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Voicing Our Values What The Helena 2019

What the Helena: Week 11

Things are ramping up, friends. It’s make-or-break time in the Montana! State! Legislature! This week we’ve got updates on Medicaid expansion (have you heard of the INSANITY that is the non-severability clause because you’re about to), funding for financial aid and MORE. Take Action This Month March 25-26 — Indigenous Movements Interchange March 27 —…

Notes from the Field

This spring, let’s show up for our neighbors

By Kiah Abbey, Deputy Director During a fast-paced legislative session and weeks full of presidential candidate announcements, it’s easy to get caught up in this political moment or that one. Though exhilarating, it can cause us to lose sight of the decades of political moments and people that our work builds on and the vision…

Voicing Our Values What The Helena 2019

What the Helena: Week 10

Helloooo, friends. Were you at the Medicaid expansion rally on Saturday??? Because it was incredible.Check out the cute pics from the rally and our Instagram story. You can listen to the committee hearing if you’re so inclined, and MAKE SURE to reach out to committee members. Your Social Calendar March 22 — Conservation Day of Action March 25-26 — Indigenous Movements Interchange March…

Voicing Our Values What The Helena 2019

What the Helena: Week 9

Hello again. I know it’s only been a week, friends, but something about officially being in the second half of the session makes me feel like I’m turning over a new leaf. New phone, who dis? Legislators are back from transmittal break, and idk about you, but I am ready to get all up in…

Voicing Our Values What The Helena 2019

What the Helena: Week 8

Halfway, people. That’s right — we’re halfway through the 2019 legislative session. Next week is transmittal, which means all the legislators will go on a short spring break (Panama City Beach, anyone?). But more importantly, it means that bills have to advance through their original body (either the House or the Senate) by Saturday, or…

Voicing Our Values What The Helena 2019

What the Helena: Week 7

Week seven, y’all. It wouldn’t be the Montana legislative session if we weren’t talking about raw milk. That’s right, folks. THE RAW MILK PEOPLE ARE BACK AT IT. I’m not a nutritionist and truly have no stance on the legalization of raw milk. But I live for the milk discourse!!! A quick history: A bill…

Voicing Our Values What The Helena 2019

What the Helena: Week 6

Oh hey. I love getting to kick off WTH with good news. I spend 70 percent of this newsletter yelling about how we all need to call our legislators and 20 percent talking shit about bad legislation — but that leaves 10 percent for celebrating. So that’s what we’re doing first. Subscribe to What the…

Voicing Our Values What The Helena 2019

What the Helena: Week 5

If this week’s newsletter had a theme, we’d be calling it Money Week. Yes, we talk about money a lot here and in the Capitol, but this week is special because we are talking! about! taxes! There has maybe never been anyone as hyped to write about revenue streams as I am right now, but…

Notes from the Field

Lobbying 101: MLK Lobby Day at the Capitol

By Erin Miller, Missoula Field Manager On Martin Luther King Jr. Day this year, I was in Helena with the Montana Human Rights Network lobbying in the State Capitol. Lobbying is something that is very new to me so I was eager to learn as much as I could! We started the day with a…

Voicing Our Values What The Helena 2019

What the Helena: Week 4

Hey friends. I finally made it up to the Helena this week — and let me tell you, that place is popping. The session is in its prime and you should definitely find some time to jump in the figurative deep end. Honestly, the capitol building can be kind of intimidating — at least for…