Dems to blame for inflation

I read the opinion piece by Monica Tranel (PSC's $100 million rate heist, Nov. 2) and consider it a hit piece on Republicans on the Montana PSC. I consider this a campaign add by Monica and she should paying for it. 

She states that the 28% increase is due to the Republicans on the commission. This is not the truth. This 28% increase is exactly what the inflation rate is from 2.5 years ago when the Democrats took control of our country. Your energy bills are increasing because of inflation and Biden’s war on fossil fuel. 

And the inflation is due to extravagant government spending over the past 2.5 years. The Republicans may not be the solution for this inflation, but the Democrats are most assuredly the cause of it. 

To pin this rate hike on just the Republicans is hypocritical and misleading. The rate hike would occur no matter who was on the commission.  

— William Fry, Kalispell

Protect Montana's wild lands

Designated wilderness areas in Montana comprise 3.75% of the state landmass or approximately 1,100,000 acres of land that provides recreation for Montana residents and visitors from afar.  

Hiking, backpacking, camping, horseback riding, hunting and fishing are allowed in the wilderness areas. Motorized or other mechanical uses are not allowed and mountain biking is restricted from the Wilderness areas.  

I just finished reading the article in "Rural Montana" on Sen. Steve Daines. He loves to come home from Washington D.C. to hike and recreate in the Bozeman area almost every weekend.  As so many Montanans and visitors, he appreciates the beauty that the natural wilderness areas provide.  

Unfortunately, the Montana Sportsmen Conservation Act sponsored by Daines removes protection of over 100,000 acres of proposed Wilderness designated wild lands. Most Montanans do not support the attempt to strip protection of these areas. 

As Montana grows, the valley floors are denuded of trees and vegetation as they are filled with buildings, street lights and metal storage facilities. People move here to escape the urban centers for the beauty of the Montana land and sky, it is ever more critical to preserve the wild lands and natural areas for future generations to enjoy.  

I encourage other Montanans to write to Steve Daines and to offer their support for protection of wilderness lands in Montana and urge him to work with other parties to protect these wild lands.

— Doug Rhodes, Whitefish