Quote for the Day…
You don’t grow when you’re comfortable. -Unknown
In today’s column, I look at these people/issues:
- Montana State Hospital
- Trump Cabinet ‘Grifter’
- The Western Word Poll
MONTANA STATE HOSPITAL:
No matter how the politicians and the bureaucrats try to spin it, the Montana State Hospital in Warm Springs losing federal Medicaid and Medicaid funding is a stain on Montana.
If Governor Greg Gianforte is taking credit for good things on his watch, then he needs to step up and show some leadership on this issue. His administration has failed Montana miserably when it comes to the Montana State Hospital.
The Montana Free Press (MTFP) reported earlier this week that after months of investigations and warnings following four patient deaths, Montana’s only public psychiatric hospital is poised to lose federal Medicaid and Medicaid funding this week.
Four patient deaths…
Just imagine if you had a family member staying in the facility or were contemplating sending a family member there for help.
Earlier this week when the story broke, I tweeted the AP story and asked, “Where is the leadership? #mtpol @GovGianforte.” Several people liked the comments. By the responses, Gianforte better pay attention to his issue and pay attention quickly.
TRUMP CABINET ‘GRIFTER’
A day or so ago, I happened to catch a story from the Daily Beast about former Secretary of the Interior Ryan Zinke, who is running for congress in Western Montana this year.
I posted the story on Twitter and received lots of feedback.
The story was titled, “Trump Cabinet ‘Grifter’ With CA Home Is All In on Montana Run.” I will link to it later in this section.
The article started with:
When Ryan Zinke resigned from former President Donald Trump’s Cabinet in 2018, he took with him at least 18 federal ethics inquiries, a hefty pile of legal fees, and Trump’s lasting loyalty.
By the way, one of the ethics issues is that Zinke tweeted a picture of himself wearing socks with President Trump’s Make America Great Again campaign slogan using his official Twitter account.
The horror. The horror…
The article did not get much better. Zinke’s opponents took their pound of flesh.
The Daily Beast reports that the other big thing (besides the ethics) that his opponents are chattering about is that he and his wife, Lolita, have spent significant time hopping between Montana and their home in Santa Barbara, California, over the years. The weather is warmer and palm trees abound—but to some, that escape is a copout.
After the freaking snow yesterday, I wish I had another home where it’s warm – one with palm trees…
Isn’t Montana’s junior U.S. Senator, Steve Daines, from California? (The answer is yes). Even the current Governor of Montana, Greg Gianforte, was born in California. The current U.S. Representative, Matt Rosendale, was born in Maryland.
Many Montanans came from somewhere else.
I remember back in 2007 when it was discovered (by me) that former U.S. Senator Max Baucus didn’t own a home in Montana for 11 years of his 29-year Senate career. (Source) That was not a problem for Democrats, then.
I have said since Zinke announced his intention to run that he is the frontrunner. Unless he screws things up, he should win.
Read the Daily Beast article HERE.
THE WESTERN WORD POLL:
This week’s poll question asks, “Should the Biden Administration end the policy called Title 42?” (Background)
The results will be posted later this week.
The Western Word 
I want to ask your readers. What will it take to help people see the misguided policies and the people who pursue them do not deserve any more votes. No tax revenue from cannabis (given to the black market). Medicaid funding? Have you no shame? we’ll pay the bill. Forget about party. Think about Montana.
Several Great Falls officials have noted that one of the factors contributing to the local homeless issue is that the hospital at Warm Springs is full up, so some mentally ill people are left out on the streets or warehoused in local jails. Gianforte’s latest triumph in losing Federal dollars for that hospital won’t help.
He can try to blame former governors (and the legislatures they have had to deal with) all he wants, but the fact is he has been in office for over a year with a legislature solidly of his own party. They have their own people in charge of the state bureaucracy and managed to pass lots of bills and spend lots of money on their pet conservative priorities. Warm Springs problems didn’t seem to be among those priorities, obviously nowhere near as pressing as suppressing votes and punishing cities and employers for trying to stay healthy, etc. This failure is squarely on Greg and his party in the legislature. Assuming Montana’s Republican leadership even considers it a failure to defund the mentally ill and homeless and put Montana taxpayers on the hook for the operational shortfall.
Terry – Great points. Thanks, JmB
Zinke: https://mooreonmontana.com/2021/05/14/like-a-bad-penny/
Nice!