Letters to the editor July 26

Legislative priority

Both Sen. Greg Hertz and former state Sen. Jim Elliott are spot on about state government politics and spending. Both of these gentlemen are as close to statesmen as you’re going to get — one is  Republican and the other a Democrat — and neither has been afraid to reach across the aisle to members of the other party. That’s how democracy should work; that’s how it used to work.  

Mr. Elliott is calling for civility and common decency, and Mr. Hertz is calling for government efficiency and careful spending that benefits all Montanans. 

The “Rs” will most certainly control the Montana Legislature this upcoming session —they will control the House, the Senate and the governorship — they should be able to do anything they want to benefit all Montanans.

Probably the biggest single thing they could do is bust the $1 billion Coal Tax Trust Fund and better fund the  many badly-needed infrastructure projects we have in Montana with sewer, water and school construction projects.   

Sewer and water construction would fuel housing construction and lower housing costs by increasing supply. If you think education is expensive, try ignorance. A democratic society cannot properly function if its population is not fully and properly educated. We need to better fund our state education systems — that would include reducing the duplication in our higher education system. It does not make sense to educate our children only to have them leave the state to find a job in their field.

Funding critical infrastructure projects such as these would relieve Montana taxpayers of the tremendous property tax burden has been facing since much of our heavy industry has left town.

And if the “Rs” don’t accomplish this, voters should ask why not next election cycle.

— Don Larson, Polson

Doing what’s right

I am writing to thank Gov. Greg Gianforte for taking unprecedented action against Public Service Commissioner Brad Molnar. They are both from the same party so this is not a political squabble, nor is it about pros or cons of utility company mergers. This is a moral and legal response to abusive behavior by a elected official toward his staff of state employees.

 In a July 9 letter, the governor suspended Molnar for a year without pay due to accusations of sexual harassment, threats and retaliation against state employees he had authority over. The governor told him he can only return once he completes state-mandated sexual harassment, ethics and equal-employment training. 

If Molnar worked for a private company, he would already be gone — fired for cause and quite possibly facing a civil suit or a criminal inquiry. He is still sitting in this fight only because Montana voters, not a board of directors, put him in that chair.

No one, whether an elected official or not, should be allowed to threaten, harass and mistreat employees under their authority who are simply trying to do their jobs.

Thank you, governor, for taking action that is unprecedented but more importantly the right thing to do.

— Jeanne Hathaway, Kalispell