Issues that Affect Montanans
Montana's outdoor heritage is defined by our freedom to hunt, fish, and explore our vast wilderness. However, these public lands face growing threats from federal land transfers, the repeal of roadless protections, and industrial overreach. Ensuring the health of our natural environment is paramount for future generations.
Furthermore, we must address the million-plus acres of landlocked public parcels currently inaccessible to the people. Establishing legal corner crossing is a sensible solution to restore public access. We have a collective responsibility to defend and preserve our Public Land Legacy.
Montana is ranked as the least affordable state in the nation for housing.
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Median home price is $650,000 and Montana's median household income is just $72,000. A Montana family needs to earn over $170,000 to comfortably afford to buy a home.
We also have a critical shortage of affordable rental units. The hardest hit Montanans are the ones with low-income households; many of whom end up homeless.
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We can and must do better!
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Numerous issues face Montana's K-12 Public Education System. The state funding formula and other budget constraints including little voter support for local property tax levies, teacher shortages, and declining academic proficiency scores are the leading problems.
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These complex issues require a multipronged approach which includes legislative reform, continuing community work force programs, and student support structures.Â
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We need to work together to ensure good educational opportunities for our K-12 students.
Montana, with our vast geographic isolation, shortages of medical staff, and tight financial margins for rural hospitals, faces a large Healthcare problem.
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As usual, a multilayer approach including state level policy changes, financial investments and commitments to rural health infrastructure, and community care programs are most of the answer.
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-Expand telehealth services.
-Increase medical residency programs.
-Enhance student loan forgiveness programs.
-Support Emergency Medical Service partnerships.
-Simplify Medicaid re-verification.
-Use federal grants dedicated to rural health clinics and hospitals.