance and Russ Nelson, candidates for office in Gallatin, entering from stage left,

waving the GOP banner with one hand while clutching FIREWEED’s playbook in the other. It’s

a performance worthy of community theater—fake smiles, rehearsed lines, and just enough

costume to sell the role. But the script keeps slipping. When your campaign strategy reads

like it was ghostwritten by Democratic consultants, and your funding trail looks like a

liberal’s potluck, people tend to notice.

Of course, we’re told not to worry. Ignore the consultants. Ignore the donations. Ignore the

liberal talking points that sound suspiciously like they were imported wholesale. J ust trust the

Republican label, you know that “R” after the name is all you need. It’s a bit like being

handed a can labeled “beef stew” while the aroma screams lentil surprise—you can insist it’s

beef all you want, but eventually someone’s going to lift the lid.

At some point, the question stops being whether this is clever strategy or just plain outright

devilish deception. If you’re going to run like a Democrat, fundraise like a Democrat, and

get coached by Democratic consultants , maybe the boldest, most honest move would be to skip

the costume change entirely. It would save everyone time— and spare voters the awkward

realization that the elephant on the sign is, in fact, wearing a very carefully tailored donkey

suit.

Bill Lussenheide

MTGOP Executive Board Rebukes Fireweed Campaigns and “RINO” Candidates – Shelley Vance and Russ Nelson Named in Resolution

Mon, 06 Apr 2026 23:21:02 GMT

MTGOP Executive Board Rebukes Fireweed Campaigns and “RINO” Candidates – Shelley Vance and Russ Nelson Named in Resolution

Gallatin County Republicans stand for principle, transparency, and loyalty to conservative values — not backroom deals with former Democratic operatives.

A new investigative report reveals that Fireweed Campaigns, a Helena consulting firm run in part by former Democratic Party staffers (including owner Lauren Caldwell, ex-director of the Montana Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee), is managing campaigns for several "moderate" Republicans in contested primaries. These candidates are paying Fireweed thousands of dollars per month for “campaign management” while Fireweed staff simultaneously donate the maximum allowed amount to the same campaigns.

The Montana Republican Party Executive Board took strong action on April 1, 2026, passing a formal resolution rebuking this coordinated effort. The resolution states that progressive out-of-state dollars are being funneled through a network of PACs and dark-money groups into Republican primaries via Fireweed. It calls on the involved candidates to return the money and dissociate from these groups.

Two names from our area stand out prominently in the resolution:

Senator Shelley Vance (SD 34 – Belgrade) : One of the nine Republican senators who aligned with Democrats to strip the Senate Majority power away from Republicans, undermining the will of the voters, and voted with Democrats on key legislation during the 2025 session. She is up for re-election and has paid Fireweed the majority of her campaign expenses. Fireweed staff also maxed out donations to her campaign.

Russell Nelson (HD 67 – Belgrade) : Recruited to run against conservative Rep. Jed Hinkle by Shelley Vance and Llew Jones, according to the Bozeman Chronicle. Nelson is also listed among the Fireweed candidates receiving paid services and staff donations.

The resolution names 11 Fireweed-managed candidates and 6 others who received direct staff contributions, including Vance and Nelson. It calls on all of them — and three Republican Party officers tied to the same progressive PAC network — to immediately return the funds and disavow these outside groups. The Executive Board made clear that continuing to coordinate with Fireweed and its associated progressive infrastructure is “utterly antithetical to Republican policies and principles.”

As conservatives, we expect our elected officials and candidates to fight for limited government, fiscal responsibility, and the rule of law — not partner with former Democratic operatives to defeat stronger conservative challengers in the June 2 primary.

The Gallatin County Republican Central Committee fully supports the MTGOP Executive Board’s resolution and will continue to highlight these issues so voters have the facts before they cast their ballots.

Montana’s future depends on electing principled conservatives who put Montana families first — not candidates backed by out-of-state money and Democratic-aligned consultants.

Primary Election Reminder: June 2, 2026. Your vote in the Republican primary will decide the direction of our party and our state.

AG Austin Knudsen Demands Gallatin County Attorney Reverse ICE Policy – Deadline is Today

Mon, 06 Apr 2026 21:34:51 GMT

AG Austin Knudsen Demands Gallatin County Attorney Reverse ICE Policy – Deadline is Today, Monday April 6, 2026

Gallatin County Republicans believe in the rule of law, strong public safety, and full cooperation between state and federal law enforcement.

On April 2, 2026, Montana Attorney General Austin Knudsen sent a cease-and-desist letter to Gallatin County Attorney Audrey Cromwell. He is demanding she immediately rescind what he calls an unlawful policy that refuses to recognize U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) as a criminal justice agency.

The issue stems from an October 2025 email sent by Cromwell’s office to local law enforcement. That email stated the Gallatin County Attorney’s Office “does not legally recognize Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) as a law enforcement agency entitled to receive Confidential Criminal Justice Information (CCJI).” As a result, ICE was told it could only receive public documents.

Attorney General Knudsen made clear that this position violates both Montana state law and federal statutes. He warned that the policy “puts the safety of Gallatin County residents at risk and undermines law enforcement operations to crack down on illegal immigration in Montana.”

Cromwell has pushed back, saying there is no blanket policy and that the decision was a one-off related to a specific civil matter. She plans to respond to the Attorney General by today’s deadline of April 6.

As conservatives, we expect our local officials to work with federal law enforcement — not create obstacles. Montana is not a sanctuary jurisdiction. Protecting our communities means sharing critical information so law enforcement can do its job.

The Gallatin County Republican Central Committee applauds Attorney General Knudsen for standing up for the law and for the safety of Montanans. We will continue to monitor this situation closely and support efforts to ensure full cooperation with ICE and other federal partners.

Gallatin County voters deserve elected officials who put public safety and the rule of law first. We encourage everyone to stay informed as this story develops.

Llew Jones ARPA Loans: $4.365M Questions Raised | Gallatin Republicans

Mon, 06 Apr 2026 21:29:43 GMT

Questions Raised About Llew Jones’ $4.365 Million in ARPA Loans While Serving on Oversight Commission

Gallatin County Republicans believe in limited government, fiscal responsibility, and complete transparency — especially from our elected officials.

A new report from Yellowstone County News (April 3, 2026) raises serious questions about long-time Republican legislator Llew Jones of Conrad. While serving on the state commission that oversaw the distribution of federal American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds, businesses connected to Jones received a total of $4.365 million in low-interest Down Payment Assistance Loans.

According to the report:

Three businesses linked to Jones and his family received the loans: Frontline Ag Solutions LLC ($3 million), Dealco LLC ($105,000), and Havre Ford CFRE LLC ($1.26 million).
Jones was a member of the Economic Transformation and Stabilization and Workforce Development Advisory Commission, which helped oversee how Montana distributed roughly $2 billion in ARPA funds.
Commission members were required to sign conflict-of-interest forms and were prohibited from participating in decisions where they or their immediate family had a financial interest.
The program had a stated $3 million cap per recipient. The three loans combined exceeded that cap.

The article notes that Jones was the only sitting state legislator to receive these loans. Other commission members interviewed by the newspaper called the situation “alarming” and said it “doesn’t pass the smell test.”

Llew Jones is currently running for Montana Senate District 9. He is being challenged in the Republican primary by Rep. Zach Wirth of Wolf Creek, who is campaigning as a stronger conservative voice focused on limited government and accountability.

As conservatives, we expect our leaders to hold themselves to the same high standards they demand from others. Taxpayers deserve full transparency when public funds are involved — especially emergency relief dollars meant to help businesses hurt by government shutdowns.

The Gallatin County Republican Central Committee will continue to monitor this story and support candidates who put principle and transparency first. The June 2, 2026 Republican primary is an important opportunity for voters in Senate District 9 to choose the candidate who best represents conservative values.

We encourage all Montanans who care about good government to review the facts, stay informed, and vote accordingly in the upcoming primary.

From protests to politics: Montana is producing a lot of intoxicating whines

Mon, 21 Apr 2025 19:54:13 GMT

In case you hadn’t noticed, Montana is a heavy whine-producing state. The vintners are many, from the Marxist professors and ranting radicals brought onto our campuses, to the farmers, corporate welfarists and chamber of commerce types, looking to government for special favors, subsidies and protections from competition. Montanans are intoxicating our politics with cases of expensive whine. Witness the “Republican” legislature’s latest budget bill (HB 2) that imposes on us an 18 percent increase in future spending. Another session where, thanks to the unholy alliance between Democrats and liberal Republicans, whining wins and freedom loses. We’ve made sots of our legislators.

When Bernie Sanders and “AOC” arrived in Missoula in their private jet recently, to lecture us on the evils of wealth-producing and environmental-polluting capitalism, these ultra-elitists decried the “oligarchy” of a democratically-elected president, who is actually trying to get a handle on profligate federal spending – including the billions of tax-funded largess going to their radical friends. Like all dedicated authoritarian leftists, Sanders and Cortez preach the gospel of envy and hatred, as true believers that everything good in society flows from government, and everything bad is the result of individual action by people who are entirely too free. As usual, they lied about the wealthy not paying their “fair share” of taxes. (Fact: the top 1 percent pays 46 percent of all federal income taxes.) Their sign-waving admirers believed every word of it.

Ambling through the crowd of 2,500 at Bozeman’s 4/19 Hate Trump Protest, the whining signs and banners were so thick that it was hard for me to see their faces. Not a lot of love there – mostly profanity, swastikas and hatred. Spooky, really. Group-think to the extreme, while the frequent chant from the microphone was, “This is what democracy looks like!” A better chant might have been, “This is what Marxism looks like!” Unlimited government taxing and spending – while branding and slandering anyone who might try to bring spending under control.

This didn’t look much like democracy to me – and certainly not like the free republic we once called America. Cynicism, skepticism, fear and distrust were all around me, aimed at anyone with a different point of view. That’s the message that rings out these days, and there is a chilling, spirit-killing aspect to it that is increasingly reflected in the politics of both parties, not just the Democrats. The whiners are winning, and the true heroes with their thumbs in the dike are few indeed, and deserving of our praise.

Once there were legislators like Senator Casey Emerson -- creator of King Tool Company and the Montana Inventors Hall of Fame. Casey was the epitome of the American Spirit, who never quit believing in America. He always had a dream in his heart, an idea in his head, a bounce to his step and a sparkle in his eye. Most of his dreams in the world’s eyes did not succeed, but that only spurred him on all the more. He never whined, and I never once saw him carry a sign. All he desired – demanded – was freedom.

Compare this to the floor comments you frequently hear from the GOP Government Solutions Caucus and their perennial leader, Republican Llew Jones of Conrad, explaining how much the teary-eyed recipients of their generosity need their help. Their latest “help” is a revamped House Bill 2 collection of slush fund accounts, designed to make it much easier to spend much more of our money. Their “generosity,” of course, isn’t based on personal giving, but on forcibly taking the earnings of others and bragging about it later. That’s what government does.

We hear this kind of rhetoric all day long in Congress, our state legislature and from the governor’s office. I have some breaking news for these people. We don’t need paternalistic politicians telling us how much we require their help. Freedom is quite enough, thank you very much, along with a healthy measure of respect for our constitutional rights, our personal property and the liberty to be left alone.

Let’s put our whine bottles down, and drink heartily from the fruit of freedom instead – nourishment for the soul that never runs dry.

Roger Koopman is president of Montana Conservative Alliance. He served four years in the Montana House of Representatives and eight years as a Montana Public Service commissioner. He operated a Bozeman small business for 37 years.

Gallatin County Study Commission 1st Public Hearing

Mon, 31 Mar 2025 17:55:18 GMT

Gallatin County Study Commission to Hold First Public Hearing

Details of the Public Hearing:

Date : Thursday, April 10
Time : 5:30 p.m.
Location : Community Room on 3rd floor of Gallatin County Courthouse; 311 W Main St, Bozeman
Virtual Access : Microsoft Teams link on www.gallatinmt.gov or www.gallatinlocalgovstudy.com , scroll down to calendar
Public Participation : Open to all residents of Gallatin County

For more details on the Study Commission, including meeting schedules, contact information, and virtual access to weekly meetings, visit www.gallatinlocalgovstudy.com .

The Gallatin County Local Government Study Commission will hold its first public hearing on Thursday, April 10, at 5:30 p.m. in the Community Room on the third floor of the Gallatin County Courthouse, 311 W Main, Bozeman.

The public has tasked the Local Government Study Commission with evaluating the existing form and powers of a local government, and how local government services are delivered, and comparing them with other forms available under Montana law. Members of the public are encouraged to attend in person or virtually. During this hearing, the commission will share an overview the study’s scope, introduce the current form and structure of the county government, and share examples of different county government models in Montana.

The commission will also share a timeline for key milestones for the study process. Residents will have an opportunity to share feedback and ideas about Gallatin County’s government structure. All comments and feedback will be captured as part of the study. Residents will have many more opportunities to provide feedback at listening sessions that will be hosted around the county over the next year and a half.

“We strongly encourage your participation in this discussion and invite you, a member of the public, to provide insights from your work and interaction with our county government. Your input will be invaluable in helping us form our understanding of how our local government structure supports or challenges your work.” says Vice Chair Study Commissioner Jackie Haines

"The Montana Constitution is unique in that every ten years it allows the citizens of a county or municipality to review if the current form of county government could more efficiently, and effectively, deliver services to the county residents. The seven citizens elected to study our local government have begun the review process and invite the public to become involved with the process." says Study Commissioner Don Seifert

About the Gallatin County Study Commission: In the June 2024 primary election, voters across Montana had an opportunity to decide on studying their local governments. This question is posed to voters every 10 years, as required in Montana’s constitution. Montana is the only state where voters regularly decide whether to evaluate their local government structure. In 2024, voters in 12 counties and 44 municipalities across the state voted to conduct a local government review.

Voters in Gallatin County voted in favor of the independent study, as did residents of Bozeman and West Yellowstone. In the November 2024 general election, voters elected seven volunteer members to serve on the nonpartisan study commission for two years. The elected members of the Gallatin County Study Commission are (alphabetically): Janae Hagen, Jackie Haines, Jeff Krauss, EJ Porth, Don Seifert, Klaas Tuininga, and Steve White.

MT GOP Calls for Senator Ellsworth to Resign

Wed, 26 Mar 2025 20:57:31 GMT

In light of the findings outlined in the recent Senate Ethics Committee report, the Montana Republican Party believes that Senator Jason Ellsworth is no longer fit to serve in the Montana State Senate. The Report has raised serious concerns regarding his conduct, and we firmly believe that for the good of the sate and the well-being of his constituents, Senator Ellsworth should step down from his position.

We urge Senator Ellsworth to resign voluntarily in order to restore trust in the Senate and allow for a focus on the work that lies ahead for the people of Montana. Should Senator Ellsworth choose not to resign, the Montana Republican Party will fully support the Senate's decision to expel him, ensuring that the integrity of the Senate remains intact.

This stance was reached following a unanimous vote by the Montana Republican Party's Executive Board.

The Montana Republican Party remains committed to serving the interests of all Montanans and upholding the highest standards of conduct in our state government.

-The Montana Republican Party Executive Board

CALL TO ACTION

We are asking for immediate action on legislative issue call, email or text senators (needs to be done asap) to vote to expel Sen. Jason Ellsworth from his senate position in the Montana legislature due to unethical evidence presented by the ethics committee.

EXPLANATION

Sen. Ellsworth on dec. 26, 2024, presented a bifurcated contract with a need for expediency (he was not authorized to spend the total of $170,000, thus two contracts), failed to disclose close association of contractor, contract included immediate payment, went around procurement procedures.

STATEMENT

Ask for a principled vote based on the ethics committee evidence as presented of unethical actions to expel Sen. Jason Ellsworth as a legislator in the Montana legislature, example:

Subject: Please Vote to Expel Senator Jason Ellsworth Based on Ethics Evidence

Dear Senator,

I’m writing to you as a concerned Montanan who believes in the integrity of our state government. The Senate Ethics Committee report has laid out clear evidence of unethical behavior by Senator Jason Ellsworth, and it’s shaken my trust in our legislature. As a constituent, I’m asking you to take a stand and vote to expel him from the Montana State Senate.

This isn’t about politics—it’s about principle. The report shows actions that no legislator should be allowed to get away with, and I believe we deserve representatives who uphold the highest standards. Please review the committee’s findings and cast a principled vote to remove Senator Ellsworth. Montana’s future depends on leaders we can trust, and your vote can help make that a reality.

Thank you for listening and for all you do for our state.

Sincerely,

[Your Name]

[Your City/Town], Montana

CONTACT:

PAT FLOWERS (406-580-0035), pat.flowers@legmt.gov
GAYLE LAMMERS (406-679-0020), gayle.lammers@legmt.gov
BRUCE GILLESPIE (406-949-4453), bruce.gillis12ie@legmt.gov
WENDY MCKAMEY (406-868-5006), wendy.mckamey@legmt.gov
SHELLEY VANCE (406-587-8608), shelley.vance@legmt.gov
JOSH KASSMIER (406-781-5386), josh.kassmier@legmt.gov
GREGG HUNTER (406-263-0167), gregg.hunter@legmt.gov
CHRISTOPHER POPE (406-581-8739), christopher.pope@legmt.gov
ELLIE BOLDMAN (406-218-9608), Ellie.Boldman@legmt.gov
WILLIS CURDY (406-728-0981), Willis.Curdy@legmt.gov
MARY ANN DUNWELL (406-461-5358), MaryAnn.Dunwell@legmt.gov
JANET ELLIS (406-431-9157), Janet.Ellis@legmt.gov
JASON ELLSWORTH (406-360-0009), Jason.Ellsworth@legmt.gov
DENLEY LOGE (406-544-5220), Denley.Loge@legmt.gov
JACINDA MORIGEAU (406-298-3416), Jacinda.Morigeau@legmt.gov
SHANE MORIGEAU (406-546-4290), shane.morigeau@legmt.gov
CORA NEUMANN (406-210-7969), Cora.Neumann@legmt.gov
SARA NOVAK (406-691-0069), Sara.Novak@legmt.gov
ANDREA OLSEN (406-543-2666), Andrea.Olsen@legmt.gov
LAURA SMITH (406-426-3504), Laura.Smith@legmt.gov
RUSS TEMPEL (406-265-0990), Russ.Tem12el@legmt.gov
SUSAN WEBBER (406-450-1894), susan.webber@legmt.gov

The easiest way to do this is” BCC” to all of the above with the same message.

For you convenience here is a list you can copy and paste into the BCC of an email

pat.flowers@legmt.gov, gayle.lammers@legmt.gov, bruce.gillis12ie@legmt.gov, wendy.mckamey@legmt.gov, shelley.vance@legmt.gov, josh.kassmier@legmt.gov, gregg.hunter@legmt.gov, christopher.pope@legmt.gov, Ellie.Boldman@legmt.gov, Willis.Curdy@legmt.gov, MaryAnn.Dunwell@legmt.gov, Janet.Ellis@legmt.gov, Jason.Ellsworth@legmt.gov, Denley.Loge@legmt.gov, Jacinda.Morigeau@legmt.gov, shane.morigeau@legmt.gov, Cora.Neumann@legmt.gov, Sara.Novak@legmt.gov, Andrea.Olsen@legmt.gov, Laura.Smith@legmt.gov, Russ.Tem12el@legmt.gov, susan.webber@legmt.gov,

Resolution for Rebuke & Censure of Senator Shelley Vance

Sat, 15 Mar 2025 17:14:36 GMT

GALLATIN COUNTY REPUBLICAN CENTRAL COMMITTEE

RESOLUTION

FOR REBUKE AND CENSURE

OF MONTANA STATE SENATOR SHELLEY VANCE SD34

WHEREAS , Montana State Senator Shelley Vance SD34, (hereinafter, Senator Vance) has voted with the Democrats on key bills, promoted and supported by Republicans, during the 2025 legislative session;

WHEREAS , Senator Vance is now known as a member of “The Nine,” a group of Republicans who have been publicly rebuked by the Montana State Republican Party for their decision to vote with the Democrat block;

WHEREAS , the voting record of Senator Vance has contributed to blocking the goals of the Republican majority, thereby creating a dramatic change in the balance of power in the Montana Senate from Republican, to Democrat;

WHEREAS , the votes of “The Nine” have forced Senate leadership: to alter its rules; to insert moderate to liberal Republicans and Democrats onto key committees; and, to defeat key legislation regarding limited government, judicial reform, and election integrity;

WHEREAS , “The Nine” has voted with the Democrats with respect to the investigation into the matter of Senator Jason Ellsworth (also a member of “The Nine”) who is alleged to have diverted taxpayer money for his own benefit;

WHEREAS, in what is considered by many to be a retaliatory action, Senator Vance has recently called into question the ethics of Senate President Matt Regier, (allegations which she likened to those filed against Senator Jason Ellsworth), causing an investigation to be opened against Senate President Matt Regier;

WHEREAS , various members of the Gallatin County Republican Central Committee have communicated to Senator Vance their dismay, anger, and disgust with her voting choices; nevertheless, Senator Vance continues to choose to align herself with, and vote with the Democrats, in direct opposition to the desires of many of her constituents and the members of the Republican Central Committee; Therefore, be it

RESOLVED , that Senator Vance be censured and rebuked by the Gallatin County Republican Central Committee; and,

RESOLVED , the Gallatin County Republican Central Committee unanimously no longer supports Senator Vance.

Wolves, Hyenas & Legislators Run in Packs

Mon, 03 Mar 2025 03:06:45 GMT

At an early age, we taught our kids to learn from others and to think for themselves. I still remember telling one child, “Truth doesn’t fly in flocks. You need to seek and find it on your own. And never be afraid to test and re-examine what you believe is true. Belief has no value if you close your mind to the ideas and arguments of others. Living in truth involves not only faith, but also the courage to think for yourself.”

Unthinking animals either herd up for security, or run in packs to pull other creatures down. Politicians do both. In the worst example I have seen in 48 years in Montana, the cowardly pack mentality has been on full display in the sixty-nineth session of the Montana State Legislature.

Most of us are aware by now of the hostile takeover of the Montana State Senate by a coalition of every Democrat plus a wolf pack of liberal Republicans, who locked claws on vote after vote to deliver a functional majority for the Democratic Party. At one point, twenty separate pro-Democrat floor votes were recorded, all by 27-23 margins – an impressive show of Pack Power over their own Republican leadership. The nine GOP deserters are senators Vance, Gillespie, Kassmier, Lammers, Loge, McKamey, Tempel, Hunter and Ellsworth.

First, the Pack held the Senate hostage for many days, eventually forcing leadership to change its own rules so that liberal Republicans could be inserted onto key committees to shift committee control.

Then came the Jason Ellsworth affair. Sen. Ellsworth was caught arranging a sweetheart contract for a buddy of his by quietly diverting, at the last moment, over $170,000 from the unspent budget of the Judicial Reform Interim Committee, over the objections of its members. The project made no sense and would be performed from the friend’s home. When discovered, auditors were shocked, and the Senate Ethics Committee began an investigation, as was its constitutional duty. But the nine-member GOP wolf pack again locked arms with the Democrats and stopped the investigation in its tracks – thus assuring that the liberal Ellsworth would remain in the Senate for the entire session, doing the Democrats’ bidding.

Other reports of Ellsworth throwing his political weight around started coming out. Clearly, he should have resigned, but the “the Pack” continued to give him protective cover, and he remains there still – larger than life – seemingly incapable of shame or contrition.

Meanwhile, the pack of nine went about doing exactly what groups like Montana Conservative Alliance have been warning about for many years -- voting with the Democrat block and against limited government conservatives whenever key legislation comes up. I call them Mutant Elephants: elephant bodies, donkey heads. There they were for example, joining with the Democrats to pass massive Medicaid expansion welfare, and to defeat a bill providing work requirements. (More than 6 out of 10 current recipients are able to work, but don’t.)

The state GOP publicly rebuked the nine Republican senators, but they missed the point. This undermining of the conservative Republican cause has been going on for over 50 years, with this just being the most obvious, leadership-smashing example. It’s really nothing new, but the media attention to the orchestrated aspect of this treachery is actually a good thing. Maybe GOP voters will finally take notice.

In a larger sense, what we have in our state legislature is a great many legislators who don’t read the bills, don’t read the fiscal notes, and don’t show any natural curiosity for ideas or constitutional principles. They follow their leaders and their lobbyists and rarely do the work of a legislator or think for themselves. The Democrats are the most obvious example – almost never having a party member show independence of thought. It is, after all, easy to be a loyal Democrat. All you need to do is want to grow government in every direction, deny the biology of gender, and make it easier to kill human babies.

But Republicans are supposed to be different. Some are – and I acknowledge those men and women as great legislators. Others are not. They run with the pack, and fail to do the deliberative, investigative work of independent-thinking legislators. They’ve put their own pride and positions above their constituents, and deserve to be sent packing.

Testimony in Support of SB218

Mon, 10 Feb 2025 16:28:02 GMT

Let's assume that the explanations of the following facts are correct:

Dr. Money's patient, the first infant who was transitioned into a girl, and this person's twin brother killed themselves in their late 30th. But it was only the result of transphobia and bullying.

A star in the I'm Jazz reality show has a hobby of dressing as a Mermaid, a sea creature with no genitalia. But it's only this individual's artistic expression.

An unusually high percentage of autistic kids, victims of sexual assault, and teens with low self-esteem identify as trans. Still, it has nothing to do with their desire to fit in or their beliefs that their bodies were the reason they were raped.

Three gender clinics in Montana are listed on the map of clinics that provide HRT with "no therapist required." The individual who pinned the map on his X profile is lying.

Less than 10% of transwomen do "bottom surgery." But, it's not because these surgeries are more barbaric than castration but because, as one transwoman explained, "a woman without a penis is an angel without wings."

So, let's say that biology is cis-supremacist, transing kids is not child abuse, and only a tiny percentage of children will regret their gender transition when they are adults. In this case, financially compensating these people for their struggles would be a simple act of kindness and compassion, and the opposition to the bill must reconsider their position and support the extension of statutes of limitations to cover these cases."

I have more materials that prove why pediatric gender-affirming treatments are child abuse that must be banned. I support HB218 because TQ+ affirming doctors know that what they do to children is criminal, that most of their patients sooner or later will realize that they were mistreated, and that market analysis that predicts the global sex reassignment surgery market size to reach $1.41B in 2025 and $2.51B by 2030 is wrong.

 Most children and teens self-identified as "trans" are misdiagnosed and harmed by "gender-affirming" treatments:

A look at the over-represented subgroups that comprise gender-distressed children reveals strong clues that developmental trauma may drive trans identification in kids. These clues include complaints common to both early trauma and gender dysphoria populations (feelings of intense body discomfort, self-disgust, self-rejection, and emotional pain) as well as matching difficulties in psycho-social functioning (unstable sense of self, poor emotion regulation, and self-harm) - Gender Identity Through the Lens of Developmental Trauma - GenSpect

"Several commentaries ...highlight the strong motivation of adolescents to engage in social learning and their desire for acceptance, belonging, respect and admiration. They are also highly driven by the promise of obtaining immediate rewards – a tendency associated with sensation-seeking and risk-taking." - The adolescent Brian: A second window of opportunity (see attachment)

Radical physiological treatments to treat the psychological condition of gender dysphoria have serious negative side effects, up to and including permanent sterilization. None of these procedures have been shown to improve the patient’s mental health... When left to themselves, most children with such conditions outgrow them and do notidentify as “transgender” adults. These physiological procedures violate the most fundamental principle of medical ethics: “First, do no harm.” - Do Not Sterilize Children , Family Research Council.

It takes years for victims of the gender industry to understand that transitioning was a mistake.

Elon Anthony transitioned from a man to a woman when he was 19. He detransitionned at the age of 39 years. "While his story is enlightening, it is also immensely challenging and it took him a long time and a lot of therapy to conclude that he had made a mistake." - Transitioning caused more problems than it solved. - The Guardian

"Jazz Jennings was sold to us by the LGBTQ+ lobby as a shining example of the success of early gender reassignment for children. In truth, he’s been left sexless, sterilised and physically mutilated." "Jazz is strangling with binge-eating, episodes of anxiety, and severe depression." - The Tragedy of Jazz Jennings

David Reimer, the first boy who was the first subject of Dr. John Money's experiment to prove that gender was a societal construct, committed suicide at the age of thirty-eight. His brother died from a drug overdose two years earlier.- David Reimer and John Money Gender Reassignment Controversy: The John/Joan Case

Videos:

The Monster Behind Gender Theory, and the Atrocious Lie He Based It On : A story about John Money and the tragedy of tweens whose lives were ruined by his malpractice. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0Zw1EdRKocI

The Wounds That Won't Heal . Chole Cole is an 18-year-old detransitioner who started her transition at 12 years old, puberty blockers and testosterone at 13, and had a double mastectomy at 15 years old. Dr. Jordan B Peterson destroys the major trans advocates' claims that "gender-affirming" care is "evidence-based." This video alone is enough to ban pediatric medical gender transitioning.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6O3MzPeom

SB 146 Testimony

Mon, 03 Feb 2025 04:41:01 GMT

Testimony on SB 146 – Request for Clarifications & Revisions

Deanna Campbell

Bozeman, Montana

Mr. Chairman and Members of the Committee,

I appreciate the opportunity to testify on SB 146, a bill that takes an important step toward protecting private property rights by limiting excessive government control over land use and zoning decisions. By requiring that zoning restrictions be based on a "compelling governmental interest" in public health or safety, this bill seeks to rein in unnecessary land-use regulations that infringe on individual property rights.

However, as currently drafted, SB 146 does not fully protect homeowners from forced urban infill, speculative legal challenges, and city-driven upzoning mandates. While limiting government overreach is essential, the bill must also ensure that single-family zoning protections, private property covenants, and neighborhood stability are not eroded by unintended legal consequences.

The Bozeman Example: Why SB 146 Needs Stronger Protections

In Bozeman, we have seen firsthand how local government, influenced by ICLEI-style planning mandates, is eroding single-family zoning in favor of forced high-density development. Under the Unified Development Code (UDC) and "affordable housing" initiatives, the city has:

Upzoned single-family neighborhoods to allow multi-family housing, without homeowner consent.
Encouraged speculative developers to buy out older homes and replace them with high-density rental units, fundamentally altering neighborhoods.
Raised impact fees and infrastructure costs for single-family homeowners while subsidizing highdensity projects.
Reduced local control over zoning by prioritizing state and regional "sustainability" goals over property owner rights.

If SB 146 is to be effective, it must include clear protections against these types of forced zoning changes and speculative redevelopment pressures.

Recommended Clarifications and Revisions to SB 146

1. Protect Existing Zoning Contracts & Homeowner Reliance Interests

Many homeowners purchased property with the expectation that zoning laws would remain stable, preserving the character of their neighborhoods.
Zoning serves as a contract-like agreement between property owners and local governments— one that people rely on when making long-term investments.
Recommendation: Add language affirming that SB 146 does not weaken or invalidate longstanding zoning protections that homeowners rely upon as a "property interest."

2. Prevent Speculative "Legalized Block Busting"

The bill currently allows broad legal challenges to zoning and property use restrictions, but the term "compelling governmental interest in public health or safety" is too vague.
Concern: Developers and investors could exploit this vagueness to file lawsuits that erode single family zoning, leading to forced urban infill and destabilized neighborhoods.
Bozeman Example: In Bozeman, we have seen developers rapidly replace single-family homes with multi-story townhomes, often against the wishes of longtime residents. This bill must not be used to accelerate such changes.
Recommendation: Refine the "compelling interest" standard to explicitly exclude density mandates, forced urban infill, or high-density upzoning as valid justifications for overriding single-family zoning.

3. Clarify That Private Covenants Are Not Affected

Many developments use private covenants to regulate land use.
If government agencies reference or require certain covenants in the approval process, could those covenants be challenged under SB 146?
Recommendation: Add language explicitly stating that private covenants are not subject to SB 146 unless they are directly imposed by government entities.

4. Restrict Judicial Overreach in Land Use Challenges

Concern: As written, SB 146 gives courts broad discretion to overturn zoning laws without clear guidelines.
This could allow developers to use the courts to override zoning protections in ways that were never intended.
Recommendation: Establish specific legal guardrails for judicial review, ensuring that existing zoning can only be overturned when it demonstrably violates constitutional property rights—not simply when it limits speculative development.

5. Prevent SB 146 from Being Used as a Backdoor for Forced Density Policies

While the bill is intended to limit government overreach, poorly worded legal provisions could be exploited to accelerate forced densification rather than prevent it.
Some cities may reinterpret "compelling governmental interest" to justify forced upzoning, claiming that "climate sustainability" or "affordable housing" qualifies as a health justification.
Bozeman Example: City planners frequently justify density increases using sustainability arguments, arguing that compact urban housing is a "public benefit." SB 146 must make it clear that economic and climate-related goals do not meet the "compelling interest" standard.
Recommendation: Explicitly state that urban containment policies, forced densification, and elimination of single-family zoning do not meet the "compelling governmental interest" standard under SB 146.

Conclusion: Strengthen SB 146 to Truly Protect Property Rights

SB 146 is an important and necessary bill that can rein in government overreach and protect private property rights. However, as currently written, it fails to fully address the very threats that homeowners face from speculative redevelopment, forced urban infill, and top-down planning mandates.

To ensure that SB 146 upholds its intended purpose, I strongly urge the committee to:

Protect single-family zoning from speculative legal challenges
Prevent courts from being used to accelerate density mandates
Safeguard private covenants from unintended legal consequences
Ensure judicial review does not favor developers over homeowners

With these revisions, SB 146 can become a strong, balanced law that truly defends property rights for all Montanans. I encourage further discussion and amendment of the bill to ensure that it fulfills its intended purpose without unintended consequences.

Thank you for your time and consideration.

Respectfully,

Deanna Campbell

Montanans, vote “NO” on CI-128

Fri, 25 Oct 2024 15:43:46 GMT

All of us have at least one thing in common: we all began life as infants in a womb.

Despite our common beginnings, a widespread disregard for vulnerable human lives at this early developmental stage is wreaking havoc here in Montana, where I grew up and have practiced as an Ob/Gyn for more than 20 years.

A far-reaching amendment on the ballot in November, CI-128, would allow unlimited induced abortion through all nine months of pregnancy. CI-128's utter disregard for innocent human beings is nothing short of devastating. As a physician whose entire mission involves saving lives, it’s difficult to justify delivering a newborn at 24 weeks in one room only to terminate another child of the same gestational age or older under the guise of “healthcare” in the room next door. But that’s exactly what CI-128 would permit. The truth is, the little person kicking and moving around in the ultrasound image is not a blob of cells, but a human being. With this scientific reality in mind, I often note on early pregnancy ultrasounds how amazing it is that we all start out just like this.

CI-128's full text, which voters will be denied the opportunity to read at the ballot box, is riddled with vague language and deceptive terminology that would harm, not help, women and their babies. For example, it uses the terms “healthcare professional” or “provider” to refer to those performing induced abortions. Such a broad categorical term could give anyone license to perform them, regardless of experience or specialty, including non physicians. In fact, the language would eliminate all existing laws governing safe medical practice. This should be frightening, not freeing, to women in need of genuine medical attention.

Unfortunately, there appears to be no limit to how far pro-abortion activists will go to advance their deadly abortion-on-demand platform even though Montana laws already permit induced abortion up until 20 weeks' gestation, five weeks beyond the point at which nearly 75 percent of people do not support elective abortion. National pro-abortion interest groups have funneled millions of dollars into our state for the express purpose of turning out votes in favor of CI-128, that would subtly establish a permissive “right” to induced abortion during all nine months for generations to come.

Young women in their teenage years would be put at great personal risk should Montanans adopt CI-128. The amendment would eliminate Montana’s parental notification and the consent laws that protect minors from those who wish them harm, including abusive partners who often pressure them to abort against their wills. Under CI-128, these girls would be isolated at a time in life when they are in the most need of parental guidance and support.

Most people don’t realize that Ob/Gyn physicians already have the professional training and the legal authority necessary to deliver holistic care to mothers and their children before and after birth without relying on abortion. No constitutional amendment is required for us to deliver that care. You may have heard concerns that we need CI-128 to treat life-threatening conditions related to pregnancy, such as miscarriages (the baby has already died) and ectopic pregnancies (the pregnancy is outside the uterus, which can be life threatening to the mother). This is an invalid concern. We already take care of these women without hesitation, and always have.

Don’t let the drama of CI-128's backers mislead Montanans into thinking that abortion is a ticket to a woman’s freedom, health, and peace of mind. Nothing is further from the truth. Montana voters should demand better for women and children in our state. We must focus our efforts on supporting expecting mothers and welcoming unborn children into loving families in our communities so they can go on to experience fulfilling lives from kindergarten to old age. This fall is your opportunity to cast a decisive vote for protecting women and their children and against this radical amendment.

Vote NO on CI-128.

Americans in the Arena - Please Help If You Can

Fri, 30 Aug 2024 16:08:13 GMT

Americans in the Arena - Please Help If You Can

Catherine Engelbrecht

Hi Friend -

I’m writing to you today with both an update and a request.

First, the Update

Over these last few months, True the Vote has been firing on all cylinders:

IV3 - Assisted volunteers in 1623 counties across the country to submit ineligible voter records to their county elections office. This effort, called IV3 ( IV3.us ) was an enormous success, resulting in over 1,000,000 records being evaluated. Our next step is to monitor these ineligible records to determine whether they request an absentee ballot or cast an early vote. This information will be useful in a variety of ways, not the least of which is litigation support.
Lawfare - Submitted our response to the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals in the Fair Fight vs. True the Vote lawsuit. (We won in Georgia federal court, then Fair Fight appealed to the 11th circuit and we necessarily filed a response brief.)The lawsuit concerned voters’ rights to petition government over ineligible voter registration records - and our win in federal court was an awesome victory, in Georgia and across the country. This is just one of several cases we are involved in.
Scan. Check. Protect. - So far, we’ve assisted over 30,000 Americans with Scan. Check. Protect. , our online program for voter registration, voter record review, record cancellation, and mail-in ballot tracking.
“We Will Not Be Silenced” - We debuted this documentary on Open.ink . It is a compilation of harrowing testimonials from Democrats who experienced how Barack Obama appeared to have stolen the 2008 primary from the Hillary Clinton. This is a must-watch piece of history, informing us about what kind of behavior we can expect in the general election, as the Obama team is again calling the shots, this time for Kamala.
VoteAlert - VoteAlert.org is a web app to support voters and election workers in incident reporting, whether online or through our 24×7 live call center.
Pray the Vote - Together with our longtime partner Intercessors for America we’re supporting a joint initiative to Pray the Vote, identifying voters who haven’t participated in a while and praying for them, for election workers, and for an honorable election season.
Voto Honesto - Launched a Spanish radio show with Voto Honesto spokesperson Violet Sarria - reaching citizens and noncitizens alike with clarifying commentary on voter engagement, including who is and is not allowed to vote.
On the Road Again - Traveled all over the country, speaking, training, supporting - and setting up camp in Wisconsin, as we make plans to address the coming installment of nearly 600 dropboxes across this key battleground state. (I’m not going to publish all we are doing, as it will undoubtedly be used against us, but we are doing … a lot).
Open Mics - 3x a week webinars and podcasts to support volunteers, answer questions, and keeping working smart.
Activist Support - Consistently message to volunteers with efforts led by Meg Denning, to assist, train, engage, and make an impact. You can find one of Meg’s newsletters here (if you aren’t already getting them, you can sign up here. )
Fake News - Continued to absorb the body blows from legacy media. From CNN’s stalking of TTV volunteers, to Democracy Docket ’s completely unhinged article on our work with Sheriffs, and countless hundreds of similar slams intended to discredit and discourage us all. The fallout from fake news spurs coordinated attacks on our websites, and flooded inboxes and voice messages full of the most hateful things you can imagine, including very specific death threats. (But, newsflash, it’s not working, we are more determined than ever.)

This is all since about May. (And there’s lots more on our website TrueTheVote.org ).

Our volunteer base is steadily growing, as is our social media following.

And we are making an impact. As more and more evidence of corruption has been exposed, public sentiment has changed. The majority of Americans (62% according to a recent Rasmussen poll) now believe that we do have a problem with election fraud. Past naysayers have gone from calling us “election deniers”, to being willing to help support local elections in an effort to avoid reliving the 2020 boondoggle. The situation is far from perfect - but we are on the right road and must keep moving forward.

Now, the Request

Will you please consider making a donation to support our work? I wish we had a war chest that would allow us to work without the need to ask, but that’s not the position we are in.

The opposition wants to ensure that we are defunded — in fact, they have been fairly successful at draining our coffers through the many frivolous lawsuits they’ve kept us in.

The truth of the matter is this — we are in the center of the arena. Leading the charge. Fighting every day, in ways seen and unseen, to advance the call for voters’ rights and honest elections.

In these next few months, we’re going to give it all we’ve got. No rest, no regrets. We have big things planned. Please help us if you can.

I know you are being asked for money every day, all the time. I receive the same emails and texts, I know it’s overwhelming.

All I can tell you is, we will remain in the arena come what may. We need your help. We are giving to a point of sacrifice. We humbly ask that you join us in the arena today with a donation that would help us not just to stay afloat, but to make a permanent difference for our country — for all of us, for our families, and the next generation.

It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs, who comes short again and again, because there is no effort without error and shortcoming; but who does actually strive to do the deeds; who knows the great enthusiasms, the great devotions; who spends himself in a worthy cause; who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who neither know victory nor defeat.

- Excerpted from “Citizenship in a Republic” by Theodore Roosevelt

Never quit. Keep the faith.

Ever onward -

P.S. If you would, please also consider forwarding this email to your friends. We need all the support we can muster to stay standing strong.

Freedom's Meaning Lost

Mon, 19 Aug 2024 22:40:04 GMT

Nobody Talks About Freedom Anymore

“The Divine Knowledge has ebbed out of us, and we do not know enough to be free.”

~ Daniel Webster

Have you noticed? When the election season rolls around, nobody talks about freedom anymore. Sure, that word is sometimes still dropped into campaign speeches, sprinkled like salt over a bland plate of political platitudes. But freedom is never the primary subject, let alone the goal of modern political messaging. It’s just a rhetorical enhancement, that leaves the scene as quickly as it arrived.

Why do you suppose that is? What does that tell us about the personal convictions and motivations of most political candidates who flash across our TV screens? What hearts beat in their chests? What passions and convictions guide their souls?

Maybe we’re asking the wrong question. Yes, politicians have their own beliefs and agendas. A rare few have beliefs that run deep enough to not be shaken. But most politicians are pragmatists. Their goal is winning elections. They are mostly a reflection of the political marketplace where they sell their services. When candidates have nothing deep or important to say about freedom, that may be saying more about us than about them. The “sellers” are concluding that freedom, beyond being a quaint abstract, has no buyers. That freedom and liberty are irrelevant to us, the voters -- throw-away lines for speeches only. Not something to truly contemplate and embrace, let alone apply to today’s issues.

When we lose our yearning for freedom, we lose respect for the freedom of others at the same time, and the animus and social chaos we see around us should be of no surprise. Freedom has been replaced by the secular, the superficial and the selfish. When the flame of freedom dies in our own hearts, who but we ourselves are to blame for a culture of control that now smothers free expression and free thought? Is it not the utter disrespect for the freedom of others (upon which our own freedom depends) that has brought us to a place where corporations, city governments and college campuses dictate to employees, citizens and students exactly what they cannot think, cannot hear and cannot say? Meanwhile, we signal to the politicians that freedom isn’t that important anymore.

Perhaps we do this because we no longer understand the meaning of the word itself. To the extent that it is spoken, it is profoundly corrupted by the political establishment of both parties, but especially by the Democrats and the political Left. For it is the ideology of the Left that is dedicated to expanding the size, power and coercive influence of government in our lives – the extreme opposite of personal freedom. The ideology of take whatever you want from others and call it a “right.”

Case in point: the Montana Democrat Party’s Montana Freedom Rally , held in Bozeman the same night as the Trump event. The primary “freedom” they were promoting was something they call “reproductive freedom.” Maybe I’m dense, but I can’t think of a single politician who wants to stop men and women from reproducing. Last I heard, America isn’t even reproducing at a replacement rate for its population. So reproduce away!

But no. The Democratic message is not about pink and blue baby booties. It’s a much darker theme, painted in the color of death. They’ve turned the word freedom on its head, to mean the denial of human life to another human soul . It’s the claim that your personal desires and demands are more important than another person’s very life. Jefferson said, “the God who gave us life, gave us liberty,” so the first freedom is life itself, or all our other God-given freedoms are meaningless.

Freedom requires faith in a free society and in our ability to thrive and prosper in an “unplanned” state of liberty under law. It calls for a belief in something far bigger than ourselves, and requires that we respect the freedom of others as more important than our own. The miracle of freedom is how it produces the very best in all of us, establishing a foundation for mutual respect and genuine peace, without the government spying on us and without angry elites telling us how to live.

Maybe we need to start reaching for something higher, something nobler than just asking politicians what the government can do for us today. Maybe we need to begin talking about freedom again.

A former Bozeman small businessman, Roger Koopman is president of Montana Conservative Alliance. He served four years in the Montana House of Representatives and eight years as a Montana Public Service commissioner.

“If ye love wealth better than liberty, the tranquility of servitude better than the animating contest of freedom, go home from us un peace. We ask not your counsels nor your arms. Stoop down and lick the hands that feed you. May your chains set lightly, and may posterity forget that ye were our countrymen.”

~ Samuel Adams

Resolution on Platform Principles

Fri, 09 Aug 2024 22:01:24 GMT

R esolution on Platform Principles

WHEREAS, Republican solidarity in opposition to the Democrat socialist agenda is necessary to preserve the security of our country, our economic and political freedoms, and our way of life; and

WHEREAS, Republican faithfulness to its conservative principles and public policies as dictated by members of the GOP during convention and found in the Montana State Platform is necessary to maintain and restore the trust of the electorate in the Republican Party and a proven path that will lead to Republican electoral victories; and

WHEREAS, we understand the broad written form of the whole of the Montana GOP Platform provides a great narrative tool for discussing our beliefs, it is a mechanism to detail policy to support in legislation; and

WHEREAS, the MTGOP has a responsibility to develop a simple set of Principles based upon the MTGOP Platform that could then be applied to all proposed legislation;

THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the MTGOP identifies the following ten (10) policy positions to be detailed in the Montana Republican Platform in a “Principles” section that shall be placed immediately after the Preamble and thus before the main body of planks;

Tax Policy: Taxes should be low, broad based, and easily understood.
Role of Government: We believe our constitutional system- Limited govt, separation of powers, federalism and the rights of the people- must be preserved uncompromised for future generations.
Scope of Government: We believe political and economic freedom are indivisible.
Sanctity of life: Support “all life is sacred” policies from conception to natural end of life with the exception of the death penalty. There will be no tax payer funding for abortions or suicides, parental notification and permission in all cases dealing with legal minors, and require taxpayer supported medical services programs to provide ultrasounds and all available choices for individuals dealing with crisis pregnancies.
Private Property: Private Property is the foundation of prosperity and freedom.
Education: Adopt school choice policies driven by parental control, reduce centralized control mechanisms embracing local control, embrace transparency in local district budgets and curriculum, and preserve the autonomy of private and home school institutions.
Social Programs: Adopt policies of “hand up” not “hand out” in all social programs, adopt accountability and eligibility standards that only help the truly needy, and implement measures that define the primary role of all social services to one of reducing dependency.
Natural Resources: Montana is The Treasure State and we support natural resource policy that promote jobs, and improves the quality of life and standard of living for all Montanans.
State Rights: Support the 10th Amendment, reject all federal programs that do not include funding for the life of the mandate, believe that all Federal Law implemented in Montana must be based on Article 1, AND that every Montana elected official work to confine Federal power to its Constitutional limits.
Judicial: We believe in the rule of law and a separation of powers. The judicial branch is a separate branch of government and it should not be a super legislature.

The Republican Party of Montana recognizes that this Platform and these 10 principles are the only source for the values, definitions, and expectations the members of this association recognize when evaluating a candidate for public office within the Primary Election, as the Republican members alone have determined these by Convention.

The Republican Party of Montana also recognizes the primary goal of this Platform and principles is the expectation that our elected officials will use it as a directing guide when making decisions.

We also expect a report be issued by the State Republican Party on the voting results for those standards of each Legislator to all members of the Republican Party.

Resolution To Officially Oppose Ranked Choice Voting In Montana

WHEREAS, The Montana Republican Party, the party of equality, the party of opportunity for all, party of favoritism for none and to encourage and allow the broadest possible participation of all voters in Montana.

WHEREAS, Montana has operated on a well-understood and relatively uniform election system that has been implemented over one hundred years to support our constitutional republic.

WHEREAS, Montana primary and general elections ensure that voters who support one candidate, not a plurality of candidates, are heard clearly while ranked choice voting schemes open elections to ‘ballot exhaustion’ on the disenfranchisement of voters who choose not to support multiple candidates who do not clearly represent their values;

WHEREAS, States and communities where ranked choice voting has been tested have consistently decreased voter participation in those communities and in many cases the elections have resulted in more discarded votes than counted votes;

WHEREAS, Ranked choice voting often results in additional tabulation delays resulting in days or weeks of additional counting while depending exclusively on technology without traceable ballots to support determined winners; and

WHEREAS, Supporters of ranked choice voting seek to eliminate or disempower party primaries; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, That the Republican Party of Montana rejects ranked choice voting and similar schemes that increase election distrust, and voter suppression and disenfranchisement, eliminate the historic political party system, and put elections in the hands of expensive election schemes that cost taxpayers and depend exclusively on confusing technology and unelected bureaucrats to manage it; and

RESOLVED, Montana calls on the Congress, Montana State Legislature, and voters to oppose ranked choice voting and similar schemes at every level of government.

Letter to the Editor by Steve White

Thu, 25 Jul 2024 17:50:56 GMT

Since Biden took office, more than 7 million migrants have entered our country illegally through our southern border (a number greater than the population of 36 individual states). They had 290,178 associated charges and convictions (an average of four per individual). These included 33,209 assaults, 4,390 sexual assaults, 7,520 weapons offenses, 1,713 charges or convictions for homicide, and 1,655 kidnapping offenses. The southern border crisis is also costing American taxpayers around $451 billion per year for services provided.

Next, Biden canceled the Keystone pipeline. Gasoline prices rose from $2.25 per gallon up to $5 per gallon by mid-2022. With the OPEC+ decision to reduce supply further, gasoline prices are now headed toward $4.50 per gallon. Next, Biden decided to shrink our emergency SPR (to the lowest in 40 years). In response to my letter to Senator Tester on this, Tester replied: “I pushed the Administration to release oil from the Strategic Petroleum Reserve”.

Biden’s $69B loan ‘forgiveness’ package continues to grow, even after the Supreme Court ruled against it. In 2021 our interest rates were 2.6%, in 2024 the interest rate is 3.8%. Inflation was 1.4% when Biden took office, and now it is 3%. And food prices have surged more than 21% since the start of 2021.

And of course, we all remember the horrible withdrawal from Afghanistan. Every step of the way, Montana’s Senator Jon Tester has supported Biden’s failed polices and decisions (94%). It is time for a change. Decorated veteran and job creating entrepreneur Tim Sheehy represents that change for Montana in DC.

Steve White

Former Gallatin County Commissioner

CI-128 Update

Mon, 22 Jul 2024 19:32:53 GMT

Fellow Republican Representatives,

As we all know, the Montana courts have consistently taken it upon themselves to do our job as legislators. Once Democrats lost their Governor veto pen backstop, their last resort has been to run to judges to stop sound conservative ideas, and even some important bipartisan reforms, from becoming law. Ideas that the people of Montana voted to send to Helena. There have been many instances where judges have taken over our role as the Legislative Branch to implement their own preferred politics and policies, rather than simply adhere to the constitutional rule of law.

This happened during the preparation of the current petition for CI-128 when the MT supreme court ruled the Legislature should be bypassed and signature gathering allowed to begin without the usual process of a legislative interim committee conducting a vote and giving its opinion to better inform potential signers.

Now, we are on the threshold of being unconstitutionally usurped again. On June 10th, Montanans for Reproductive Rights (Planned Parenthood and ACLU) and the out-of-state big money interests pushing the election initiatives sued SOS to get a ruling on who counts as a "qualified elector."

Article III of the Montana Constitution requires that only signatures from "qualified electors" qualify for ballot initiatives. Montana Code Annotated 13-19-313(2) , passed by the Legislature, states that "the election administrator shall place the elector on the inactive list provided for in 13-2-220 until the elector becomes a qualified elector. In order to become a qualified voter, an elector shall follow the procedure in 13-2-222 or 13-2-304 , as applicable" (emphasis added). In other words, inactive voters are clearly, by law, not "qualified electors." This is the Secretary of State's position--that she is following the Constitution and the law as passed by the Legislature.

Of note, the Oregon Supreme Court, a liberal court in a state with similar constitutional provisions to Montana, previously ruled on this issue, finding that inactive voters are not "qualified electors." You can see that decision here . Also of note, the language about how an inactive voter becomes a qualified elector, referenced earlier in this email, came from SB 498--sponsored by Democrat Sen. Shane Morigeau--in the 2023 session. Democrats contributed to that statutory language just a year ago; now their allies don't want to abide by it.

There are policy differences among legislators, including among Republicans. However, when we have a constitutional idea that passes both chambers and is signed into law we must have the Judicial Branch, Executive Branch and all statewide offices follow the law. Failure to do so undermines the Legislative Branch as an institution and the rule of law.

We as a Legislature are having our constitutional roles diminished by politically-motivated Montana judges. Please take time to post on social media, write an LTE, and talk to any and all groups to set straight the role of our three branches of government. A good start would be to inform your local central committee of the situation.

Also, if you would like more information on the details of the history of these ballot initiatives and where we sit today please reach out to. Both the SOS and Graybill’s arguments are attached to this email. This court case is going to be intense and fast with signature verification deadlines rapidly approaching. The case potentially has multigenerational implications for our state--both when it comes to the Legislature's role as branch of government, and whether our Constitution will contain new, radically different provisions than it has for the past 50 years.

We hope you all are enjoying the sunny MT summer.

Matt Regier, Speaker

Sue Vinton, Majority Leader

Rhonda Knudsen, Pro Tem

General Flynn, An Open Letter to President Biden

Fri, 19 Jul 2024 19:40:03 GMT

An Open Letter to President Joseph Biden from Lt. Gen. Michael Flynn (U.S. Army, Ret.)

Dear Mr. President:

America is still in shock from that moment on Saturday that an assassin’s bullet wounded former President Donald Trump during his presidential campaign rally. Only by the grace of God was his life spared.

Within hours of that near-tragedy, you twice spoke to the nation and declared that political violence was “ one reason we have to unite this country .” Those are laudable sentiments, but Mr. President, a few words cannot and will not undo your statements and actions over the past three and a half years that have not united Americans, but have divided us. You have not just criticized, but demonized your opponent and the millions of Americans who support him.

Americans remember that on September 1, 2022, you launched an all-out rhetorical attack against millions of citizens who support President Trump. In front of a blood-red background, and flanked by U.S. Marines as visual enforcers, you shouted that “Donald Trump and the MAGA Republicans represent an extremism that threatens the very foundations of our republic.” You shouted that “MAGA Republicans do not respect the Constitution. They do not believe in the rule of law. They do not recognize the will of the people.”

In your November 3, 2022 speech just before the 2022 midterm election s , you again sought to divide the American people, accusing Republicans of fueling a “dangerous rise in political violence and voter intimidation over the past two years.” You claimed that “democracy is on the ballot,” as if the millions of Americans who returned control of the House of Representatives to Republicans the next week opposed democracy. Your State of the Union speech was even worse.

You have made this kind of inflammatory rhetoric a centerpiece of your campaign, and just days before the assassination attempt, you stated that “It’s time to put Trump in a bullseye .”

I commend you for your decision finally to provide Secret Service protection for Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. in his campaign for President in the aftermath of the shooting Saturday. I had called for this protection to be given last August . The nation has already suffered through the assassination of Mr. Kennedy’s father and uncle. It was unconscionable that Mr. Kennedy has not been protected until now. Yet, this was a good first step.

Mr. President, your call for unity is laudable. And, I take you at your word. However, if you really wish to “unite this country,” there are several meaningful policy actions you can take to prove it. I suggest you end your verbal and governmental assault on your political opponents by taking the following steps.

Yesterday, the federal district court judge presiding over the trial of Donald Trump in Florida dismissed that indictment because “Special Counsel” Jack Smith had no lawful authority to act as a prosecutor. You could undo some of the damage done by his appointment by your Attorney General, by admitting his appointment was unlawful and ordering General Garland to terminate it, as well as both federal prosecutions against President Trump. The outcome of the 2024 Presidential election should be decided at the ballot box, not in a criminal court.
I urge you to order your Department of Justice to announce publicly that it will not pursue its plan to resist , but rather will follow, the Supreme Court’s ruling in Fischer v. United States , and stop using the Sarbanes-Oxley anti-shredding laws against January 6 protestors. Your Administration has claimed that the protest that day was an insurrection, but not a single American was charged with the federal crime of insurrection. Rather, that Department instead misused the Sarbanes-Oxley anti-document-shredding law to impose its longer prison terms on January 6 protestors, and this abuse must end.
I ask you to order your Attorney General, Merrick Garland, to stop using FACE Act prosecutions to imprison opponents of abortion who peacefully pray and protest outside abortion mills. Also, it would help end the climate of fear you have created if you would order the FBI to end raids on the homes of political protestors.
I ask you to call off your political allies like Project 65 that literally is seeking to destroy the ability of America’s conservative Republican attorneys to make a living at their chosen profession because you disagree with their effort to ensure we have free and fair elections. Let legal giants like John Eastman and other attorneys who have advised President Trump go back to practicing law, rather than spending their life savings on legal fees to defend their right to make arguments in court that you wish to silence.
I urge you to stop using the power of government to threaten social media companies into suppressing speech you find critical of your policies. End your Censorship Enterprise once and for all. Let all Americans freely express themselves on social media and elsewhere. You cannot unite a country while censoring the speech of half of its people.
Many of your departments and agencies routinely exceeded their statutory authority. I ask you to order the ATF to withdraw its regulation defining anyone who sells or repairs even one firearm for profit to be “ engaged in the business ” of dealing in firearms. This regulation risks ensnaring those who repair one gun for a friend, or who buy or sell one or two firearms, in a web of draconian federal regulation. This regulation has already been enjoined by a federal judge, but it needs to be withdrawn completely.
I urge you to order Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona to withdraw regulations directing schools to facilitate children engaging in gender transition , while keeping this information secret from parents . It is difficult to unite a nation while undermining the family by pitting children against their parents.
Please repeal all your Administration’s actions to throw open our borders and burden America’s taxpayers with the costs of millions of those you once correctly described as “ illegal immigrants .” A good first step could be to drop your suit against Texas Gov. Greg Abbott for placing barriers in the Rio Grande, doing the job you and your Homeland Security Secretary Mayorkas have refused to do.
This would be the time to cancel all DEI directives . Stop dividing Americans by sex, skin color, and ethnicity. Stop federal agencies from discriminating based on pigmentation instead of rewarding merit and performance.
I urge you to withdraw Executive Order 14019 , which requires each federal agency to work to register voters to tilt the election in your favor.

Finally, returning to the topic of the near-assassination of former President Trump last Saturday, the American People do not trust an investigation of security failures by the Department of Homeland security being conducted by the FBI and your Justice Department. I suggest that you instead appoint a panel of three state attorneys general, two of whom should be Republicans, and grant them full authority to investigate the events of that day.

Mr. President, you cannot unite a country when you have declared war upon half of its citizens, weaponizing your government to silence and imprison your political opponents. In brief, I urge you to demilitarize not just your rhetoric, but also your policies. Should you continue these divisive policies, paradoxically, you will accomplish the unification of Americans — but it will be Americans unifying in opposition to both you and your Administration.

Respectfully,

Lt. Gen. Michael Flynn (U.S. Army, ret.)

Dear Fellow Patriots

Thu, 18 Jul 2024 18:54:18 GMT

Dear Fellow Patriots,

We are at a time in our Country that we never dreamed we would see in our lifetimes and a time our Founding Fathers warned us about if we did not safeguard our Constitutional Republic. The ongoing Spiritual battle is real and unfortunately evil has been working hard for years to infiltrate our society and culture, eroding our values and principles as a nation. There is an ever growing cultural and governmental hostility toward Biblical and Patriotic values and Americans who hold them dear. We are at a pivotal point, one that must be met with resistance lest we succumb to globalist agendas and marxist ideologies.

The attempted assassination of Trump is a wake-up call that we must answer with increased passion and dedication to save our Country. This starts locally, where we can truly work to make a difference. It is a call to step up, speak up, and volunteer. God calls us to be strong in the Lord...to put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. We must stand for truth, righteousness, readiness, peace, and faith. (Ephesians 6: 10-17). We should not allow the actions of evil-doers to provoke us, but rather to make us more resilient and determined to boldly fight for what we hold dear and know to be just, moral, and right. President Trump puts himself on the line each and every day. He has sacrificed his time and fortune. He has been willing to go to prison or even give his life for this Country and her people. Upon standing from being shot, he raised his arm and called for his fellow Patriots to Fight! He did not mean with physical aggression but with all legal recourse, patriotic duty, and political effort and will to take back our country.

Please ask yourself what you can give of your time, skills, and resources to protect our Freedoms. Will you stand in faith, give your efforts to save America, and provide a future of hope for our children? There is much to accomplish this year. The few need many in order to win. Please get plugged in and help your local grassroots efforts. We need you now!

In Liberty and Freedom,

Blessings to All,

Marla Davis

The Truth About CI-128

Tue, 16 Jul 2024 20:45:09 GMT

Planned Parenthood is gathering signatures to make abortion a Constitutional right in Montana, but they are hiding the true impact of this initiative from voters:

Unlimited Abortion

CI-128 would create a constitutional right to UNLIMITED ABORTION in Montana - Including partial-birth abortion or dismemberment abortion.

"Healthcare Professional"

A "healthcare professional" meaning a doctor, nurse, dentist, chiropractor, physical therapist or paramedic can approve abortion at any stage of pgregnancy.

Taxpayer Funded Abortion

Passing CI-128 will increase taxpayer funded abortion procedures in Montana.

Safe Harbor for Sex Traffickers

Predators and sex traffickers will be protected when they force victims to obtain an abortion.

No Parental Oversight

Parents will not be entitled to notice or consent before their daughter obtains an abortion.

Reproductive Care Implications

CI-128 is about more than abortion. Arguably, the language of CI-128 impacts so called "reproductive rights" and "pregnancy outcomes" which may include a right to undergo radical, irreversible gender reassignment surgery or hormone intervention to alter the reproductive system.

Do not fall victim to the lies! Do not sign or support CI-128.

Hold MT Courts Accountable

Mon, 15 Jul 2024 19:49:10 GMT

SB 302 - Require Judges and Justices of the Peace to Designate Partisan Preference

The Montana Supreme Court is neither nonpartisan, nor nonbiased, and left-learning media coverage makes it nearly impossible for Montanans without legal degrees to make informed voting decisions, especially regarding supposedly "nonpartisan elections."

We need our legislators to take immediate action by writing a letter to SOS Jacobson requesting a timely poll of legislators regarding a special session call to reconsider SB 302 —partisan Supreme Court elections beginning this election cycle.

You can read about the travesty of our corrupt and tyrannical state supreme court at:

The Montana Supreme Court Tries to Move the State Left

The Montana Supreme Court - An Institution in Need of Reform

Contact your local GOP legislators and tell them you want them to "sign the letter to the Secretary of State , re: requesting a special session call on SB 302, re:supreme court elections reform."

School Board Elections

Tue, 23 Apr 2024 15:42:44 GMT

School Board Candidates

Candidates in red are recommended by the Gallatin County Republican Chair Committee.

This link will direct you to Bozeman's School Ballot Issues including Trustees/School Board Candidate list.

Resolution in Support of Donald J. Trump as the Republican Presidential Candidate for 2024

Thu, 29 Feb 2024 16:50:37 GMT

WHEREAS Donald J. Trump is the duly elected 45th president of the United States of America; and

WHEREAS under the leadership of Donald J. Trump the United States of America prospered to a degree not seen for years, with employment reaching all time highs as well as energy independence; and

WHEREAS President Donald J. Trump successfully and aggressively promoted individual freedom, economic freedom, capitalism, the free market economy, reduction of the administrative state, and worldwide peace, unlike any president since Ronald Reagan; and

WHEREAS Donald J. Trump accomplished goals such as effectively ending NAFTA (relacing it with the USMCA), withdrawal from the Paris Climate Accords, and encouragement of peace in the Middle East under the Abraham Accords, which helped discourage aggressive Iranian behavior; and

WHEREAS Donald J. Trump exposed the shocking mechanics of the deep state in our country to the light of day, enabling ordinary citizens to see the actual depth of ugly government corruption for the first time; and

WHEREAS Donald J. Trump supported a strong United States military; and

WHEREAS Donald J. Trump's many accomplishments triumphed despite previously unseen and unrelenting personal attacks on a sitting President of the United States from corrupt government agencies, vicious democrat opposition leaders, dark money, and extreme left-wing factions throughout the world, and from those here in our own country; therefore be it

RESOLVED that the Gallatin County Republican Central Committee fully supports and stands behind Donald J. Trump as the only acceptable Republican candidate for President of the United States in the 2024 election; and be it further

RESOLVED that the Gallatin County Republican Central Committee, and the Committeemen and Committeewomen who constitute that organization agree to work tirelessly to see that Donald J. Trump is the duly elected President of the United States in 2024.

Resolution Opposing Ranked Choice Voting & Jungle Primaries

Fri, 19 Jan 2024 17:45:48 GMT

WHEREAS , the scheme of so-called “Ranked Choice Voting” (hereinafter RCV), as well as the Jungle Primary are starting to be promoted in the State of Montana;

WHEREAS , America has operated on a uniform, well-understood election system for over two hundred years;

WHEREAS , RCV schemes are more complex than our traditional one person, one vote system;

WHEREAS , RCV schemes require each voter to “rank” candidates on their ballot, thereby requiring each voter to become informed about the numerous candidate’s positions, policies, backgrounds, philosophies, and views;

WHEREAS , casting a vote in a RCV scheme is difficult, instructions are cumbersome, and ballot error rates are higher that for those of traditional elections, resulting in more citizens having their votes thrown away;

WHEREAS , in traditional elections, every correctly executed ballot is counted, but under a RCV scheme of “ballot exhaustion”, even ballots which follow the instructions to the letter can be thrown out if the voter ranked a candidate who is no longer in contention, while being required to vote for all candidates on the ballot, including those he/she may not support.

WHEREAS , RCV changes and delays the election counting process by requiring ballots to be transported to a centralized location for counting due to multiple rounds of tabulations in the event of an instant runoff, causing delays of days or weeks in the delivery of election results;

WHEREAS , districts using RCV have been found to have lower voter turnout rates;

WHEREAS , the “jungle primary”, (sometimes referred to as a “blanket primary”, “open primary” or “top two primary”) is an election in which all candidates for elected office run in the same primary regardless of political party, leaving the top two candidates who receive the most votes to advance to the next round, as in a run-off election.

WHEREAS , in a jungle primary there is no separate nomination process for candidates before the first round to narrow the field, making it possible that two candidates of the same party could advance to the second round;

WHEREAS, a jungle primary results in electing candidates who appeal to both/all parties;

WHEREAS, supporters of RCV and jungle primaries seek to disempower party primaries;

therefore be it

RESOLVED, That the Gallatin County Republican Central Committee rejects Ranked Choice Voting, Jungle Primaries, and all other similar schemes which increase election distrust, suppress voter turnout, disenfranchise voters, eliminate the historic political party system, and depend upon expensive and confusing technology and unelected bureaucrats to manage it: and

Susan D. Evans

Secretary

Mike Johnson Speaker of the House Speech

Fri, 27 Oct 2023 19:58:28 GMT

Breaking News! New Speaker of the House has been Elected!

Senator Daines on January 6th Anniversary

Thu, 06 Jan 2022 22:04:24 GMT

“Senator Daines believes January 6th was a sad day for our country, and he strongly condemns the violence that occurred. The Senator is thankful for the bravery of the law enforcement officers who defended our Capitol, and he believes those who took part in the violence, especially those who assaulted law enforcement, should be held accountable. He believes the judicial process should play out and that all Constitutional rights be afforded to those charged with crimes. The Senator believes we should move forward and that its disappointing Speaker Pelosi and the Democrats have chosen to continue to politicize this day to further divide our country. He thinks we should be focused on fixing Biden’s failures like the inflation crisis, the southern border crisis and the supply chain crisis the President and the Democrats have created.”

Steve Daines Three Part Interview

Wed, 21 Jul 2021 21:04:24 GMT

Part 1

The People’s Post:

By far this was the most popular question and we thought it was really an important one.

I think you had a statement back on Jan 2 about restoring Montanans confidence in elections so in light of that the biggest question was “Why did you withdraw from the challenge electoral college after first supporting it?”

Daines:

Well, here are the facts. I had reached out to the White House, the Presidents team, asking for the evidence that would suggest that one state, two states, three states or more should be challenged and actually rejected during the electoral vote tally which happened on Jan. 6th. They said, “Steve we will get it for you.” And I said, “Listen you provide me the evidence because I want to present that on the floor of the United States Senate and I will object. Ted Cruz and I and about 10 other US senators put together a statement and we, by the way, to be clear the intent of the 11 senators who were part of that went with Cruz were to object which I did. I signed the objection because you have at least one senator to object and you have to have at least one house member to object and if that happens in the joint session then you go to the separate bodies senate and house then you have a debate for two hours. So, I did sign the objection but our intent, and you can go back and look what Ted Cruz, he was kind of a spokesperson for our group, was not to overturn the election on Jan 6. Our intent was to create an audit group with bipartisan group of senators members of congress and court justices that would go through and do an audit of every state. We would then present the findings to their state legislatures and allow the state legislatures to reconsider their certification of the electoral votes because our founding fathers were wise in not putting a concentration of power in Washington, D.C. None of us, as conservatives ever want to see congress overturning an election. Our founding fathers were deeply skeptical of concentrations of power and that’s why we had separations of power. That is the role of the states, unless there is absolutely egregious evidence that is compelling and says you know Arizona you've certified the election but look at all this evidence here that says you were in error in doing so. Then would be a place where we would have a debate and possibly send it back to the states.

The People’s Post:

Sen Cruz and Sen Hawley seemed like the only two who said “No we’re sticking in here and keeping the challenge.

Daines:

It’s a two-step process so you have to object and I did that. The objection then created the two-hour debate. But then I think the actual question here is what about the actual vote that occurred? You read the Role Call of states in alphabetical order and the first state that was going to get an objection was Arizona and that’s an A and that was the state remember it was 10,457 votes separated Biden from Trump in Arizona in their certified results. Remember I pleaded with the White House for evidence. They never gave it to me just to be clear, never got it and had I had the evidence then I would have gone and made the argument and said ok Arizona’s evidence says I should overturn Arizona’s results. Our goal and my goal was not to overturn a state unless the evidence was compelling. Also, our goal was to get this audit committee put together and we didn’t have the votes to do it. as i walked down on the floor just to be clear on this, I had made the decision when I left my office that I wasn’t going to overturn any state. I’d object yes to have the debate but unless we had the evidence its chilling to me to think and I disagree with my colleagues who actually cast that vote overturning a state without the actual evidence in hand. Can you imagine in 2024 President Trump runs and he wins and it comes down to Montana lets say 3 electoral votes hypothetically and there’s talk about voter irregularities in Montana. Even though we have certified our election, can you imagine Kamala Harris stepping in and senators and congressman and saying we are going to overturn the state of Montana without having any evidence in hand That’s what we had on Jan 6. I know there’s more audits going on and investigations but I would humbly submit to you that they have yet to produce the evidence that would suggest Georgia, Arizona and Wisconsin ,those are the three states that were really the biggest problems, and Pennsylvania to some degree and were still waiting to see it.

The People’s Post:

So, do you support the current Arizona Audit?

Daines:

Yes, absolutely.

Part 2

The People’s Post: What is your opinion on the January 6th shooting of an unarmed air force veteran named Ashley Babbitt who was shot by a capitol police officer still unnamed.

Senator Daines: Well, the DOJ is conducting an investigation on this right now and I have to be very careful on this because these are criminal investigations and they're going to get the information and I think frankly having politicians trying to exploit this is disappointing to me I will just tell you this, you aren't going to have me exploit this. This is an absolute horrible situation where, you know, she lost her life that day…and I want the members of law enforcement and the DOJ to do their investigation. I think this is the best way to approach this versus politicians getting in front of us here and trying to exploit this and stirring everybody up or raise money off it. I won’t go there. Let the investigation conclude.

The People’s Post: It would seem you tweeted about the capitol officer who died, which was tragic, but they never heard you talk about Ashley Babbitt. Why is that?

Senator Daines:

Oh, Ok I don't know if we sent something out. It was horrible what happened that day. I’m sorry if people assumed that it didn’t …it was a horrible moment for all of us to see someone lose their life that day. My apologies if that’s the case but its terrible, horrible. Everything I read about her, her life, her husband. It was just a really sad outcome. Let’s let the department of justice investigation continue here and get to the bottom of what was going on there. I literally went to see the place where she fell when she was mortally wounded just hours after that happened. I wanted to go see what happened, see it myself just off the floor of the house literally just 30 or 40 ft. to the doors of the house chambers.

Staff Member: I apologize to interrupt we are pushing upon time

People’s Post: Can we ask you one more question?

Part 3

People’s Post:

Do you support the current Arizona election audit?

Senator Daines:

They have every right to continue to audit and get to the bottom of the truth, absolutely! Here’s what we need to do. We need to restore the faith in elections. Were there voter irregularities in the last election? Yes. Was there enough irregularity that we can have the compelling evidence to suggest we overturn a state? We have not yet seen that. Absolutely, always. It will always help us get better as it relates to tightening up procedures or processes, whether it was some cyber intrusion on an electronic system or, I think more likely. What I have seen is just you have voters who do not have actual physical addresses who got ballots to post office addresses and mailed them in. They get all jumbled up and you should go back and do forensic audits. Do these voters still live at these addresses? That takes a lot of time, and that’s one of the problems we exposed. It was that there was not enough time from Election Day to certification to actually do what audits needed to ensure that there was not voter fraud.

I’m proud of what Montanans have done, by the way - requiring identification photo ID now to vote. And, by the way, the reason I hope we, as conservatives, understand is that you don’t want Washington, DC running elections. You don’t! That’s what Pelosi and Schumer are trying now. They have a bill that will take over and federalize the elections. We've got to respect the states, and that’s why, unless I have the evidence in hand, I would not vote against certified state results. And the White House said they would give me some. And guess what, they never did. And I swore an oath to the Constitution, and that was to defend and protect the rule of law. And as much as I wanted a different outcome in the election, let me tell you something, the evidence was never there. And I’m happy to have that discussion more, but I think it is important that folks understand what was going on that day (Jan 6th).

The People’s Post: We’ll pass that on to the Gallatin Valley Republican Voters.

Matt Rosendale Interview

Wed, 02 Jun 2021 21:04:24 GMT

People’s Post: What is the most pressing issue facing our country today?

Rep. Rosendale: I think about spending. There's a couple of really big ones but I think the spending. When you start talking about the trillions of dollars added to the national debt we are weakened and our currency is weakened and that impacts our national defense. It impacts our economy and it impacts our financial stability. It sucks our resources from national security so it's all intertwined.

People’s Post: How many Americans do we have left in Afghanistan?

Rep. Rosendale: Sure oh, they're not giving anyone a number. My best guess is somewhere between 100 and 200 individuals.

People’s Post: And so what your hands are kind of tied?

Rep. Rosendale: Nearly every Congressional office is trying to bring the Americans home. It's shameful.

People’s Post: So when I'm asking you what you're doing to get them out? What are you doing to bring attention to it?

Rep. Rosendale: So my office here, which consists of different people across the state, tells us when different people are in a country like Afghanistan then at that moment if you call the state department and say we've got this person and we need to get them out then they start giving some assistance. But they're not being proactive in seeking out these individuals. Trying to bring them home. I can tell you I've looked at the information because I have different batches of threads of communication between my office and the Freedom Caucus. Many offices are doing the exact same thing. They're identifying individuals that are there, American citizens, and they're using every avenue possible whether it's private groups or some of the retired military that are still in Afghanistan

People’s Post: And the state department has been blocking some of that, correct?

Rep. Rosendale: I can't say that. I don't know, I can't say that they've blocked anybody. I can tell you they were not being very proactive about going out searching and identifying these people to make sure they got out.

People’s Post: Do you know of the January 6th Patriots that have been held in prison? Being held without bail. So I heard you say what everybody can do but what can you do?

Rep. Rosendale: I have not gotten a way to identify these individuals. It's almost like we have to get a spreadsheet and find out who's been overcharged. Because by overcharging them, that's the way they've been able to keep them in jail. If somebody walked in after barriers have been removed and there was no security standing there, which was on video, and all the sudden you just walk in then you shouldn't be charged with whatever. I mean I'm not an attorney but Is that breaking and entering or malicious destruction? You simply walked in. So they overcharge them. So I have to be able to gain access to them.

People’s Post: And so how do you do that? When you say you've been denied access, who's denying you access?

Rep. Rosendale: Honestly, my staff has been requesting this access.

People’s Post: Do you know how many deaths have been associated with the covid vaccine?

Rep. Rosendale: That I do not know.

People’s Post: Do you know if there have been any?

Rep. Rosendale: I think that there have been okay but the accuracy of those reports are questionable. I have become tainted, if you will. With so much information about Covid I don't know what to believe, honestly. The only place we are getting accurate numbers about it, I think, is on how many people are in the hospital right now that have been diagnosed with Covid? Short of that I don't know how much accurate information we're getting.

People’s Post: So if a constituent would ask you, “Do you think it's safe to take the vaccine?”

Rep. Rosendale: That is something they have to discuss with their doctor. I am not a doctor. It's not up to me to make that determination. Their doctor can discuss with them whether it's in their best interest To have a vaccine or not. And it's nobody else's business. Whether they get it or don't get it.

People’s Post: So you're against the mandates?

Rep. Rosendale: I'm absolutely against the mandates. I took that publicly numerous times to try to prevent any type of mandated passports.

People’s Post: How do you see a way out for businesses having more than 100 employees having mandates for vaccines?

Rep. Rosendale: I think you're going to see lawsuits develop in certain states that establish the rules like the president stated last weekend In the executive order. There have to be rules implemented in order to implement that mandate. As soon as those rules are released I think you are going to see a lot of lawsuits on the state level from the state attorneys general. Then I think you're going to see the private businesses file some lawsuits as well and I think they're going to march into the courtroom and implement a cease and desist until they can argue this out.

People’s Post: When you say the rules are you talking about the executive order? So he has made the threat and signed the order but without rules to implement? There have to be rules to implement?

Rep. Rosendale: That's correct. A President just can’t declare a new process. He was able to rescind the Keystone Pipeline because that had already been implemented. But to implement something new, there has to be rules to show how It is to be implemented.

People’s Post: Good to know

People’s Post: What do you know about Dr. Fauci funding the research on Covid in the Wuhan lab?

Rep. Rosendale: Dr. Fauci didn't fund the lab. He took taxpayer money so we actually funded it. He took our money and gave it to the Wuhan lab. I've got major major concerns with this and I don't think we'll ever get the truth out of China and the Wuhan lab.

People’s Post: Do you think we're still giving money for research in China in the infectious disease field?

Rep. Rosendale: Trump's chief of staff said that one of the first things they did was to eliminate that funding. Whether anything is still being redirected there I'm not certain.

People’s Post: Are you going to find out? Can you find out?

Rep. Rosendale: I can certainly make an attempt. The gain of function research is still going on I suspect. China is never going to tell us what they're doing and I believe that the virus escaped from that lab. Was it released or did it escape? Did they do that intentionally or did it escape accidentally.

People’s Post: Do you have an opinion on that?

Rep. Rosendale: That I don't know. I don't know. I do believe it came from that lab and it was because they were doing a gain-of-function experiment to make sure they could increase the intensity of these viruses.

People’s Post: Is Dr. Fauci going to be held accountable for these actions in your opinion?

Rep. Rosendale: It's an opinion but no, I don't have a lot of confidence. I really don't. I can tell you that the national debt is another grave concern that I have. Also, the lack of the Department of Justice to actually charge and prosecute people who have actually committed crimes goes to the very foundations of our country. And it really really concerns me.

People’s Post: Going back for a second. How can we find out if we're still funding research in China?

Rep. Rosendale: It's easier for the folks who are sitting on the Appropriations Committee and the Budget Committee to find out where the money is going. I can ask questions but they dig into that stuff. We have some very very capable people that dig through those things.

People’s Post: Can I get an answer to that? These are questions that people came up with and so we want to be able to go back to them.

Rep. Rosendale: We will give it our very best effort to find out if there is. But I can tell you that money goes all over the place in our budget. You can't spend three and a half trillion dollars and know where that all went. Okay? That's the problem with spending money in gobs like that. You can't track it. I mean we're spending four and five trillion dollars each year in the budget not including all of these additional expenditures. They do the one-offs. You can't track that. They're sending money out to the states right now and they don't know how it's being spent.

People’s Post: What's been your biggest accomplishment while you've been in office?

Rep. Rosendale: We were able to get the Republicans, even though my Veterans Affairs committee didn't give me the support, to withhold taxpayer money to support the use of the morning after pill they wanted to add to their big health package. We determined in my office that they were trying to sneak this in. I went to the committee and said we need to vote this down. We're in the minority so I told the highest ranking Republican that they were trying to include the morning after pill in the bill and my constituents didn’t want to pay for it. He said this was part of the package and he argued the point with me. I fought for it and he voted to support it. So, I went out and pushed the whole conference to vote against it and we were able to defeat it.

People’s Post: Will you be voting for Kevin McCarthy for majority leader next year?

Rep. Rosendale: We'll see if Kevin McCarthy runs for majority leader next year. When I came in in January, there were no contested elections. And we had to go back after the fact and remove Liz Cheney. I was the first one to step up and say we need to remove Liz Cheney. I think that says that I'm not afraid to challenge leadership.

People’s Post: Should Montana be a part of the convention of states?

Rep. Rosendale: People think this is the cure all and it’s not. People want to put in additional provisions that make people do things. Our constitution is an extremely well thought out and strong document. Let's go ahead and uphold the Constitution now. We will eliminate problems. There is a process with which you can amend the Constitution in place right now. I can propose an amendment right now and we go back and we get 35 states to sign off on it. That’s how you can amend the constitution.

People’s Post: And you feel that is the way to do it?

Rep. Rosendale: Absolutely.

People’s Post: Thanks so much Congressman Rosendale for answering our questions today.

Gallatin County Republican News

Gallatin County Attorney Takes ICE Dispute to Supreme Court Instead of Complying with AG Knudsen

Audrey Cromwell files petition seeking judicial clarification rather than directing her office to share confidential criminal justice information with federal ICE agents

Soros-Backed Dark Money Network Funneled $500,000 into Montana’s “Fake Republican” PAC Conservatives4MT

New campaign finance records reveal Western Futures Fund — funded by the Sixteen Thirty Fund (heavily supported by George Soros and Swiss billionaire Hansjörg Wyss) — sent $500,000 to Conservatives4MT to support RINO candidates in the 2026 primaries

Cromwell Stands Firm: “No Policy to Rescind” as AG Knudsen Threatens State Takeover Over ICE Cooperation

Gallatin County Attorney continues to defy Attorney General Austin Knudsen’s deadline, demanding a legal opinion instead of full cooperation with federal immigration enforcement

Rep. Shannon Maness: It’s Time to Stop Hiding Behind the “Party Bosses” Excuse

Gallatin County Republicans agree — voters deserve honesty and accountability from candidates who run as Republicans

AG Knudsen Escalates Pressure on Gallatin County – Demands ICE Information Sharing by Monday 5pm or State Takes Supervisory Control

Montana Attorney General gives Gallatin County Attorney Audrey Cromwell until 5 p.m. Monday to issue a memo allowing sharing of confidential criminal justice information with ICE for civil enforcement — or face direct state oversight

Bozeman City Commission Prioritizes Ukraine Sister City Over Local Police Traffic Control

While police traffic enforcement goes unfunded, the City finds money for international sister-city programs, more bike paths, dog parks — and even scheduled “First Contact Day” on Easter Sunday

MTGOP Declares Fireweed Candidates “Fireweed Frauds” – Not “Orphans” as the Chronicle Claims

Candidates paying Fireweed thousands of dollars per month are officially labeled “Fireweed Frauds” for working with the Progressive Dirty Money Network that funds Democrat-aligned legislation and ideology

MTGOP Formally Opposes CI-132 – “Nonpartisan” Judicial Elections Are a Dangerous Deception

Montana Supreme Court has repeatedly struck down Republican legislation protecting women, children, voters, and the 2nd Amendment — now the same dark-money network wants to lock in “nonpartisan” judicial elections

School Reform is Unaffordable: Montana Taxpayers Would Pay $1,827 Per Household

Commission Member Tom Burnett Warns Massive New Spending Will Burden Families With Almost No Improvement in Student Proficiency

MTGOP Releases Official “Honor Roll” – All Four Gallatin-Endorsed Candidates Recognized for Platform Loyalty

Caleb Hinkle, Jed Hinkle, Randy Chamberlin, and Trevor Walter Earn Official State Party Recognition for Upholding Conservative Principles

MONTANA'S OPEN PRIMARIES: YESTERDAY’S FIX, NOW TODAY’S FLAW!

When Reform Goes Rotten

Update: Gallatin County Attorney Defies AG Knudsen on ICE Cooperation – Standoff Continues

Update: Gallatin County Attorney Defies AG Knudsen on ICE Cooperation – Standoff Continues

Gallatin County Republicans Endorse Constitutional Conservatives for the June 2 Primary

Gallatin County Republicans Endorse Constitutional Conservatives for the June 2 Primary

Red States Are Booming With Babies While Liberal Cities Collapse – Why Keeping Montana and Gallatin County Red Is Critical

Red States Are Booming With Babies While Liberal Cities Collapse – Why Keeping Montana and Gallatin County Red Is Critical

Fireweed Republicans: They Really Should Be Wearing A Donkey Suit!

Fireweed Republicans: They Really Should Be Wearing A Donkey Suit!

MTGOP Executive Board Rebukes Fireweed Campaigns and “RINO” Candidates – Shelley Vance and Russ Nelson Named in Resolution

MTGOP Executive Board Rebukes Fireweed Campaigns and “RINO” Candidates – Shelley Vance and Russ Nelson Named in Resolution

AG Austin Knudsen Demands Gallatin County Attorney Reverse ICE Policy – Deadline is Today

AG Austin Knudsen Demands Gallatin County Attorney Reverse ICE Policy – Deadline is Today, Monday April 6, 2026

Llew Jones ARPA Loans: $4.365M Questions Raised | Gallatin Republicans

Questions Raised About Llew Jones’ $4.365 Million in ARPA Loans While Serving on Oversight Commission

From protests to politics: Montana is producing a lot of intoxicating whines

Gallatin County Study Commission 1st Public Hearing

Gallatin County Study Commissio﻿n to Hold First Public Hearing

MT GOP Calls for Senator Ellsworth to Resign

Resolution for Rebuke & Censure of Senator Shelley Vance

GALLATIN COUNTY REPUBLICAN CENTRAL COMMITTEE

RESOLUTION

FOR REBUKE AND CENSURE

OF MONTANA STATE SENATOR SHELLEY VANCE SD34

Wolves, Hyenas & Legislators Run in Packs

Testimony in Support of SB218

SB 146 Testimony

Testimony on SB 146 – Request for Clarifications & Revisions

Montanans, vote “NO” on CI-128

Vote NO on CI-128.

Americans in the Arena - Please Help If You Can

Americans in the Arena - Please Help If You Can

First, the Update

Now, the Request

Freedom's Meaning Lost

Nobody Talks About Freedom Anymore

Resolution on Platform Principles

R esolution on Platform Principles

Resolution To Officially Oppose Ranked Choice Voting In Montana

Letter to the Editor by Steve White

CI-128 Update

General Flynn, An Open Letter to President Biden

An Open Letter to President Joseph Biden from Lt. Gen. Michael Flynn (U.S. Army, Ret.)

Dear Fellow Patriots

The Truth About CI-128

Planned Parenthood is gathering signatures to make abortion a Constitutional right in Montana, but they are hiding the true impact of this initiative from voters:

Hold MT Courts Accountable

SB 302 - Require Judges and Justices of the Peace to Designate Partisan Preference

School Board Elections

School Board Candidates

Resolution in Support of Donald J. Trump as the Republican Presidential Candidate for 2024

Resolution Opposing Ranked Choice Voting & Jungle Primaries

Mike Johnson Speaker of the House Speech

Breaking News! New Speaker of the House has been Elected!

Senator Daines on January 6th Anniversary

Steve Daines Three Part Interview

Part 1

Part 2

Gallatin County Study Commission to Hold First Public Hearing