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

Montana Republican Party Executive Board passes strong resolution against Fireweed Campaigns and the moderate “RINO” candidates it supports — including Shelley Vance and Russ Nelson. Gallatin County Republicans call for transparency and loyalty to conservative principles ahead of the June 2 primary.

Montana Attorney General Austin Knudsen demands Gallatin County Attorney Audrey Cromwell immediately reverse her office’s unlawful policy blocking cooperation with federal ICE agents. Gallatin County Republicans stand for the rule of law and full law enforcement cooperation.

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 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.

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