The FWP Committee sent to the full House a bill, SJ15 sponsored by Republican Senator Bruce Tutvedt of Kalispell, which urges the Federal Government to follow through on the recent decision to delist the Gray Wolf.

I firmly agree with Senator Tutvedt’s proposal. As I see it, the sooner the wolf is delisted, the sooner our livestock community will be able to protect livestock without having their hands tied at every turn.

Opponents of this bill point to the fact that wolves should remain listed as an endangered species since wolf numbers have declined this past year. However, many other people, including most wolf biologists, feel that this recent decline is part of a natural cycle of population swings that includes disease, normal mortality swings and even the wolves own social factors. It’s important to note that despite the diminished wolf population, the current population is still considerably higher than the target numbers of the original delisting plan.

Unlike Wyoming, Montana has a good plan for managing wolves. Wyoming continues to fight with the Federal Government regarding their own policy. Wyoming’s conflict has been largely responsible for Montana having to deal with wolves as an endangered species even though the wolf population here has continued to exhibit healthy numbers.

SJ15 will send a strong message to the Federal government that, unlike Wyoming, Montana has a good plan that serves our livestock industry while protecting our wolf numbers. If you support this policy, you can help. Please urge the Governor lend his support. That, in turn, will go a long way to encouraging President Obama to keep the wolf delisted in Montana.

Sincerely, Rep. Paul Beck

While the entire nation is feeling economically squeezed, Montana is in much better financial shape than most other states and our state budget (HB 2) is still on track. I am happy to report that we are living within our means. House Democrats and Republicans are working together to make sure we end up with some money left over to cushion our budget for the next biennium. While we are still able to protect critical programs, we are not adding significant new spending during these uncertain economic times. We are moving ahead in a collective effort to keep Montana going forward.

Montana Growth Through Agriculture

I am proud to report that HB 48, the “Growth Through Agriculture Act” passed through the House in February. As the sponsor of HB 48, my goal was to improve upon the existing legislation through increased oversight and a stronger ability to track the success of those participating in the program. The Growth Through Agriculture Program helps agricultural communities to grow business, especially with value added agricultural products. HB 48 provides directives for the Department of Agriculture to follow through on the improvements mentioned above, allowing the DOA the authority to track success and provide for greater accountability from those who seek to participate.

Working for Children’s Health Insurance

In November, Montana voters went to the polls and overwhelmingly passed I-155, and initiative to cover all Montana children with health insurance. I-155 passed in all 56 counties, and 69% of voters in HD 59 supported the initiative. HB 157 sponsored by Rep. Chuck Hunter (D – Helena) implements the funding for I-155. This bill narrowly passed the House with the strong support of every Democrat. However it recently failed to pass the Joint Appropriations Health and Human Service Subcommittee on a 4 – 4 tie vote. All 4 Republicans on the committee voted no. This is unconscionable to me. Montana voters were very clear in their intentions and I will continue to fight for this bill and uphold our end of the deal.

HB 15 – Funding for Public Education

Funding for public education is a priority of mine, as investments in children are investments in the future of Montana. HB 15 will help get public education funding back on track here in Montana. By providing a 3% increase in each year of the 2011 biennium in basic entitlement funding, HB 15 is a step in the right direction, bringing us closer to ensuring public education gets the funding it rightfully deserves.

Though the intentions of this bill are good I believe that it’s the parents who know best when their child is ready for education. While I believe public education is one of the most valuable aspects of Montana and America, I give equal credit to those families who choose to home school and to those who pursue alternative schooling.  Whether public schooled, home schooled or alternative schooled, there are a few kids who aren’t ready for education at 6 years old simply because they are maturing at their own pace.  There is sound evidence showing this maturing process shouldn’t be rushed and it’s the families that know best when to begin the educational process. I led an effort to defeat this bill and indeed the bill died in my education committee on Saturday.

I will continue to work for ways of supporting all of our educational opportunities we have available to us here in Montana. Education is of critical importance to the future of Montana and deserves our utmost attention so that we can deliver to our children the best possible chance of success in this global economy.
Sincerely,
Paul Beck

1. HB228 will strip our concealed weapons permitting system because we won’t need them.  Everyone will be able to arm themselves in public.
2. Victims of Sexual Violence are at extreme risk because the abuser will be able to intimidate his/her victim using a handgun to gesture, wave, even fire away (not to kill, just to frighten).
3. Any local dispute, on the streets or in a park, can be solved with fire power if one party or the other feels they are threatened.  If someone shows you their piece, why not feel threatened and shoot em dead. 
4. Law enforcement is nearly unanimous in its opposition to HB 228.  Citizens will be able to arrest others using lethal force. A vote for it is a vote against their important work. 

I have been working hard to defeat this bill. If you would like to help, please call 406-444-4800 and leave your message, in your own words, encouraging Senators to oppose this bill. Your input will make a difference.

SB 92, another gun bill, passed the Senate with nearly unanimous support. SB 92 increases our right to protect ourselves and our loved ones in our homes, without having to retreat. I believe this is an excellent bill that is very clear in its language and strengthens our gun rights. With this kind of bi-partisan support I believe it will survive the scrutiny of the Courts. It should reach us at the House Floor in the coming weeks for our review. The NRA has vigorously supported this kind of bill in other states although most efforts have failed. Montana has a good chance of getting HB 92 into law. 

Sincerely,
Representative Paul Beck

The reality is that FWP would have to handle bison in the exact same way as the DoL. The reason bison cannot be handled differently from what is currently being done is due to federal APHIS laws.  APHIS demands that an entire cattle herd be destroyed with ONE positive test within the herd.  APHIS policy does not recognize the low level risk of brucellosis transfer from bison AND elk to cattle and the various methods of risk management that are available today.  If FWP take over bison management APHIS could view Montana as weak on dealing with the disease and could again lower our status as a cattle producing state.  They could withhold reimbursements for losses. Without exaggeration, this would be devastating in the extreme to our cattle industry.  Elk have been allowed to roam free in Montana since this state became a union and we are all used to managing elk by use of hunter harvesting and range management. Arguably, FWP could handle the elk issue better even now. But this has not been the case for bison. I think we are clearly missing out on a big opportunity to have wild bison roam on limited range that could in turn be hunted and managed similar to that of other game. This kind of management, if embraced by APHIS, could mean millions of dollars in revenue for our state and could provide money for the testing and treatment of the disease. This would be advantageous for all parties involved. But to go forth with the entire risk on the backs of our livestock owners won’t do.

We need APHIS to change their policy towards a more risk management approach to ALL wildlife, including elk and bison. We need our US Senators, Congressman and Governor to be on board to help affect this kind of APHIS change in all other states.  I intend work towards this end. If we go to a more broad risk management policy, using today’s technology and grazing strategies, our best vets tell us that brucellosis rates will decline.

I am pleased to let you know that HB 190, allowing stream access at county roads and bridges, has passed the House committee of Fish, Wildlife and Parks, and passed the 3rd reading in the House.  The bill now is now transmitted to the Senate.

HB 190, of which I am a co-sponsor, has had strong support from Republicans and Democrats alike. Montanans have always had the right, or privilege, to access our rivers and streams and HB190 does not change or alter this part of Montana law.  This stream access bill is very simple and offers advantages to property owners and sportsmen.

The bill makes it clear that landowners may attach their fence to a county bridge to control livestock so long as they provide reasonable means for the public to access.  Types of access include ladders, stalls, gates and other inexpensive common sense access that will be paid for by FWP and various sportsman interest groups.  This bill not only allows property owners to legally attach fences to county bridges, it offers relief from liability for doing so.  So this bill really is win-win policy.

If you have any questions or concerns, please contact me at your convenience.