EDITORIAL: Put restraints on government, not parents

There was never any doubt what the 2015 Legislature intended when it approved a law that allows tax credits for donations of up to $150 to private school scholarships or to innovative educational programs in public schools.

It intended to bolster the ability of private citizens to support the education efforts of both public and private schools. Unfortunately, the Department of Revenue decided to amend the law by declaring unilaterally that the Legislature could not possibly have meant to allow tax credits for contributions made to scholarships at private religious schools.

Now, fortunately, Flathead District Court Judge David Ortley has issued an injunction that prevents the Department of Revenue from enforcing its self-legislated exemption.

Three parents who have children attending Stillwater Christian School in Kalispell filed the legal challenge, and as Judge Ortley seems to acknowledge, it was a foregone conclusion that they would prevail.

Getting a tax credit for donating to Stillwater’s scholarship fund is no different than getting a tax deduction for donating to the Salvation Army or thousands of other religious-based charities.

The only difference was that the bureaucrats in the Department of Revenue thought they could get away with it. Hopefully, Gov. Bullock will instruct his attack dogs in the Department of Revenue to stand down.

Let’s get on with supporting education, and get past the idea that people of faith are somehow appropriate targets for government restrictions.

Spring fling begins

The surest sign of spring is when the plows start rolling in Glacier National Park.

As the park’s plows bite into the winter snowpack on Going-to-the-Sun Road, the annual guessing game begins about when the fabled road will open over Logan Pass.

It will be a while, depending on weather over the next              couple of months and how much snow has piled up at higher elevations.

In the meantime, the lower stretches of road are beginning to open up for hikers and bicyclists (you can go as far as Avalanche on the west side and Jackson Glacier overlook on the east side of Sun Road).

That’s another sign of spring when Glacier visitors are able to enjoy the road free of the heavy vehicular traffic on the popular alpine highway during the busy times of summer.

The weather — highs into the 70s and plenty of sunshine — should make this a great weekend in the park.