Before I get into the week, I want to talk about something that matters more than most people realize right now: ballot initiatives. We’ve got several circulating in Montana this year, and I’ll be honest with you — when somebody walks up to you with a clipboard, your first instinct might be to just sign and move on. Don’t! These things have long-term consequences for our laws and our Constitution, and they deserve more than a glance. I’m keeping an eye on I-194, the Montana Plan, which aims to push big dark money out of our politics. I-194 is the anti-Citizens United initiative. So far it looks like it does what it claims, but I’m still studying it.

Then there’s I-129, I-130, and a new property tax initiative from Senator Wiley Galt, all aimed at capping annual property tax increases at 2%. You’ll recall that House Bill 231 and Senate Bill 542 from last session, our property tax reform bills, had some real problems baked in. Yes, 80% of Montanans saw their primary home tax bill go down, and that’s good. But families with a cabin, a ranch hand’s house, or other secondary properties got hit hard.

These new initiatives are trying to fix that. Worth your attention. And one more: I-132, which would enshrine nonpartisan judicial elections. Sounds simple. Read it anyway. Also know that we passed a law last session requiring signature gatherers to tell you if they’re from out of state and if they’re being paid. Montana politics should stay in Montana hands.

Now, to the week itself. Tuesday and Wednesday, March 24th and 25th, Fergus County held poll worker trainings, and I’m glad to report they were well attended. All communities sent a people to become trained poll workers on the 24th and 25th, and that means a lot. Poll workers are the backbone of a fair election, and showing up for that kind of civic duty says something good about this community. Thank you to everyone who came out.

Wednesday also brought the Westphal Bull Sale out in Grass Range. I made it by long enough to say hello and grab one of their burgers, beef right off the Westphal ranch, and it did not disappoint. I couldn’t stay long because I had to push on to a timber project. The place was packed, and I’m sure the sale went just as well. That same day I joined a Montana Energy Caucus Zoom call after a couple hours of timber work, where we’re working through how to develop Montana’s energy future responsibly, growing our resources without endangering our land or our people. That balance matters, and the legislature needs to get it right.

I also got through both of my homeschool Constitution classes this week. Those kids are sharp, and teaching the Constitution is one of the more rewarding things I do. I’m sorry I missed the Local Food Summit put on by Abby Byerly from the Snowy Mountain Development Corporation — that timber project kept me out of town. I’m looking forward to hearing how it went. Saturday I attended the “Defend Our Democracy” rally in Lewistown. The right to peaceably assemble is one of our five First Amendment protections, and it was exercised peacefully. I had good conversations with a lot of people. We don’t all see things the same way, and that’s fine. That’s the whole point of the process.

I’ve mentioned a few times that I’ve been out at my Dad’s ranch on a timber management project, and I want to explain why that matters. This year could be a serious fire season. Fuel reduction is the main goal — getting ahead of what happens when a fire moves through country that’s been loaded up with decades of dead timber. But there’s more to it than that. When I was a kid, there were open meadows up in that country. They’re gone now, swallowed by conifer encroachment. We’re clearing those back out, and the benefit goes to wildlife, to cattle, to elk and deer that need open ground to graze. It’s a lot of work. It’s also the right work, and we’re going to keep at it.

I know you want to stay current on these topics, so head to ShaneKlakken.com, sign up for the newsletter. Find me on Facebook, X, Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube. If you’re able to support the campaign for reelection, I’d genuinely appreciate it. I have both an Independent and a Democrat challenger on the ballot this cycle, and it takes resources to run a real race.

Thank you, as always, for reading and for caring about what happens in Central Montana.