Legislative Information Center
Montana Legislature
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Send a letter to your state senator:
Senator [Name]
Montana Senate
PO Box 200500
Helena, MT 59620-0500
Send a letter to your state representative:
Rep. [Name]
Montana House of Representatives
PO Box 200400
Helena, MT 59620-0400
Read MCV's legislative guide for more information including email addresses and key conservation and voter rights legislation...
Montana Conservation Voters 2009 Legislative Campaign
This is Montana Conservation Voters’ 10th anniversary year. The political landscape has shifted incredibly since I began working as MCV’s founding staff person in the 1999. Then, a big legislative priority was to stop attempts to over turn the 1998 voter-approved ban on new cyanide leach mines. As a community, we stopped this attack, thanks to canvassing in key districts to let voters know their legislators were going to roll back a measure they had just approved in the ballot box - because the legislature “knew better”. The “stupid voter” canvass piece and lots of grassroots organizing, involving every conservation group that worked in the legislature, defeated this attack. And it helped defeat of a couple of unwise legislators in the 2000 election. MCV’s state legislative scorecard voting average that year was 42%. In 2007, MCV’s scorecard voting average was 53%, meaning, legislators on average were voting a little more than half the time with the conservation and environmental community.
It’s up to us to keep that number moving up in 2009. Can that happen? With the election of some great conservation champions, we’d hope for a banner year. But the loss of key seats in the Senate, shifting partisan control to 27 Republicans and 23 Democrats, and a 50:50 Democratic/Republican partisan split in the House means the best legislation will have tough sailing. Holding the line on Montana’s environmental protection laws will again be a top priority. Work with Governor Brian Schweitzer and the newly-elected officials who will comprise the Montana Board of Land Commissioners featured on page 2 is paramount.
Montana Conservation Voters’ 2009 State Legislative Campaign is based on these political realities, and this plan 1) grassroots organizing to hold legislators accountable, including those who MCV endorsed and supported in the 2008 election, and those who made commitments on conservation and environmental measures; 2) collaborating with the environmental and conservation groups working in the legislature; 3) providing leadership and training opportunities for Montana Conservation Voters members and allies, to be effective citizen advocates; 4) building the political strength of the conservation community, including candidate recruitment for the 2010 election and involvement in reapportionment; and 5) expanding alliances with labor, public health, religious, education, women’s and business groups and leaders.
This 2009 Montana State Legislative Guide is a tool to help you become informed, involved and activated at home, and in Helena. That’s the best way to see MCV’s legislative scorecard average get above 53% this year.
Theresa Keaveny, MCV Executive Director
Conservation Working Group Priorities
Sarah Cobler, MCV Program Director
MCV determines its legislative priorities in a collaborative working group process, led by the state’s diverse conservation policy experts. Groups work together prior to the legislative session to identify common legislative opportunities to protect Montana’s outdoor heritage.
These shared legislative priorities promote a vibrant and growing green economy, and protect the fresh water resources that define the state. Now is the time to create new jobs, build public infrastructure and promote economic stimulus that drives us toward healthier, more efficient and more livable communities.
The working group includes the Alternative Energy Resources Organization (AERO), Clark Fork Coalition, Greater Yellowstone Coalition, Montana Audubon, Montana Conservation Voters, Montana Environmental Information Center (MEIC), Montana Public Interest Research Group (MontPIRG), Montana Sierra Club, Montana Trout Unlimited, Smart Growth Coalition, Natural Resource Defense Council (NRDC), National Center for Appropriate Technology (NCAT), National Wildlife Federation, Northern Plains Resource Council, and the Policy Institute.2009 Conservation Priorities
- Energy Efficiency in Montana Schools. Montana public schools spend a significant amount of money (second largest line item) on energy costs. This bill establishes necessary resources for public schools to improve energy efficiency in their facilities, providing funding for efficiency improvements along with the expertise to plan and implement the improvements. It helps schools save money by reducing their energy bills, creates good paying jobs, and reduces global warming pollution. Lead group is the Northern Plains Resource Council, Matt Leow, lobbyist.
- Energy Efficiency Standard. An Energy Efficiency Standard for Utilities requires utilities to increase efforts to improve energy efficiency. It would save ratepayers money on their utility bills, decrease the demand utility services, help develop green jobs and decrease global warming pollution. Lead group is Montana Environmental Information Center, Anne Hedges, lobbyist.
- Protect Our Water Act. Currently in Montana, a loophole in water law allows developers to use hundreds of individual water wells for subdivisions without permit review or any cumulative impact study. This bill amends both the subdivision code and the water use act to tighten the “exempt well loophole” in high growth counties like Gallatin, Ravalli and Missoula, protecting our water resources, public health, and wildlife. Lobby led by Montana Trout Unlimited, Mark Aagenes.
- Big Sky Rivers Act. This bill requires new homes and commercial buildings to be set back at least 250 ft from the ordinary high water mark on up to 12 legacy rivers, to protect water quality and private property. Additionally, the legislation will outline a process that local governments can use—at the local government level—to protect other rivers and/or streams. Lobby led by Janet Ellis with Montana Audubon.
- Protect Montana’s Bedrock Environmental Laws. Maintain current environmental protections afforded by Montana statute and the constitution.
- Find weekly updates and action alerts here at mtvoters.org.
- Sign up for Action Alerts, and get the most up-to-date information on how to support environmental legislation.
- Make a special gift to Montana Conservation Voters State Legislative Fund, to support our legislative campaign.
- Join us in Helena on March 13th for our Grassroots Lobby Day, which will include a training, and is followed by our fun Annual Meeting and party.
MCV 2009 Legislative Campaign Team
Sarah Cobler, MCV Program Director serves as MCV’s chief lobbyist. Kevin Olp, a political science and international relations student at Carroll College, serves as MCV’s Legislative Assistant. Consultant Jeanne-Marie Souvigney covers voter law issues. Theresa Keaveny will coordinate the communications team, working with the groups to get the word out about critical conservation legislation. Ross Prosperi will direct field efforts, engaging grassroots activists in the legislative process with support from other organizers. Eric Halstvedt provides technical support and web based services. Christiana Schweitzer leads ongoing fundraising efforts.
