Montana

Viewpoint: Montanans must defend Habitat Montana marijuana funds

Published

2 years ago

March 29, 2023

Viewpoint: Montanans must defend Habitat Montana marijuana funds

Anthony Licata

Lawmakers are again in Helena for the second half of Montana’s 68th legislative session, and because of the general public talking up, we’ve had a number of good wins that defend our clear air and water and public lands.

Nevertheless, there are some unhealthy payments looming within the second half of this Legislative session, and time is working out to defeat them.

First, the excellent news. Any invoice not associated to income, appropriations, or constitutional amendments that doesn’t move one legislative chamber earlier than the transmittal deadline can’t transfer ahead, which signifies that a handful of crummy payments have now died.

Good riddance to SB 497, a sneaky invoice focusing on prescriptive easements that will have harmed Montana’s best-in-the-nation stream entry legal guidelines. The Legislature tried to push this by way of on the eleventh hour, however due to a lot of you, your Senators obtained 1000’s of messages urging them to not move this invoice and it died on the Senate ground, displaying that grassroots advocacy and public lands entry are nonetheless priorities in Montana.

One other unhealthy thought referred to as SB 357 would have accomplished away with everlasting conservation easements, making the utmost period of time for a conservation easement 40 years.

Perpetual conservation easements are actually necessary instruments for wildlife habitat and huge panorama conservation in addition to for maintaining farmers and ranchers on the panorama, particularly important as improvement is booming throughout the state. Montanans spoke up, and this invoice didn’t make it out of committee.

Sadly, some unhealthy payments are transferring ahead, and we solely have a number of weeks to cease them. Perhaps the worst thought is the plot for lawmakers to steal tens of millions of {dollars} in marijuana tax income from Habitat Montana, arguably the state’s most profitable and in style conservation program, the identical program that helped pay for the brand new Massive Snowy Mountains Wildlife Administration Space and the latest Mount Haggin Wildlife Administration Space addition.

SB 442, HB 669, and HB 462 would redistribute how leisure marijuana tax income is spent in Montana. Over the following biennium, these payments would strip tens of tens of millions of {dollars} in voter-approved income from the Habitat Montana Program and completely block this system from tapping these funds once more.

Lawmakers are claiming it’s only a query of “priorities” (so Montana’s wild locations and public lands aren’t a precedence?), however don’t allow them to idiot you. Whereas HB 669 sends all income besides that earmarked for the HEART fund to the overall fund, HB 462 and SB 442 arrange false decisions. There’s sufficient income to go to the packages outlined in HB 462 and SB 442 in addition to persevering with to fund Habitat Montana at present ranges whereas nonetheless having further income to ship to the overall fund.

Simply a few weeks in the past Governor Greg Gianorte bragged at a press convention in Helena about growing entry to public lands by way of over “100,000 acres within the Massive Snowies alone.”

So why is he making an attempt to intestine this system that paid for it? Now could be the time to contact the Governor’s workplace and ask him to respect what Montanans voted for, and hold marijuana tax income funding for conservation.

Inform him, and your representatives, that Montanans want extra Massive Snowies and extra entry to public land for climbing, tenting, looking, and fishing, not much less. Because the state continues to develop and evolve, the one option to hold this the Final Greatest Place is to combat for what makes Montana particular.

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Related Topics:conservation environment Featured habitat marijuana Montana montana today taxes voices wildlife

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Montana

Montana senators receive committee assignments for 119th Congress

Published

23 minutes ago

December 26, 2024

Press Room

Montana senators receive committee assignments for 119th Congress

Micah Drew

(Daily Montanan) Montana’s soon-to-be senior U.S. Sen. Steve Daines will keep a key leadership position in the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee in the upcoming Congress, as well as take a new position on the Foreign Relations Committee.

Incoming Senate Majority Leader John Thune of South Dakota on Friday announced the Senate Republican Conference committee assignments for the upcoming 119^th Congress beginning next year. Daines also will serve on the Finance and Indian Affairs committees.

“It’s an honor to serve Montanans in the U.S. Senate, and I’m looking forward to working with my colleagues on these crucial committees to fight for our Montana way of life,” Daines said in a prepared statement. “President (Donald) Trump received a mandate from the American people, and with these committee assignments I’ll be working to enact the president’s agenda to unleash American energy, cut taxes, open overseas markets for Montana farmers and ranchers, improve America’s relationships abroad, bring down costs for hardworking families, secure the southern border and stem the flow of deadly drugs.”

Daines has also been the ranking member on the Subcommittee on National Parks, which he will chair in the upcoming Republican-controlled Senate.

Sen.-elect Tim Sheehy, a Navy Seal, will serve on the committees on Armed Services, on Commerce, Science and Transportation, and on Veterans’ Affairs.

Sheehy, of Bozeman, won his election to the Senate against incumbent Democrat U.S. Sen. Jon Tester, who had chaired the Veterans’ Affairs committee during the last two sessions of Congress.

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Montana

Montana Lottery Powerball, Lucky For Life results for Dec. 25, 2024

Published

9 hours ago

December 26, 2024

Press Room

The Montana Lottery offers multiple draw games for those aiming to win big. Here’s a look at Dec. 25, 2024, results for each game:

Winning Powerball numbers from Dec. 25 drawing

15-26-27-30-35, Powerball: 03, Power Play: 3

Check Powerball payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Lucky For Life numbers from Dec. 25 drawing

04-10-35-42-45, Lucky Ball: 02

Check Lucky For Life payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Lotto America numbers from Dec. 25 drawing

04-05-40-42-52, Star Ball: 10, ASB: 03

Check Lotto America payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Big Sky Bonus numbers from Dec. 25 drawing

09-18-19-25, Bonus: 15

Check Big Sky Bonus payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Powerball Double Play numbers from Dec. 25 drawing

08-29-30-47-57, Powerball: 01

Check Powerball Double Play payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Montana Cash numbers from Dec. 25 drawing

01-05-10-39-41

Check Montana Cash payouts and previous drawings here.

Feeling lucky? Explore the latest lottery news & results

When are the Montana Lottery drawings held?

Powerball: 8:59 p.m. MT on Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday.
Mega Millions: 9:00 p.m. MT on Tuesday and Friday.
Lucky For Life: 8:38 p.m. MT daily.
Lotto America: 9:00 p.m. MT on Monday, Wednesday and Saturday.
Big Sky Bonus: 7:30 p.m. MT daily.
Powerball Double Play: 8:59 p.m. MT on Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday.
Montana Cash: 8:00 p.m. MT on Wednesday and Saturday.

Missed a draw? Peek at the past week’s winning numbers.

Winning lottery numbers are sponsored by Jackpocket, the official digital lottery courier of the USA TODAY Network.

Where can you buy lottery tickets?

Tickets can be purchased in person at gas stations, convenience stores and grocery stores. Some airport terminals may also sell lottery tickets.

You can also order tickets online through Jackpocket, the official digital lottery courier of the USA TODAY Network, in these U.S. states and territories: Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Idaho, Maine, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Montana, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Ohio, Oregon, Puerto Rico, Texas, Washington, D.C., and West Virginia. The Jackpocket app allows you to pick your lottery game and numbers, place your order, see your ticket and collect your winnings all using your phone or home computer.

Jackpocket is the official digital lottery courier of the USA TODAY Network. Gannett may earn revenue for audience referrals to Jackpocket services. GAMBLING PROBLEM? CALL 1-800-GAMBLER, Call 877-8-HOPENY/text HOPENY (467369) (NY). 18+ (19+ in NE, 21+ in AZ). Physically present where Jackpocket operates. Jackpocket is not affiliated with any State Lottery. Eligibility Restrictions apply. Void where prohibited. Terms: jackpocket.com/tos.

This results page was generated automatically using information from TinBu and a template written and reviewed by a Great Falls Tribune editor. You can send feedback using this form.

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Montana

Montana authors talk about state's 'political hell-raiser,' archaeology • Daily Montanan

Published

20 hours ago

December 25, 2024

Press Room

Montana authors talk about state's 'political hell-raiser,' archaeology • Daily Montanan

Historian and author Marc Johnson gives a book talk next month about Burton K. Wheeler, “one of the most powerful politicians Montana ever produced,” as part of the Montana Historical Society’s lecture series.

Johnson will speak from 1 p.m. to 2 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 8, at Touchmark, 915 Saddle Dr. in Helena. He will talk about his book, “Political Hell-Raiser: The Life and Times of Senator Burton K. Wheeler of Montana.”

“(Wheeler) came of political age amid antiwar and labor unrest in Butte, Montana, during World War I, battling Montana’s powerful economic interests and championing farmers and miners as a crusading United States attorney,” said the announcement from the Montana Historical Society. “Wheeler went on to become one of the most influential, and controversial, members of the United States Senate during three of the most eventful decades in American history.”

Also in January, author and University of Montana archaeology professor Douglas MacDonald will discuss his “Land of Beginnings: The Archaeology of Montana’s First Peoples.”

The book talk takes place from 6:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. on Thursday, Jan. 16, at the Lewis & Clark Library, 120 S. Last Chance Gulch in Helena.

“While researchers have learned a great deal about the origins of the first people to call this region home, questions remain about which route or routes they took and when they made this journey,” said the Montana Historical Society about the book talk.

The organization also said the Original Governor’s Mansion will be open for free guided tours at noon, 1 p.m., 2 p.m. and 3 p.m. on Thursday, Dec. 26, and on Saturday, Dec. 28.

“The Queen Anne-Style mansion will be decorated for the holiday season through the weekend with surprises for visitors of all ages,” said the announcement.

For more information, contact Darby Bramble at [email protected].

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