Letters to the editor Oct. 30

Support adoption

My birth mother was a 21-year-old college student, and I was her unwanted baby.

Rather than abort me, she gave me up for adoption to parent who could not conceive a child. My adoptive parents loved me and provided for my needs, including a college education. This allowed me to become an architect in Kalispell where I was able to use the talents God gave me for his purpose and so was able to be an asset to our community through my work and life.

Please do not vote for CI-128. CI-128 would not allow other children like me a chance to live a full and useful life. Support life and adoption.

— Ken Miller, Kalispell

[Editor's note: This letter has been updated to reflect the correct headline.]

Regier’s hypocrisy

Rep. Amy Regier’s recent letter on CI-128 is the ultimate exercise in hypocrisy. Regier claims the adoption of CI-128 is not necessary, in fact, “a reckless change” because Montanans already have strong protections for abortion rights under the Montana’s Supreme Court 1999 decision of Armstrong v. State, relying on the privacy clause of Montana’s Constitution. Regier touts the value of thoughtful decision-making based on facts in making her argument. So, let’s look at the facts. 

Regier’s argument urging Montanans not to adopt CI-128 because Montanans can rely on the 1999 Armstrong decision has been proven on the federal level to be factually incorrect. The reliance on legal precedence she describes in Montana is the same situation that existed in the U.S. Supreme Court until the court was packed with ultra-conservative justices and over 50 years of legal precedence under Roe was overturned by the Dobbs decision and abortion rights were gone. The same thing could happen in Montana. 

In fact, Regier and her Republican colleagues have already implemented that plan. They are backing two candidates for the Montana Supreme Court this election cycle who have been endorsed by anti-abortion groups. Changing the makeup of the court is how Dobbs came about at the federal level. The first steps to overrule Montana’s Court decision on abortion are already underway. 

Regier also claims that the initiative introduces new dangers by removing widely-endorsed, “mindful regulations” that protect women. Presumably she is talking about the endless roadblocks that have been enacted by Republican legislatures to delay, complicate and even deny abortion access for women, previously protected under Roe, rather than leaving that decision to the individual, her family, and her physician. Those same mindful regulations enacted in many states mean women are now being denied treatment in emergency rooms and doctors threatened to be charged with crimes, including murder. 

Regier concludes her letter by stating that Montanans deserve better than emotionally charged rhetoric pushing reckless changes. She should take her own advice rather that preaching to the rest of us. Until hypocrites like Regier no longer hold public office, the sorry fact is that Montana’s constitution needs to include a provision that protects women’s very private health care decisions.

— Roger Barber and Mary VanBuskirk, Whitefish

Sheehy a patriot

The final voting days to the most critical election in history is almost here. The Montana Senate campaign race has been very fierce, unfortunate personal attacks, and one of the most expensive on record.

This campaign is obviously featuring two candidates with highly contrasting backgrounds and visions for the future of Montana and the nation.  The incumbent is product of the government system with an appetite for more and bigger federal bureaucracy. The federal philosophy being if a program is not working, create a new department, take more tax dollars to throw at it, and spend more money to fit it. This is akin to the mind set of rather than repairing the water bucket leak, increasing the input volume to fill it.

On the other side, the challenger is a successful individual and a builder understanding importance of fiscal responsibility. He is also a veteran and a patriot with a vision for Montana and America. Securing the borders, both walk overs and fly-ins, rebuilding out military, total health care remodeling, craft programs that will bring education back to failing schools, restore voter integrity and make America the bedrock of freedom.  

Please take a soul-searching review of both candidates’ records and vote. Montana and America need people in positions of elected accountability that are leaders not career politicians. One need not search the incumbent’s records more than a few months to gain an understanding of the person. The manner and substance of his campaign paint a vivid portrait of true character and values. 

Sen. Jon Tester cannot truly represent the citizens of Montana and the nation as he is very much aligned and indebted to the Washington, D.C. cartel.

I believe Tim Sheehy is a patriotic, honest, possessing needed leadership skills and respectful of your support.

— Barry Johnson, Bigfork

An effective senator

As a voter, I believe we need to put aside the character assassination and inaccurate and grossly exaggerated policy positions that both sides have presented in their radio, television and print advertisements.  

The basic decision that I believe Montanans need to make is whether it makes any sense to replace one of the 10 most effective senators in Washington, D.C. with a political neophyte with no experience in governing. Both Sen. Jon Tester and Tim Sheehy are good people trying to do what they can to serve us.

— Roger Brewer, Kalispell

Tester will serve everyone

In 2005, “mad as hell” about the corruption and irresponsible decision-making in Washington, Jon Tester decided to run for the U.S. Senate — and won. For almost 20 years he has continued to fight for fellow Montanans. 

In the election race between Sen. Jon Tester and his newcomer opponent, experience counts.  Here are the facts. 

1.Jon Tester has experience on the Senate Appropriations Committee, described as one of the most influential committees in Congress.

2. Jon has been a member of the Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee since 2007. He has secured pay raises for America’s troops, protected the flying mission at the Montana Air National Guard, introduced and successfully passed the Ensuring the Best Schools for Veterans Act of 2022 and the Major Medical Facility Authorization Act of 2021 as well as four other bills benefiting Veterans. 

3. As the Senate’s only working farmer, Jon knows that agriculture is the backbone of Montana’s economy. He has taken on multi-national corporations who squeeze Montana’s family farmers and ranchers out of business while making record profits for themselves. 

4. He is working to get more market transparency to ensure only American beef is labeled “Product of USA,” and to get fair prices for farmers and ranchers.

5. He  secured $2,500,000 to expand and upgrade the terminal at Glacier Park International Airport so that it is more accessible, more efficient and so that we can keep our businesses running and so we can all stay better connected. 

Jon has been able to accomplish all of this because of his position of influence, his ability to work across the aisle and his groundedness in Montana values. We cannot afford to lose his influence and his integrity.

As a fellow native Montanan, I put my trust in and will give my vote again to Jon Tester, one who continues to serve us all. 

— Linda de Kort, Kalispell