Montana needs to repeal the death penalty
Kalispell | Hagadone News Network | UPDATED 12 years, 4 months AGO
It was disappointing to hear that the Montana House Judiciary Committee voted 11-9 to table House Bill 370, which would have replaced the death penalty with life without the possibility of parole.
It seems that the Judiciary Committee is ignoring their House colleagues, from both sides of the aisle, who demand that this bill be heard and debated by the full house. In fact, 10 Republicans in the House recently submitted a letter calling for the repeal of the death penalty.
Repealing the death penalty is about responsible government.
The death penalty wastes our tax dollars — death penalty cases cost up to 10 times as much as non-capital cases — and take, on average, 17 years to prosecute.
I urge our legislators to take another look at repealing the death penalty.
Margie Gignac,
Kalispell
ARTICLES BY KALISPELL
2015 Montana Legislature will be important
The 2015 Montana legislative session will be the most important session since I was elected to the Montana House in 1999. The tribal water compact, the impact of government controlled health care, pension deficits, the lowest wages in the nation, high cost of energy and skyrocketing taxes are just a few of the issues that need immediate attention. Fortunately, Bob Keenan, former president of the Montana Senate is running for the District 5 senate seat which I must vacate due to term limits. Bob is one of the best financial minds to ever serve in the Montana Legislature.
Teachings of world religions
Thursday, May 14, 2015, Kalispell Public Schools Superintendent Mark Flatau, Columbia Falls District Superintendent Steve Bradshaw and Bigfork School District Superintendent Matt Jensen accepted the local Act! for America Chapter’s invitation to answer questions about concerns related to teachings of world religions. For that they deserve our thanks and appreciation. It was certainly not a “regular day at the office” for them.
Take a stand on public land issues
As a U.S. Forest Service retiree, I know the benefits of a well-managed forest. Over the last 20 plus years, I have seen the federal government's "on the ground" forest management deteriorate. Lack of timber sales and excessive access closures have not served the public or the resource well.