KJJR Guest Op-Eds

    • Pay to attract more tourists, or to lower property taxes?

      Posted by State Senator Carl Glimm at Thursday, December 19, 2024 at 9:16 AM

      Here’s a rhetorical question for Montanans: would you rather state government spend public money on things like billboards in Chicago to attract more tourists, or use that money to lower your property taxes?

      State Senator Carl Glimm, R-Kila

    • There Is No “Simple” Solution To Property Taxes

      Posted by State Senator Greg Hertz at Thursday, December 5, 2024 at 1:13 PM

      Sen. Greg Hertz, chair of the Senate Tax Committee, responding to some frequent misunderstandings/misinformation about property taxes in Montana.

      State Senator Greg Hertz

    • CI-126 IS AN EXTREMIST DREAM COME TRUE

      Posted by Steve Fitzpatrick, Senate District 10 at Monday, October 28, 2024 at 1:00 PM

      If you are like me, you were probably taught that if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is. This principle certainly applies to CI-126.

      Steve Fitzpatrick, Senate District 10, Montana Senate Majority Leader

    • Vote No On CI-126

      Posted by State Senator Wendy McKamey at Wednesday, October 16, 2024 at 9:56 AM

      Montanans are being asked to engage in another public policy experiment – the top four primary.

      State Senator Wendy McKamey

    • Sifting Through The 2024 Election

      Posted by Senator Steve Hinebauch at Tuesday, October 15, 2024 at 12:55 PM

      Voting season is here again. It is a little bit like voting in the Legislature—you have to sort a few things out. Let me give you some tips I use when deciding how to vote on a bill.

      Senator Steve Hinebauch

    • Breaking Down CI-128

      Posted by Representative Amy Regier at Friday, October 11, 2024 at 1:00 PM

      Proponents of CI-128 frame the initiative as the only way to protect abortion rights. But let’s be clear: Montanans already have strong protections for abortion under our state constitution.

      Rep. Amy Regier

    • Vote NO on CI-128

      Posted by State Senator Keith Regier, SD3 at Friday, October 4, 2024 at 10:48 AM

      When debating legislation, legislators are always looking for unintended consequences. If you are pro-life or pro-choice, CI 128 must be a major concern.

      State Senator Keith Regier, SD3

    • The Truth About Public Charter Schools and Community Choice Schools.

      Posted by Sue Vinton, House Majority Leader at Tuesday, September 3, 2024 at 12:23 PM

      I appreciate that Montana law now supports two different types of charter school options in public education: Community Choice Schools and Public Charter Schools.

      Sue Vinton, House Majority Leader

    • Illegal Immigration In Montana

      Posted by Rep. Matt Regier, Speaker, Rep. Sue Vinton, Majority Leader, Rep. Rhonda Knudsen, Speaker Pro Tem at Thursday, May 9, 2024 at 10:48 AM

      For years we have watched news reports of the porous southern border facilitating the illegal influx of 10 million migrants under the Biden presidency. To be clear, we support immigration- legal immigration.

      Rep. Matt Regier, Speaker 

    • Where Did All the Fiscal Conservatives Go?

      Posted by Former State Senator Scott Sales at Saturday, April 6, 2024 at 6:36 AM

      Even though the people of Montana elected large majorities of Republicans, the Republicans elected to the Legislature did not always act like conservatives.

      Former State Senator Scott Sales

    • The SB442 Veto Override

      Posted by Senator Wendy McKamey at Tuesday, March 19, 2024 at 10:32 AM

      SB 442 is a bill written for the benefit of a small number of people at the expense of everyone else.

      Senator Wendy McKamey SD12

    • Held v Montana

      Posted by Speaker Matt Regier at Tuesday, March 19, 2024 at 10:15 AM

      Speaker Regier addresses the district court ruling in Held v Montana.

      Montana House Speaker Matt Regier

    • Override the Veto on SB 442?

      Posted by Montana State Senator Dan Salomon, District #47 at Friday, March 8, 2024 at 9:29 AM

      For the last fourteen years, I have had the honor of serving as a member of the Montana Legislature. In each session, the Legislature has passed bills which the Governor has vetoed.

      Montana State Senator Dan Salomon, District #47

    • What I Saw On My Trip To The Southern Border

      Posted by Sen. Bruce “Butch” Gillespie at Tuesday, February 27, 2024 at 9:48 AM

      Senator Butch Gillespie recently visited the southern border and wrote about what he saw.

      Sen. Bruce “Butch” Gillespie

    • Two Tiers Of Justice At The Montana Supreme Court

      Posted by State Senator Greg Hertz at Friday, February 23, 2024 at 1:37 PM

      Senator Greg Hertz, R-Polson, discussing how the Montana Supreme Court is applying justice differently depending on who's appearing before them in court.

      State Senator Greg Hertz

    • Montana Courts Are Out Of Control

      Posted by Sen. Keith Regier at Monday, February 12, 2024 at 2:03 PM

      Sen. Keith Regier discussing how a recent Montana Supreme Court decision violates the constitutional separation of powers.

      MT Senator Keith Regier

    • New Year Brings Lower Taxes to Montanans

      Posted by Senators Jason Ellsworth, Becky Beard, and Greg Hertz at Friday, January 5, 2024 at 2:14 PM

      Senators Becky Beard, Greg Hertz, and Jason Ellsworth write about income tax cuts that went into on January 1st, as well as property tax issues.

      Senators Jason Ellsworth, Becky Beard, and Greg Hertz

    • Protecting Our Nation and Honoring Those Who’ve Already Done So

      Posted by By: Sens. Ken Bogner, John Fuller, Russ Tempel, and Barry Usher at Tuesday, December 19, 2023 at 9:57 AM

      Four State Senators who are veterans, discussing policy related to national defense and veterans.

      Sens. Ken Bogner, John Fuller, Russ Tempel, and Barry Usher

    • Slow Court Process Likely To Create Problems

      Posted by State Senate President Jason Ellsworth at Wednesday, December 13, 2023 at 12:06 PM

      Senate President Jason Ellsworth explaining his concern about the slow pace of court decisions and calling for solutions.

      State Senate President Jason Ellsworth

    • Superintendent Arntzen Urges Board of Public Education to Keep Teacher Licensing Fees Low

      Posted by Superintendent Elsie Arntzen at Tuesday, November 14, 2023 at 11:45 AM

      Should Montana increase teacher licensing fees? The answer is simple, NO.

      Superintendent Elsie Arntzen

    • Strengthening The Integrity Of Montana’s Elections

      Posted by Senators Jason Ellsworth, Carl Glimm, Mike Cuffe, & Shelley Vance at Monday, November 13, 2023 at 12:04 PM

      Montanans can be confident that voting machines are secure, only eligible Montana citizens are casting ballots.

      Senators Jason Ellsworth, Carl Glimm, Mike Cuffe, & Shelley Vance

    • Tech Hub Is Great News For Montana

      Posted by State Senator Jason Ellsworth at Thursday, October 26, 2023 at 10:00 AM

      Montana can lead the way not just on photonics technology, but also on producing the raw materials that are necessary to build technology.

      State Senator Jason Ellsworth

    • A Productive Legislative Session For Hunters and Landowners

      Posted by Sen. Steve Hinebauch, Sen. Bob Brown, Sen. Mike Lang at Wednesday, October 25, 2023 at 11:31 AM

      Wildlife issues have frequently been overcome with intense division in previous legislative sessions. 2023 was different.

      Sen. Steve Hinebauch, Sen. Bob Brown, Sen. Mike Lang

    • Zoning Reforms Will Help Solve Montana’s Housing Crisis

      Posted by Senator Mandeville and Senator Trebas at Friday, October 6, 2023 at 1:00 PM

      There have been dozens of news articles celebrating the historic pro-housing reforms passed in the 2023 Legislature. Many of those national stories call the package of legislation “the Montana Miracle.”

      Senator Mandeville and Senator Trebas

    • Deadline Approaching For Property Tax Rebate

      Posted by State Senator Jason Ellsworth at Tuesday, September 19, 2023 at 1:31 PM

      October 1st is the deadline to claim your $675 property tax rebate for this year. Tens of thousands of Montana property owners have already claimed theirs.

      State Senator Jason Ellsworth

    • Montana Leads The Nation On Digital And Biometric Privacy

      Posted by State Senator Dainel Zolnikov at Tuesday, September 19, 2023 at 1:15 PM

      Montana is again being recognized as a leader on protecting our citizens’ privacy in the age of technology.

      State Senator Dainel Zolnikov

    • New Laws Already Having A Positive Impact

      Posted by State Senator Jason Ellsworth at Thursday, September 14, 2023 at 1:37 PM

      Cities are updating their zoning codes to be more friendly toward building affordable starter homes, with some, like Whitefish, explicitly saying they wouldn’t have done so without a mandate from the Legislature.

      State Senator Jason Ellsworth

    • Next Legislative Session’s Work Begins Now

      Posted by State Senator Jason Ellsworth at Thursday, September 7, 2023 at 2:21 PM

      The big takeaway for Montana citizens is this: if you have an idea you’d like to see the Legislature work on in the 2025 legislative session, don’t wait to make your voice heard.

      State Senator Jason Ellsworth

    • Protecting Montanans From Government Surveillance

      Posted by State Senator Ken Bogner at Tuesday, September 5, 2023 at 11:50 AM

      We scored a big win for Montanans’ privacy and against invasive surveillance technology during this year’s legislative session.

      State Senator Ken Bogner

    • How We’re Improving Montana’s Education System

      Posted by Senators Jason Ellsworth and Dan Salomon at Wednesday, August 30, 2023 at 10:12 AM

      As Montana students head back into the classroom for another year of school, our education system is facing multiple challenges.

      Senators Jason Ellsworth and Dan Salomon

    KJJR VIP Club

    Join KJJR's VIP Club!

    Flathead Weather

    • Kalispell

      Sunny intervals

      High: 36°F | Low: 32°F

    • Whitefish

      Sunny intervals

      High: 37°F | Low: 34°F

    • Columbia Falls

      Sunny intervals

      High: 37°F | Low: 34°F

    • Glacier Park

      Sunny intervals

      High: 39°F | Low: 34°F