Up first in today’s blog is Montana’s Senators are trying to put some spin on cutting valuable funding for Montana. The headline in the Helena Independent Record, “U.S. Senate OKs cuts in homeland security grants” caught my attention this morning.

These grants are used for first responders in the states and have helped many rural fire departments get proper equipment and training. As you might imagine in rural states, many of the first responders to incidents and accidents are from rural areas.

U.S. Senator Max Baucus, D-Mont., and U.S. Senator Jon Tester, D-Mont., tried to place a spin on the cutting of Homeland Security funding to Montana:

Baucus’ spokesperson said, “The senator worked to stave off amendments that would have made additional cuts to the grant program.”

Sure he did. If he did, he failed.

Tester’s spokesperson followed the senior senator’s lead by saying, “There were cuts to homeland security funding across the board, but Jon Tester and Max Baucus fought to make sure Montana didn’t get the short end of the stick,”

Huh? Montana’s funding will be reduced by about 50%. That must be the new democrat math.

Then why did Tester and Baucus vote FOR the bill? On the other side of the border, the Wyoming Senators voted against it because it cut Homeland Security funding almost in half for their state.

Wyoming’s senators voted correctly on this bill. Montana’s senators went along with their big east and west coast senators and supported states like California and New York and failed to support Montana.

To top it off, Jon Tester is a member of the Homeland Security and Government Affairs committee.

But, we all saw this coming when the democrats took over, didn’t we? Look for more spin from Baucus and Tester when Montana does not get as much federal funding in the future.

The second story on the old blog this morning “Speaker decries Dem’s expletive-laced interruption” made me laugh. This story was in the Billings Gazette.

The Western Word wonders when will this circus, called the 60th Montana Legislature, leave town?

But, there was a calming voice from Democrat Rep. Holly Raser who was quoted saying, “There is a lot that is going on that has not happened in my tenure. I am ashamed for both sides of the aisle.”

Give that lady a medal! We are also ashamed Representative Raser, as well as embarrassed.

The third story on the blog is the most important. It is a guest opinion from Mr. Matthew Kuntz that appeared in the Billings Gazette called “System fails Montana soldiers after combat”

It is a very well-written opinion about his step-brother, Chris Dana, who as a member of the Montana National Guard suffered Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) from his service in Iraq. Mr. Dana died recently.

The story also shines light on the Montana National Guard not recognizing the problem.

I totally agree that all troops returning from a war zone should receive mandatory PTSD counseling. All National Guard units received federal funding, so they do have the resources to have these tests conducted. Place it on their checklists when they return.

There’s nothing more important than ensuring our veterans get the services they need all the time. So, lets get the mandatory PTSD screening done.