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Lake County Montana
Watch What is Happening in the HOUSE LIVE!
Did YOUR representative show up for work today??
Lake County All Elected Officials
Lake County Commissioner Districts
Lake County Precincts and Wards
These links will re-direct you away from this website and to the official Lake County Montana website.
Our Constitution was made only for a moral and religious people. It is wholly inadequate to the government of any other.” ~ John Adams
Dear Friend, We have a few quick updates this week for those of you who are using our Capitol Tracker digital guide to keep tabs on the 2023 legislative session. Most notably we’ve added dedicated pages for each of the Legislature’s 30-plus committees.For those unfamiliar with the ins and outs of the Legislature, committees are subgroups of the 100-member House and 50-member Senate that serve as first lines of review for bills in a particular subject area, determining which ideas advance to full-fledged floor debate. Committee bill hearings also provide the primary avenue for public participation in the Legislature, giving non-legislators a chance to testify for or against specific measures.The Capitol Tracker’s committee pages list the bills assigned to each legislative subgroup, detailing which are scheduled for hearings or awaiting the votes that will determine their fate. So if you’re following, say, the fraught moral debates that play out in House Judiciary, wildlife management bills before Senate Fish & Game, or budget bills moving through House Appropriations, there’s a specific link to help you follow along. You can find a full list of committees on the tracker’s House or Senate directory pages.We’ve also made several other additions to the guide, some in response to suggestions from thoughtful readers. We’re building out our list of reporter-identified key bills, for example. We’ve also added links to proposed bill amendments and revised the guide’s calendar page to make it clearer which committees meet in the morning and which ones meet in the afternoon.None of those additions is necessarily earth-shattering on its own. But if I’ve learned anything building out this guide (and using it myself as I cover the session) it’s that incremental improvements add up, each one bringing us a bit closer to having the best-possible tool for making sense of the Capitol’s helter skelter.Stay tuned for more here. And as always, give me a shout if you have questions, suggestions or bug reports at edietrich@montanafreepress.org. Eric Dietrich Deputy Editor |
ACTION! ACTION! ACTION!
Representative government works best when you have a relationship with the people who represent you. After all, they can’t represent you unless they know who you are and what you care about. Here’s a simple way to tell them.
Please write a ‘Thank You’ note to your elected representatives and senators at the state and federal level. Welcome them to the new legislative session, it introduces you as their constituent, lets them know you are a Christian, reminds them of the biblical values you embrace, and pledges your prayer support during their term.
Legistats SENATE Rankings (Is YOUR senator representing YOU?)
REPRESENTATIVE ~HOUSE DISTRICT 10
Mark Lee Noland
P.O. Box 1852
Bigfork MT 59911-1852
(406) 253-8982
E-mail: Mark Nolan
REPRESENTATIVE ~ HOUSE DISTRICT 12
Linda Reksten
Republican
118 Long Lake Drive
Polson MT 59860
(406) 471-8359
E-mail: Linda Reksten
REPRESENTATIVE ~ HOUSE DISTRICT 15
Weatherwax (D)
P.O. BOX 2828
BROWNING, MT 59417
(406) 338-7741
E-mail: Marvin Weatherwax
REPRESENTATIVE ~ HOUSE DISTRICT 93
SENATE ~ DISTRICT 5
BOB KEENAN
Elected: 6 Nov 2018
Term: 2019 to 2022
PO BOX 697
Bigfork, MT 59911
(406) 250-4111
E-mail: Keenan@mtleg.gov
SENATE ~ DISTRICT 6
GREG HERTZ
Republican
Term: 2020 to 2024
P.O. BOX 1747
Polson, MT 59860
(406) 253-9505
E-mail: hertz@mtleg.gov
SENATE ~ DISTRICT 8
Susan Webber
Democrat
Term: 2019 to 2022
PO BOX 1011
Browning, MT 59417
(406) 450-1894 | E-mail: nitzitapii@gmail.com
SENATE ~ DISTRICT 47
Dan Salomon
Republican
Term: 2019-2024
42470 Salomon Road
Ronan MT 59864
(406) 253-9724
E-mail: salomon@mtleg.gov
CONTACT YOUR REPRESENTATIVES!
See if your state has already passed a related bill, or has one in the works.
Hello, does Representative ______ have any plans to propose or support _________ legislation? This is very important to me. I did my research and saw we have/have not passed a bill on this topic in the past. I am hopeful that we will see a bill that protects all citizens from _______, not just specific industries, or whatever is appropriate to your concern. Please respond and let me know what has happened on this particular bill/subject. Thank you.
Sincerely,
Your Name
ACTION! ACTION! ACTION!
Representative government works best when you have a relationship with the people who represent you. After all, they can’t represent you unless they know who you are and what you care about. Here’s a simple way to tell them.
Please write a ‘Thank You’ note to your elected representatives and senators at the state and federal level. Welcome them to the new legislative session, it introduces you as their constituent, lets them know you are a Christian, reminds them of the biblical values you embrace, and pledges your prayer support during their term.
TESTER Retire OR Get Fired!
Website for ALL US Representatives
Contact YOUR Representative in US Congress
“Treason of the blackest dye was yesterday discovered! General Arnold who commanded at West Point, lost to every sentiment of honor, of public and private obligation, was about to deliver up that important Post into the hands of the enemy. Such an event must have given the American cause a deadly wound if not a fatal stab.
Happily, the treason has been timely discovered to prevent the fatal misfortune. The providential train of circumstances which led to it affords the most convincing proof that the Liberties of America are the object of divine Protection.
… At the same time that the Treason is to be regretted the General cannot help congratulating the Army on the happy discovery. Our Enemies despairing of carrying their point by force are practicing every base art to effect by bribery and Corruption what they cannot accomplish in a manly way.” George Washington, General Orders, 26 September 1780
CONTACTING YOUR LEGISLATORS
Hello, does Senator /Representative ______ have any plans to propose or support _________ legislation? This is very important to me. I did my research and saw we have/have not passed a bill on this topic in the past. I am hopeful that we will see a bill that protects all citizens from _______, not just specific industries, or whatever is appropriate to your concern. Please respond and let me know what happened on this particular bill/subject. Thank you.
Elected: 3 Nov 2020
Term: 2021 to 2025
LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR
ATTORNEY GENERAL
SECRETARY OF STATE
AUDITOR
TROY DOWNING
UNITED STATES SENATE
UNITED STATES SENATE
JON TESTER
Democrat
Elected: 6 Nov 2019
Term: 2019 to 2024
14 Third Street East, Suite #23
Kalispell MT 59901
(406) 257-3360
311 Hart Senate Office Building
Washington, DC 20510-2604
(202) 224-2644
TESTER VOTES TO ADVANCE “ABORTION ON DEMAND UNTIL BIRTH ACT”
POLITICAL SIGNS
Commissioner of Political Practices
Information on Political Signs
What is the COPP’s role with political signs? And what are the disclaimer requirements for political signs?
(see the below information as a PDF)
When it comes to political signs, the COPP has jurisdiction only in upholding and enforcing ATTRIBUTION requirements. In other words, the only oversight over political signs that the COPP has is in ensuring the required “paid for by” attribution message is included, and that the expense is disclosed fully in a campaign finance report.
The COPP does not have oversight over when citizens may begin to display political signs or when those signs must be taken down.
Click here for Information on ‘PAID FOR BY’, what it must include, FAQ, and Updated Non-Attributed Material
Attribution Information: All election and electioneering communications are legally required to include attribution that identifies the entity that paid for the communication.
All paid campaign materials meant to support a candidate or ballot issue must include a “paid for by” attribution message disclosing the entity that financed the material. This includes—but is not limited to—campaign mailers, radio ads, yard signs, boosted Facebook or Instagram posts, etc. The ‘PAID FOR BY’ message must be large enough to be readable, and must identify the entity who financed the communication, and their listed mailing address. Attribution requirements vary between candidates and committees. For more information, familiarize yourself with attribution requirements and how to report paid political communications.
If the material is too small for the disclaimer to be included (e.g. with a text, keychain, etc.), a copy of the material and the attribution information must be sent to the COPP to be approved for use to avoid potential campaign practices complaints. This information is publicly accessible on the COPP’s website. For more details on non-attributed campaign communications, review this information. More guidance on the “paid for by” attribution requirements is available on the COPP’s website.
See Mont. Code Ann 13-25-225 and 44.11.601(2) ARM for the full attribution requirements and applicability.
What is the role of local government in determining political sign timelines? (e.g. when signs can go up and must be taken down?)
The Office of Political Practices often receives phone inquiries regarding the timeline for placing political signs. As stated above, the COPP has no jurisdiction over when political signs may be displayed, and does not know the specific requirements for each Montana municipality. Local governments (I.e. a city council or county commission) are responsible for regulating when political signs may be placed and when they must be taken down. Contact your local city or county government for more information.
The Montana Department of Transportation is responsible for sign regulations along Montana roadways or right of way (see the below information for more details).
What is the role of the Montana Department of Transportation (MTDOT) in regulating the placement of political signs on Montana roadways?
(This information comes from a 2012 notices from the MTDOT’s Right of Way Bureau)
Political campaign committees, and candidates are being reminded again about restrictions on where their signs can be placed. Signs on highway fences, utility poles, and otherwise on state right of way are not allowed and are being removed by Department of Transportation crews.
With landowner’s consent, political signs may be placed alongside the highway on privately owned land. Many signs are being placed in ditches or on the highway side of fences. State crews must remove them and store them until the owners can pick them up. Candidates, and their supporters should make sure their signs are placed on private property.
Federal law requires that any sign intended to be read from the highway must be regulated by the state. In Montana, as in other states, controlling signs is the responsibility of the Department of Transportation. Failure to control signs brings the threat of federal sanctions and can disrupt highway improvement projects.
It is unsafe, and illegal to drive or park in a ditch along a highway to install a sign on private property. Within 30 days following the applicable election the signs should be removed.
The candidates’ cooperation in adhering to the regulations, and statutes will benefit the Department of Highways, and the taxpayers of Montana.
Contact information:
What guidance do the Administrative Rules of Montana offer on political signs? (see 18.6.246, ARM)
(1) Signs promoting political candidates or issues shall be placed on private property only and cannot be placed without the permission of the property owner. Political signs must comply with sign standards found in 75-15-113, MCA, and ARM 18.6.231, unless otherwise specified in this rule.
(2) Political signs must not:
(a) be placed on or allow any portion to intrude in the public right-of-way or on public property; and
(b) be placed within 100 feet of any entrance to the building in which a polling place is located.
(3) Political signs will not be considered in determining the spacing required between conforming off-premises outdoor advertising signs.
(4) Political signs must be removed within 14 days following the applicable election. The department shall notify the landowner of illegal signs which are not removed within 14 days. The signs shall be removed by the department 24 hours after notification to the landowner. The department shall retain removed political signs for five working days after notification of removal before their destruction. The sign owner may retrieve the signs during this period.
(5) Signs that pose a traffic hazard may be removed by the department without prior notification to the sign owner.
(6) Political signs do not require permits and are not subject to permit fees.
History: 75-15-121, MCA; IMP, 75-15-111, MCA; NEW, 1996 MAR p. 1855, Eff. 7/4/96; AMD, 2008 MAR p. 2476, Eff. 11/27/08; AMD, 2012 MAR p. 185, Eff. 1/27/12; AMD, 2016 MAR p. 1440, Eff. 8/20/16.