Our View: Hi-Line darts and laurels

Laurel — Gov. Steve Bullock signed into law the bill that will expand Medicaid to thousands of people who have not been eligible. This ensures that many middle class people will be able to receive health care in the early stages of their illnesses instead of waiting until it’s too late. It will mean that health care facilities, especially rural hospitals and clinics, will get paid for services they provide. It is a win-win situation. Many people worked hard and gagged at the compromises they had to make. But the result is great. I makes us proud to be Montanans.

Dart — The Montana Legislature hasn’t been half as embarrassing as it sometimes is. The body accomplished a lot this year, but lawmakers ended the session on a very sour note. Gov. Steve Bullock had proposed a $300 million plan to pay for infrastructure repairs in the state. That’s not much. We could spend that amount in Hill County. No one disagreed that the project was sorely needed. In the to-and-fro of Helena politics, project was narrowed in scope and the total cost was reduced. But it still would have helped the state begin the long process of bringing Montana into shape. The Legislature extended its session for three days, but to no avail. A political deal could not be reached. No infrastructure program this year. That’s sad.

Laurel — he U.S Interior Department has ordered the Chippewa Cree Tribe to pay Ken St. Marks more than $600,000 in back pay and front pay because of his illegal removal as chair of the tribe. That’s good because it is a start in holding the tribe responsible for continually removing the duly elected chair from office.

Dart — But the Interior Department’s action is distressing because in awarding “front pay,” the agency is admitting it plans to do nothing to stop the tribe from continuing to discriminate against St. Marks. Front pay means that the Interior Department is aware that the tribe is going to continue to discriminate against St. Marks by keeping him out of office. We wish the Interior Department would have told the tribe to stop discriminating against the chairman`

Laurel — The Helena Catholic Diocese is taking action to admit the wrongdoing of some of its clergy in the past. The list of all employees who have abused young people will now be listed on the diocesan website. It’s sad that things have come to this, but it’s good the diocese realizes how bad things have become.