The Monday Memo 

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Welcome to June! Here are the topics for today’s column:

  • Montana Hospital Association
  • U.S. Home Affordability
  • June is Pride Month
  • One More Thing

MONTANA HOSPITAL ASSOCIATION:

I was thrilled to read that the Montana Hospital Association appointed F. Edward “Ed” Buttrey as President and CEO for the Association. Buttrey will begin in the role on July 1, 2025. (Source) 

I have known Buttrey for many years. He is one of my favorite state legislators, and his experience in the business world is second to none. 

The Montana Hospital Association is fortunate to have Buttrey working for them. 

Best of luck to Ed in his new position. 

U.S. HOME AFFORDABILITY:

VisualCapitalist.com posted a map showing the U.S. Housing Affordability by State. Montana did not do well.

One of the key takeaways was that Montana has the worst housing affordability in the U.S., driven by an influx of new residents from coastal states and a shortage of affordable homes. In Montana, home prices have shot up 66% in the past four years—surpassing the 50% national average. As many have flocked to the state, it has driven up prices higher while wage increases have stagnated, leading to a growing affordability crisis.

For the analysis, home affordability scores took into account the affordability of for-sale listings across the income spectrum. In addition, states were assessed based on the median home sales price compared to the median income of households.

You can view the article HERE. 

Maybe Montana has the wrong people running it? 

JUNE IS PRIDE MONTH:

June is Pride Month. Many will remember last year when Great Falls Mayor Cory Reeves decided not to issue a proclamation recognizing Pride Month. A proclamation had been made in the past. (Source)

I did not agree with the decision made by Mayor Reeves.  

Here is some background about Pride Month from the Library of Congress:

Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Queer (LGBTQ) Pride Month is currently celebrated each year in the month of June to honor the 1969 Stonewall Uprising in Manhattan. The Stonewall Uprising was a tipping point for the Gay Liberation Movement in the United States. In the United States, the last Sunday in June was initially celebrated as “Gay Pride Day,” but the actual day was flexible. In major cities across the nation the “day” soon grew to encompass a month-long series of events. Today, celebrations include pride parades, picnics, parties, workshops, symposia and concerts, and LGBTQ Pride Month events attract millions of participants around the world. Memorials are held during this month for those members of the community who have been lost to hate crimes or HIV/AIDS. The purpose of the commemorative month is to recognize the impact that lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender individuals have had on history locally, nationally, and internationally. 

Here in Montana, there were events throughout the summer. Click HERE for more information. 

ONE MORE THING:

When someone tells me they’re a Christian, I ask: Classic Jesus or Republican Jesus? (Source)

## HAVE A GREAT WEEK ##

3 thoughts on “The Monday Memo ”

  1. Very excellent choice of One More Thing quote today.

    I have seen that Republican Jesus thing described by some as a revised definition of “Christianism” in contrast to actual Christianity. In this new Christianism a person belongs to some nominally Christian church and congregation of like minded people, the simple belonging and groupthink support being the main thing. They constantly spout scripture and professions of faith to show the whole world just how pious they are (in case the whole world can’t recognize them by their works, apparently), and invariably justify their behavior and condemn their enemies with some biblical passage usually Old Covenant fire and brimstone material.

    But crucially they don’t practice the actual teachings of Jesus as laid out in the gospels. There’s no compassion for the poor and downtrodden, or turning the other cheek, or the rich man and heaven, or loving thy neighbor, etc. They pretty much reject the teachings in the Sermon on the Mount in their entirety. We have a number of these CINOs right here in Great Falls active on social media.

    Classic Jesus is rejected as “weak” in today’s MAGA world.

    • Thanks. I am disappointed in many of my fellow Christians. I have always believed churches should encourage their congregations to vote and to pray for our leaders. That’s it.
      Too many Christian leaders picked sides in the last few elections. That’s wrong.
      I shake my head a lot when I read comments from Christians about the current President. They seem to overlook many things about him. Trump has used the Christian people. They were too dumb to know it. -JmB

      • They are not your fellow Christians. They are something else, a something that has usurped and twisted “Christianity” just like the cult of Trump has usurped and twisted the once proud and principled Republican party. Both are werewolves in sheep’s clothing.

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