Voicing Our Values What The Helena 2019

Legislative Wrap-Up: Conservation

Public Lands SB 24 will increase funding for trails and outdoor recreation generating roughly $1.8 million for trails, state parks, and fishing access sites! It does this by increasing the voluntary motor vehicle registration donation from $6 to $9, and it’s the only funding increase for public lands to make it through the legislature this…

Voicing Our Values What The Helena 2019

Legislative Wrap-Up: Economic Justice

Medicaid Expansion Let’s quickly recap the ups and downs of Medicaid expansion this session. In the beginning, we were huge supporters of HB 425, which was Rep. Mary Caferro’s bill to continue expansion without adding any new hoops for enrollees to jump through. But that bill was killed by the House and Human Services committee…

Voicing Our Values What The Helena 2019

Legislative Wrap-Up: Equality

Montana Human Rights Act Efforts to add gender identity and expression and sexual orientation to the Montana Human Rights Act, which prohibits discrimination, failed in the legislature. Our state lacks basic anti-discrimination protections in employment, housing, public accommodations, education, and adoption. That means it’s currently legal — unless you live in one of the five…

Voicing Our Values What The Helena 2019

Legislative Wrap Up: Voting Rights

Ok, so we took kind of an L on this one, y’all. But let’s review the two major types of voting rights legislation that was considered this year. Youth Enfranchisement Two bills that would’ve been awesome — allowing 16-year-olds to be election judges and allowing 16-year-olds to pre-register to vote — went down this session. These bills…

Voicing Our Values What The Helena 2019

What the Helena: Week 14 Midweek Update

Hello folks.  It’s not Sunday, but I’m sliding into your DMs anyways because the equivalent of a week’s worth of updates has been crammed into TWO DAYS OF LEGISLATING.  I wanted to give y’all a Wednesday update on some big wins! We’ll make it brief. Let’s go. Medicaid Expansion Passes On Tuesday, the Senate voted…

Voicing Our Values What The Helena 2019

What the Helena: Week 14

I’m tired. You’re tired. Here’s a puppy gif because we deserve it.   Events and Such March 15 — Medicaid Expansion’s Last Chance March 20 — Rockstar Hall of Fame               Boy oh boy. This is a big week, folks. With only two weeks left in the session, important issues are…

Voicing Our Values What The Helena 2019

What the Helena: Week 13

  Hi friends. No time for small talk! We have shit to get to! Stay in the Know Mondays — Missoula Medicaid Expansion Phone Bank April 20 — Rockstar Hall of Fame Keeping Young Montanans in Agriculture Agriculture is Montana’s largest industry — we’re talking a $4.6 billion impact on our state in 2015. But farmers and…

Voicing Our Values What The Helena 2019

What the Helena: Week 12

Is it Sunday AGAIN? The weeks are just flying by, friends. And SO MUCH WENT DOWN THIS WEEK. You may have heard that the House Human Services Committee took executive action on Medicaid expansion and our beloved HB 425 is gone. Rest in power sweet bill. But the other Medicaid bill saw some amendments that…

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 —…

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…