Author: Press Room

Energy Handouts to Cost Taxpayers $421 Billion

20 February 2025
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New Treasury Department numbers show that soaring federal handouts for wind and solar dwarf all other energy-related provisions in the tax code and will cost taxpayers $421 billion by 2034.

The 10-year cost of federal tax expenditures for wind and solar has increased 21-fold since 2015, according to a report in Substack.

In 2005, Scientific American published an article saying that the hockey stick graph published a few years earlier by Michael Mann, an academic who now works at the University of Pennsylvania, had become “an iconic symbol of humanity’s contribution to global warming.”

Mann and the hockey stick have become defining examples of the politicization of climate science.

The staggering cost of the subsidies Congress has given to Big Wind, Big Solar, and other alt-energy outfits in the name of climate change. In late November, the Treasury Department published the newest edition of its annual report on tax expenditures, which it says are “revenue losses attributable to provisions of Federal tax laws.”

Those credits, which are the principal drivers behind the deployment of wind and solar energy, and a handful of other forms of alt-energy, are, by far, the most expensive energy-related provisions in the federal tax code. Between 2025 and 2034, the ITC and PTC will account for more than half of all energy-related tax provisions. And that total does not include the tax credits for electric vehicles.

Customers Returning to In-store Shopping

20 February 2025
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Inc. magazine reports that from the early days of Amazon to the introduction of TikTok Shop, Gen-Zers have watched online shopping grow easier and faster than ever. But now, many digital natives are flocking back to in-person shopping. In fact, according to a recent survey by payment platform Ayden, Gen-Z does more in-person shopping than Baby Boomers. Nearly three-fourths of 18-to-27-year-olds shop in person once a week, while only 65 percent of Boomers do the same.

Specific shopping habits vary by generation. Boomers are more practical: A whopping 90 percent go in-person grocery shopping once a week, compared to 60 percent of Gen-Zers. Young shoppers, on the other hand, like to buy beauty products or luxury clothing in person.

And another recent survey by anti-fraud platform Socure shows that Gen-Z is also more likely to shoplift online. Common strategies for digital shoplifting—which is also called first-party fraud—include falsely claiming that a package never arrived and disputing legitimate transactions.

Four in 10 Gen-Z survey respondents admitted to doing this over the holiday season. That figure is even higher for wealthy young shoppers: More than half of Gen-Zers who earn more than $100,000 per year shoplift online, while only 3 percent of Boomers do the same.

This form of fraud costs businesses more than $100 billion each year, according to Socure.

Counter Intuitive Sales Ideas that Work

20 February 2025
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Some sales ideas that at first glance may seem counter intuitive were recently recommended in Inc. magazine. The ideas are based upon human psychology and their instinct to assure that they are in control.

For example, right up front, tell the customer in one way or another that they don’t have to buy. Telling someone they don’t have to buy can paradoxically make them more likely to do it. It’s all about autonomy bias – -a psychological need we all have to feel in control of our decisions. No one wants to feel pushed or cornered.  Make your ask, and then follow it with a simple statement like, “But you are free to decide.” Studies show this can double the likelihood that someone will say yes. Why? Because you’re giving people the freedom to choose, and that makes them more open to doing what you ask.

Another idea is don’t tell customers how much they will save. Instead, point out how much they will lose. It conveys the same information but addresses everyone’s natural instinct to avoid loss.  Simply put, people are twice as motivated to avoid losing something as they are to gain something. For example: Researchers told homeowners they could “save 50 cents a day” by insulating their homes or “lose 50 cents a day” by not insulating. The second message resulted in 150 percent more people taking action. Same exact information, different framing.

If you’re running a sale, instead of saying “Save $20 today,” try “You’ll pay $20 more tomorrow.” It’s a subtle but powerful reframe that leverages people’s fear of missing out to drive immediate action. The key is honesty. If the sale really does end tomorrow, you’re doing your customers a service by letting them know.

Another idea – start with your highest price.

When listing prices, it’s tempting to lead with the lowest option to avoid scaring people off. But starting with your highest price can actually boost revenue. It all comes down to anchoring—our tendency to rely heavily on the first piece of information we see. Researchers tested this with beer prices in pubs. When menus listed beers from most to least expensive, revenue increased by 4.2 percent. “When you anchor on the highest price first, everything beneath it looks more attractive. It’s easier to get someone from $30 to $22 than from $13 to $22..

For founders worried about price shoppers, you should display all options clearly, starting with the highest. This way, customers see the affordable choices in context, making them feel like a better deal.

Bypass Bridge to be Opened Soon

20 February 2025
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Directional signs are going up and within a few weeks a segment of the Northeast Billings Bypass will allow access to the Yellowstone River Bridge which will connect Johnson Lane in Lockwood to Five Mile Road in the Heights. It will eventually connect the yet-to-be built portion of the Bypass that will parallel Mary Street connecting the Bypass from the bridge to Main Street in the Heights.

No definite date to open the road from Johnson Lane to the bridge has been set, according to Lisa Olmsted, public involvement manager for DOWL, the engineering firm participating in construction of the Bypass. Details involving the completed construction of the Railroad Overpass are still in process, she said, which besides placing signs, includes things like removing forms and adding “finishing touches.”

The Railroad Overpass project connects the Yellowstone River Bridge to the Johnson Lane Interchange. This Overpass crosses over the railroad tracks and Coulson Road.

Olmsted said that the website that MDT maintains regarding Bypass construction is updated regularly, which allows people to follow the progress.

Work is progressing on plans and infrastructure to commence construction on building Montana’s first diverging diamond interchange at the Johnson Interchange in Lockwood.  Olmsted said that construction is expected to begin late this year and to be in full swing in 2026. “There is a lot happening right now” at the Johnson Lane interchange, said Olmsted, referring to projects that are underway involving the rerouting of utilities by Lockwood Water and Sewer District, the County, the TEDD, etc.

Budget Discussions Unveil Issues in County Government

20 February 2025
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What havoc is inflation inflicting upon the budget of Yellowstone County? What aspects of county operations place the greatest pressure on its budget? Why are there fewer concerts at Metra Park this year? How will the purchase of gravel mines save the County untold millions? How will a new technology circumvent the mischief of inmates?  Why does the new arraignment court need $45,000?

The answers to all of these questions came during the mid-year budget hearing before the County Commissioners last week. The mid-year look at the budget is aimed at making adjustments to the budget needed by unexpected costs or shifting surpluses in one area to another to serve more pressing needs.

Inflation Big Issue

“Each County fund is feeling the inflationary pressure on their budget,” reported Jennifer Jones, County Finance Director, “Cost of living increases, equipment purchases, food and medical insurance costs continue to be the main areas impacted by the current environment.” 

Wages and demands of the Youth Services Center are putting some of the greatest pressure on the county’s budget, as are other aspects of public safety.

The county budget for FY 2024-25 is based on total projected revenues of $134,460,994.

Investment yields are continuing to hold a “bit higher” than was expected at the beginning of fiscal year (July 1, 2024) and are predicted to remain elevated through this fiscal year (ending June 30, 2025).

Jones reiterated an issue that has plagued county governments for many years. Under state law, local governments are allowed to increase budgets only half the rate of inflation. While difficult, local governments dealt with the limitation when inflation was low, but now that it is high it has become very difficult. “This is especially true when a significant portion of expenditures is dictated by salaries which are driven by the current inflation environment,” said Jones.

She stressed, “It is important the County takes an active interest in the 2025 legislative session. . . with extra attention spent on these bills impacting local taxation reform.” Jones commented that no one knows what the Legislature is going to do – “there are several scenarios floating around Helena” – but no matter what “the funding structure isn’t going to be the same.”

2.5- 3% Tax Growth

Growth is estimated for FY 2026 at 2.5 – 3.0 percent about the same. It has been growing at a rate of about 3 percent and is expected to come in next year at 2.9 percent.

Jones noted that Phillips 66 is protesting their taxes this year, as they did last year. When taxes are protested the tax must be paid but it must be held in a separate account and is not spent until the case is decided.

The county’s General Fund, which had $13,344,775 at the end of 2024, is projected to end this fiscal year with about $2.3 million less than it did last year, or with $12,908,535. Jones called the decline “erosion” resulting from the decline in the value of a dollar or, in other words, inflation.  The general fund is used to shore up other funds in the county budget, as needed.

Public Safety

Public safety continues to be a leading focus for Yellowstone County. A criminal justice needs assessment study began a year ago and is expected to be completed this spring. It will provide recommendations to the county commissioners for system efficiency improvements, capacity management and enhanced outcomes for both adults and youths involved in the system, said Jones. Also impacting public safety issues will be actions in the Montana State Legislature.

The three county funds expected to be most impacted by pending changes, said Jones, will be the Sheriff’s fund, the County Attorney fund and the Youth Services Center (holding facility for young offenders).  Jones emphasized that the expansion of these three entities will need to be supported by a voter-approved public safety levy in which debt obligation will be an option.

Youth Services receives approximately $1.5 million from the General Fund support primarily because of food costs, medical costs and utilities. Commissioners discussed the growing demand on the Youth Services Center, as each year they see more young people incarcerated – and most are from Yellowstone County.

Sheriff’s Vehicles

Sheriff Mike Linder explained his department’s request for additional funding has to do with vehicle replacements. Over the past few years patrol car replacement has not been happening even though he has been ordering them because of disruptions in that industry. (Patrol cars must be specially configured.) Linder said that he had not even planned for them in 2025, but has been notified that a past order will be filled this year. He is requesting a $440,000 adjustment from his contingency budget to pay for them. He said he does not plan to order any replacement vehicles in 2026.

The Sheriff commented that his department has been “very frugal.” The only other request for the Sheriff’s department was to transfer $12,000 to help pay for the overtime in covering vacancies in the records department.

The Yellowstone County Detention Facility requested $25,000 to purchase security cameras, which were actually a part of last year’s budget that was rolled over into this year’s.

Malicious Behavior

The county’s facility manager, Superintendent, Tim Kaczmarek, reported that he has found a new technology that will solve a chronic and costly problem for the Yellowstone County Detention Facility. It has been the malicious practice of inmates of the jail to tear up their cloths and bedding into strips and flush them down the toilets. The materials plug up the sewer lines, requiring shutting down the whole system and engaging maintenance crews to unplug the lines at considerable cost, which at a very minimum amounts to $10,000. That doesn’t include the costs of additional staff time and other impacts, said Kaczmarek.

He has found an affordable electronic mechanism that once installed will shut down the whole system anytime a toilet is flushed more than once in five minutes, he said.

County Attorney

Because of the erosion in the value of the dollar, the County Attorney’s office is having to operate on a higher budget, although costs are being somewhat mitigated because they have not been able to fill all their open positions on their staff for the past 18 months, explained County Attorney Scott Twito. He said that they are learning how to work around that and are gaining some efficiencies.

Jones commented that while the County Attorney’s office will need no General Fund support in 2025, next year in 2026, it may.

Commissioner Mark Morse commended Twito for his lead in establishing the Criminal Justice Coordinating Committee (CJCC) which has been studying the needs of the county’s justice system to deal with the rise in crime. “We are learning you just can’t build a jail,” commented Morse, “You have to get all the other components working efficiently. I am willing to support expansion of the jail so long as we are efficient in all other capacities.”

Arraignment Court

Justice of the Peace David Carter gave commissioners an update regarding the development of an arraignment court that he and his staff have been developing. The court will allow those arrested on primarily misdemeanor crimes to appear before a judge for adjudication within 72 hours of arrest. Judge Carter said that they are in the process of testing the process and will likely be able to become operational within a matter of a few weeks. He asked that $45,000 for the court be added to his budget.

Carter said that while it is seldom noted, Justice Court actually generates some income, which helps its operations. He said that its income has increased 11.33 percent, with having generated $1,017,000 in 2023 and $1,133,000 in 2024.

Commissioner Morse commented that he believed the arraignment court, once operational will “pay for itself,” and thanked Carter and those who have been working to develop it, for their hard work.

Gravel Mines

The Road Department and Bridge Department budgets are stable year to year, although the Bridge Department is focused on a large bridge project, this year.

The County has purchased two gravel mines, which Commissioner John Ostlund said they had been trying to do for quite a while.  They have purchased the Gable Pit at Huntley and another further north in the county. Ostlund said that they had been purchasing gravel from Gable, but they will now own it. Having these two options available to them will save the county “untold millions of dollars over the next 50 years,” said Ostlund.

Fewer Concerts?

There have been fewer concerts at Mera Park this year, reported Tim Wombolt, Accountant for Metra Park, which has negatively impacted its bottom line. The majority of the income for the county -owned venue is derived from concerts.

Wombolt said that the reason for the reduced number of concerts stems from the fact that so few performers have been on tour. Why they haven’t been touring, he said, “we aren’t exactly sure.” But it seems to be loosening up so they hope to get some concerts soon.

 “If they aren’t out there touring,” he said, “we have no ability to get them.”

Metra Park has hosted three concerts this year, but fall about six or seven short of those projected in their budget. Revenues, so far this fiscal year are off about $1.5 million. Net revenues for Metra Park have increased from $2,851,281 in 2020 to $5,889,424 in 2024.

Metra Park Manager Stoney Field said that they hope to get some concerts that will perform outside , which means they do not have to share any of the sales with Oak View Group (OVG), a company with which MetraPark contracted to secure concerts. The contract gives OVG a percentage of any concert held in the First Interstate Arena whether or not they secured the contract. 

The agreement, which runs through 2026, has not been very beneficial for Metra Park. Commissioner John Ostlund admitted the county was outmaneuvered in writing the contract and “there is not an out.” OVG’s performance is based on their ability to “influence” a concert to perform in Billings, and that could amount to nothing more than a follow up phone call after MetraPark staff has acquired the event. “They take credit for every event in that building,” said Ostlund. In the past the county has been paying OVG between $400,000 and $500,000 annually.

From the conversation it was clear that there is no plan to renew the contract with OVG once it is concluded.

Metra Park is seeking transfers to their budget of about $73,000 to help meet a number of needs including maintenance needs, temporary employment wages, cooler repair, food costs, software and contract services. They are also seeking $62,000 from their contingency fund for repairs to their scrapper/loader.

Billings New Business Licenses – January 2025

20 February 2025
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Entity Protect Registered Agent Services LLC, 1925 Grand Ave Ste 127#430, (917) 695-7501, Boaron, Eliav, Service, Billings420 Lexington Ave Ste 2400, New York, NY 10170

Clean Queens, 139 Cerise Rd, (406) 894-0578, Nelson/Anderson, Kaye/Madison, Service, Billings

Eastridge Retreat LLC, 1945 Eastridge Dr, (801) 577-5769, Hurst, Emily, Real Estate Rental, Billings 8402 Hideaway Trail, Billings 59106

CK Investment Properties LLC, 354 Glenhaven Dr, (307) 359-1418, Holcomb, Cheryl, Real Estate Rental, Billings354 Glenhaven Dr, Billings

Subway #11991, 1038 Main St Ste 4, (307) 608-8989, Lovett (Partner), Jessi, Restaurants, Billings1211 24th St W Ste 5, Billings

Subway #18033, 2499 King Ave W Ste B, (307) 680-8989, Lovett (Partner), Jessi, Restaurants, Billings1211 24th St W Ste 5,      Billings

Subway #17160, 2900 12th Ave N, (307) 680-8989, Lovett (Partner), Jessi, Restaurants, Billings1211 24th St W Ste 5, Billings

Schwartz Brothers, Masonry Inc, 2192 W Skokie Dr, (406) 248-3003, Schwartz, Taylor, Contractors, Billings

Steel Magnolias & Co, 1940 Grand Ave Ste A, (406) 698-8702, Smithson/Sorgenfrei, Jaclyn/Aimee, Cosmetology, Billings 

R.O. Tools LLC, 847 Crist Dr, (406) 696-1484, Latham, Mitch, Retail Sales, Billings 

Obsidian Sharp Edges LLC, 1721 Vuecrest Dr, (406) 672-5419, Howell, Amanda, Service, Billings

WCUB Dynasty LLC, 3021 4th Avenue S Apt 2, (406) 697-6853, Adams, Victor Anthony/Xander Michael, Retail Sales, Billings 

McInnis Outdoors LLC, 923 Rimrock Rd, (406) 876-4234, McInnis, Melinda/Troy, Retail Sales,PO Box 52, Billings 59103

Mastech Solutions, 1720 Rosecrans Dr, (406) 927-7906, Mascarena, Esteban, Service, Billings

Blooms & Brooms, 811 Terry Ave, (406) 208-6862, Blake, Chenoa, Retail Sales, Billings    

Hot Shots, LLC, 1503 Linda Ln, (509) 844-1285, Akins Sr, Jackie, Service, Billings    

Albright Vending LLC, 7616 Lewis Ave, (208) 848-6587, Albright/Heger, Dalton/Therese, Retail Sales, Billings 59106, 934 Bench Blvd, Billings

Nidatwventure.Com, 7925 Eland Ave, (605) 430-7765, Wood, Nida, Misc, Billings 59106,

House Of Avery Bridal, 2111 Grand Ave, (406) 606-0504, Schell, Kady, Retail Sales, Billings

Performance Advantage, LLC, 517 24th St W, (435) 216-8785, Dunsdon, Irvin P, Solo Practitioner, Billings204 Wyoming Ave, Billings

Club Lux and Casino X, 1123 1st Ave N, (406) 794-9756, Lorenz, Cindy, Liquor License, Billings 5060 Maple Ridge Circle, Billings 59106

Earthbound Cafe LLC, 207 N Broadway Ste C30, (818) 515-7511, Ploeg/Johnson/Rogers, Joshua/Jessica/Nicholas, Restaurants, Billings41 Red Rock Dr, Billings

Ten40investing, LLC, 404 N 31st St Ste 423, (406) 409-3450, Bautista, Christian, Service, Billings

English Properties LLC, 5411 Frontier Dr #3, (406) 321-2082, English, Jenna, Real Estate Rental, Billings

Subway #17236, & Subway #35908, 3031 Grand Ave Ste 300, (307) 680-8989, Lovett (Partner), Jessi, Billings1211 24th St, W Ste 5, Billings

Subway #34791, 251 Main St, (307) 680-8989, Lovett (Partner), Jessi, Restaurants, Billings1211 24th St W Ste 5, Billings

Subway #45822, 820 Shiloh Crossing Blvd Ste F, (307) 680-8989, Lovett (Partner), Jessi, Restaurants, Billings, 1211 24th St W Ste 5, Billings

Subway #56984, & Subway #56985, 1649 Main St,  2525 King Ave W, (307) 680-8989, Lovett (Partner), Jessi, Restaurants, Billings, 1211 24th St W Ste 5, Billings

Children’s Art Classes, 1780 Shiloh Rd Ste D, (406) 661-2782, Hodge, Nicole, Service, Billings 59106

Bell Property Solutions LLC, 941 Rimrock Rd (406) 208-4693, Bell, Gard, Real Estate Rental, Billings, 12611 37th Place Ne, Lake Stevens, WA, 98258

Big Sky 4 Season Service LLC, 2124 Rehberg Ln Apt 3, (406) 561-4324, Herman, Trevor, Service, Billings   Spectrum Hope Fund, 3932 1st Ave S Unit 2, (406) 530-5317, Huck, Timothy G, Service, Billings

Leprechaun Labs, 1420 Emma Ave, (952) 297-6049, McNichol, James & Laurie, Retail Sales, Billings

Body Remedies LLC, 720 Grand Ave, (509) 435-7567, Morin, Rashonda, Solo Practitioner, Billings821 N 27th Ste C-#1031, Billings

Sunshine Express (Cafe), 2390 Overlook Dr Ste 108/110, (406) 248-3320, Zentner, Marlee, Restaurants, Billings, 443 S 23rd St W, Billings

Almalli Wellness LLC, 777 15th St W, (406) 647-3000, Malli, Sarah, Service, Billings, 6800 Earl Ave, Huntley, 59037

Floorx, LLC, 610 Bench Blvd Suite 4, (406) 671-7820, Stovall, Clint, Service, Billings 

Reahs Ministries, 1925 Grand Ave Ste 108, (406) 860-7785, Gavett, Rebekah, Service, Billings

Southpaw USA Inc, 10427 Mint Lane, (417) 540-1333, Holden, David, Contractors, Neosho, MO, 64850, Po Box 3715, Joplin, MO, 64803

O.M. Customs LLC, 13 W Antelope Trl, (541) 815-0567, Britt, Chance, Retail Sales, Billings 

Dave Merkel Music & Sound LLC, 2500 Wyoming Ave, (406) 281-4006, Merkel, David G, Service, Billings

Platinum Cleaners, 3909 N Tanager Ln, (509) 969-0091, Scroggins, Joseph, Service, Billings

S.A.R. Painting LLC, 220 Yellowstone Ave, (506) 598-4757, Rogers, Steven, Service, Laurel, 59044

D&A Financial Services Inc. 111 S 24th St W, (406) 248-1006, Rogers (Accountant), Tanner,  Retail Sales, Billings 2156 Hill Field Rd Ste 3, Layton, UT, 84041

Stone Soup Garden LLC, 2241 Old Us 10, (406) 853-5728, Certain, Patrick J, Retail Sales, Laurel, 59044

Barn Swallow Bread, 2720 Rehberg Ln, (406) 208-0309, Noel, Margaret, Retail Sales, Billings

Coulson City Construction, 1415 6th Ave N, (406) 717-9151, Reimers, Charlie, Contractors, Billings 

Danielle Salo LMT, 1001 S 24th St W Bld 3 Room 310, (907) 978-3678, Salo, Danielle, Solo Practitioner, Billings 

Four Directions, 2048 Overland Ave, (406) 647-8464, Contois, Shirley, Service, BillingsPO Box 80411, Billings

1111 New Beginnings, 2048 Overland Ave Suite 102b, (406) 210-8168, McCoy, Kendy, Service, BillingsPO Box 80411, Billings

R & R Roofing, 12 S 8th St W, (406) 661-3771, Ring, Chad, Contractors, Billings 

It’s Spotless, 6709 High Hill Road, (406) 876-5433, Herden, Michelle, Service, Shepherd, 59079

Tup Tim Thai, 2916 1st Ave N, (406) 839-5078, Williams, Christopher/Srisuda, Restaurants, Billings

Crimson Stain Woodworks LLC, 6040 Severance Rd, (406) 661-0078, Tiry, Eric, Service, Billings

#1 Tobacco Vape and Cigar LLC, 1201 Grand Ave Ste 2, (313) 290-7615, Furooz, Radad, Retail Sales, Billings 

Canyon Creek Construction LLC, 1639 Cheryl St, (541) 280-7940, Bennett, Kyle D, Contractors, Billings

Temco Logistics, 3218 S Frontage Rd Bld 100 Ste 104, (909) 492-4046, ParkerBerlinder, Service, Billings20 Executive Park Ste 200, Irvine, CA, 92614

Kolata Consulting LLC, 953 Neptune Blvd, (406) 855-2154, Kolata, Kera, Service, Billings 

Yoders Donut Company LLC, 348 N Douglas St, (307) 254-1352, Yoder, Josh, Restaurants, Powell, WY, 82435

A Day To Care 2901 Monad Rd #99, (406) 927-9466, Ellthorpe, Charity, Service, BillingsPO Box 23201, Billings 59104

McRae Builders LLC, 3943 Pioneer Rd, (406) 860-2632, McRae, John, Contractors, Billings

Beevers Family Insurance, 2718 Montana Ave #216, (505) 635-0640, Beevers, William Michael, 

Consor North America Inc, 1478 S 30th St W, (888) 451-6822, Cas, Matthew Paul, Engineer, Billings6505 Waterford District Dr Ste 470, Miami, FL, 33126

Waste Removal Of Montana LLC, 1925 Grand Ave, (406) 371-1564, Pyrzewski, Todd, Service, Billings 

Beautifully Noted LLC, 6215 Ridge Stone Dr N, (605) 786-4645, Schneller, Brenda, Service, Billings 

MCB Construction, 1109 Firth St, (406) 390-6164, Bradley, Michael, Contractors, Billings

Tony Derosa, 1559 Mullowney Ln, (406) 304-6944, Derosa, Anthony – Tony Derosa, Contractors, Billings

Resilient Recovery, 208 N Broadway Ste 346, (406) 794-2003, Mellum, Abbigail, Service, BillingsPO Box 82, Park City, MT, 59063

The Burger Dive, 1603 Grand Ave Suite 145b, (406) 281-8292, Halsten, Brad, Restaurants, Billings 

Barnyard Bubbles, 624 Claremont Rd, (307) 202-3035, Kotar, Nicole, Restaurants, Billings 

Vega Exteriors, 1015 N 24th St, (406) 694-4827, Collado, Urbano, Service, Billings 

2 N It Cleaning LLC, 1107 High Ridge Dr, (406) 200-4546, Lynch/Bentham, Schaunna/Brittany, Service, Billings

Billings Building Permits February 15, 2025

20 February 2025
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Commercial

Shawn & Lindsay Reichenberg Li|Miner Construction Inc, 437 Bernard St, Com New Warehouse, $723,008

St John’s Lutheran Ministries|Jones Construction Inc, 2509 Mission Wy, Com Addition, $500,000

Joel Smith |I.B.D. Elite Remodel, 2820 Central Ave, Com Remodel, $500,000

City Of Billings (Airport)|Morgan Contractors Inc, 1901 Terminal Cir, Com Remodel, $400,000

Jennifer Raft |Jorden Construction, 178 S 32nd St W, Com Remodel,  $85,000

Belleau Wayne A|Johnson Controls Fire Protection Lp, 2250 King Ave W, Com Fire Systems, $6,829

Rocky Vista University LLC, 4130 Rocky Vista Way, new School, $15,000,000

CPP LLC 1/3 Int|Wagenhals Enterprises Inc, 755 Calhoun Ln, Com New Store/Strip Center, $800,000

106 N 20th St, Shift Holdings LLC Ac Collision Center, Com Remodel, $325,000

OBW 2 LLC |Jones Construction Inc, 1001 Shiloh Crossing Blvd, Com Remodel, $150,000

Dunham’s Sports |Southpaw USA Inc, 300 S 24th St W, Com Remodel, $120,000

Rachel Helmer |Jorden Construction, 2631 St John’s Ave, Com Remodel, $65,000

United Properties Inc|Hardy Construction Co. 490 N 31st St, Com Remodel, $15,000

Residential

Infinity Home LLC |Infinity Home LLC, 2032 Cypress Pt, Res New Single Family, $264,658

McCall |McCall Development, 1810 St Peter Ln, Res New Single Family, $193,176

McCall |McCall Development, 1810 St Peter Ln, Res New Accessory Structure, $23,232

Wells Built Inc |Wells Built Inc., 5409 Apple Rose Ln, Res New Two Family, $254,598

Wells Built Inc |Wells Built Inc, 5415 Apple Rose Ln, Res New Two Family, $254,598

Wells Built Inc |Wells Built Inc, 5421 Apple Rose Ln, Res New Two Family, $254,598

Mt Homes Inc |4 Mt Homes Inc, 2244 Lindero Blvd, Res New Single Family, $174,672

Mt Homes Inc |4 Mt Homes Inc, 2238 Lindero Blvd, Res New Single Family, $172,945

Will the Mutant Elephants Hijack Another Session?

23 January 2025
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By Roger Koopman

If you happen to be at the state capitol during the coming session, you are likely to encounter Mutant Elephants in the hallways, restrooms and chambers.  Although their footprint on the legislative process is immense, their presence goes mostly unnoticed by the voting public.  They appear mild-mannered, but are actually quite dangerous.

Mutant Elephants have the bodies of elephants but the heads of donkeys.  They are Republicans who have grown Democrat heads.  A political evolutionary marvel, perhaps caused by ingesting toxic amounts of socialist junk food, combined with diets deficient in the ideas of liberty.  Or maybe it’s just cultural conformity and establishment political ambition that leads to this bizarre cross-breeding with genetic opposites. 

Exactly where to draw the biological line is debatable, but approximately 30 percent of legislative Republicans appear to have mutated.  With some, the ears are longer and the hee-haw is louder, making them more easily recognized.  But beware of them all.  They move as a herd, and trample our freedoms just as effectively as the pure strain donkeys they run with.  Come January 6th, they will be at it again.

Meanwhile, mutant donkeys with elephant heads are an extinct species, that haven’t been spotted for 40 or 50 years.

Fundamentally, there are two philosophies of government, historically represented by the two major parties.    One concept – often called “The American Idea” established by our founders, insists that freedom is the birthright of all people, that our natural rights are bestowed by God, and that the primary purpose of government is to protect and secure those rights – as stated in the Declaration of Independence.  This is the philosophy of small government and big people – of humanity left free to achieve incredible and miraculous things.  It is the philosophy that trusts freedom, thereby limiting the scope and powers of government within its constitutional bounds. 

Such are the core conservative beliefs of the traditional Republican Party, resulting in a legislative advocacy that empowers the individual through free markets, open competition, consumer choice, private property rights, lower taxes, educational liberty and uncensored, unintimidated free speech.  By contrast, the government model of the Democrat Party stands consistently in opposition to these concepts, and envisions an aggressive and growing government that provides a “solution” for most everything.  Talk to any “well-meaning” Democrat politician and you’ll pick up on this immediately.  It is the ideology of liberalism — of prideful politics, that ultimately leads to human degradation and economic ruin.

However, you would be wrong to assume that the Montana Legislature is a forum for these competing ideas of the two parties.  You would also be mistaken to assume that the heavily Republican numerical majority in recent sessions has translated into many conservative victories.  For the 47-plus years I’ve lived in Montana, there has never been an actual conservative majority in the legislature.  Why?  Because the donkeys all vote as donkeys, while at least one-fourth of the elephants – elected as Republicans — consistently join the Democrats to sabotage strong conservative legislation, working instead to pass Democrat-inspired Big Government bills.  Yes, it is a travesty of which few GOP voters are aware.  We keep thinking we are electing Republicans!

It’s no surprise that the Mutant Elephants have organized themselves into something called “The Solutions Caucus.”  A more accurate name would be “The Government Solutions Caucus,” patterned after the Democrat approach to public policy, believing that all issues require government solutions.  Hereafter, they should be referred to that way.

Until the next election cycle, we will be confronting even more Big Government Republicans than in ‘23, thanks to the active role of Governor Gianforte, targeting the conservative Republicans for defeat with his public endorsements.  This in turn encouraged hundreds of thousands in out-of-state PAC donations to flow to the mutants.  That’s what we are dealing with.

The one hope is that organizations like MCA (which is planning a new website to regularly track the votes of GOP legislators) will hold the Mutant Elephants’ big feet to the fire, and motivate their constituents to fiercely communicate their disapproval.  Come primary time, the true elephants who mistakenly elected these people will not forget.

Roger Koopman, Bozeman, is a former state legislator and Montana Public Service Commissioner.

US Freedom Level Drops

23 January 2025
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By Ian Vásquez

The United States has slipped in its ranking as a free country from 7th in 2000 to 17th in the tenth edition of the annual Human Freedom Index, which is co-published by the Cato Institute and the Fraser Institute. The 2024 report paints a picture of the state of global freedom and freedom within 165 countries, drawing on 86 indicators of personal, economic, and civil liberties dating back to the year 2000.

The top three countries in this year’s report are Switzerland, New Zealand, and Denmark; the bottom three are Iran, Yemen, and Syria, in descending order.

Compared to 2007, most countries are less free, having lost a significant amount of economic or personal freedom or both. 

The high point in global human freedom since 2000, measured on a population-weighted basis, occurred in 2005–2007. It was followed by a slow decline in the aftermath of the global financial crisis and then a precipitous decline in 2020 with the outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic, setting any gains to global freedom back more than two decades. Global freedom saw a small improvement in the third year of the pandemic, 2022, the last year of the report.

Writing about the report, Ian Vásquez of  the Cato Institute, said, “The index reflects our belief that freedom should be measured carefully because it has inherent value and because it plays a central role in human progress. We define freedom as the absence of coercive constraint and think of it as a social concept that recognizes the dignity of the individual.”

*  Human freedom is strongly and positively related to well-being, including income, innovation, social tolerance, environmental performance, levels of charity, life expectancy, lower child mortality, etc.

*  Economic and personal freedom are strongly related. If you value high levels of personal liberty (such as freedom of expression, religion, or personal lifestyle choices), you should value a relatively high level of economic freedom, which is supportive of the other freedoms.

*  The world suffers from a high degree of inequality in freedom. Only 14.1% of the world’s population lives in the top quartile of countries in the index. Fully 77% of the world’s population lives in the least free countries in the bottom half of the index.

Nicaragua, Syria, Turkey, Hong Kong, and Hungary are among the top ten jurisdictions that have seen their freedoms decline most since 2007, the year that marked the high point in global freedom.

Out of ten regions, the Middle East and North Africa are the least free and are some of the regions that saw their freedom fall since 2000.

Global freedom of expression has been on a long-term decline since 2000 and is the category of freedom that saw the greatest drop since that year. 

Human freedom deteriorated severely in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic. Most areas of freedom fell, including significant declines through 2022 in freedom of movement, expression, and association and assembly; and in sound money. After having fallen significantly in 2020 and further in 2021, human freedom increased in 2022 but remained well below its pre-pandemic level during the third year of the pandemic. On a scale of 0 to 10, where 10 represents more freedom, the average human freedom rating for 165 jurisdictions fell from 6.98 in 2019 to 6.76 in 2020 and to 6.73 in 2021, and then increased in 2022 to 6.82. On the basis of that coverage, 87.4 percent of the world’s population saw a fall in human freedom from 2019 to 2022, with many more jurisdictions decreasing (130) than increasing (28) their ratings and 7 remaining unchanged. The sharp decline in freedom that began in 2020 comes after years of slow descent following a high point in 2007. In the third year of the pandemic, global freedom remained at a level far below what it was in 2000.

The data show that there is an unequal distribution of freedom in the world, with only 14.1 percent of the world’s population living in the top quartile of jurisdictions in the HFI and 43 percent living in the bottom quartile.

The countries that took the top 10 places, in order, were Switzerland, New Zealand, Denmark, Luxembourg, Ireland, Finland, Australia and Iceland and Sweden (tied at 7), and Estonia. Selected jurisdictions rank as follows: Canada (11), Japan (12), Germany (14), United Kingdom and United States (tied at 17), Taiwan (19), Chile (31), South Korea (32), France (34), Brazil (70), South Africa (73), Argentina (80), Mexico (94), India (110), Ukraine (122), Nigeria (126), Russia (139), Turkey (142), China (150), Saudi Arabia (155), Venezuela (159), and Iran (163). Out of 10 regions, those with the highest levels of freedom are North America (Canada and the United States), Western Europe, and Oceania. The lowest levels are in the Middle East and North Africa, sub-Saharan Africa, and South Asia. Women-specific freedoms, as measured by five indicators in the index, are strongest in North America, Western Europe, and East Asia and are least protected in the Middle East and North Africa, sub-Saharan Africa, and South Asia.

There is a strong relationship between freedom and median and per capita income. Jurisdictions in the top quartile of freedom enjoy a significantly higher average per capita income ($56,366) than those in other quartiles; the average per capita income in the least free quartile is $15,826. The HFI also finds a strong, positive relationship between human freedom and democracy, and between human freedom and a range of human well-being indicators including tolerance, charitable giving, life expectancy, and environmental health, among other measures.

Subsidies Prop Up Failure

23 January 2025
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By Evelyn Pyburn

The message that is conveyed in the marketplace whenever government funded subsidies are applied to any commodity is so glaring it is hard to imagine how so many – apparently learned experts – miss it so completely. Government subsidies scream to the high heavens that a product has no market viability. That is to say it is a money loser. It does not serve the market – consumers – in a profitable way – it costs more to produce than the value it generates. It is the very essence of failure.

It is no great insight when people point to a subsidized product and predict long-term failure – “long term” because no matter for how long the period of subsidization is set, be assured it will be extended and extended, again and again.

What is worse – anything in the market that is dependent on subsidies will always remain in that position, ALWAYS. So reasoning that a subsidy is only meant to allow the commodity opportunity to become viable is a pipedream – or worse, a scheme to make some people rich at taxpayer expense.

As reprehensible as that might be, the greater loss to society is that subsidies wind up condemning what might be a very good idea to eternal failure because those who are drawn to participate in the subsidies have zero incentive to change — to improve the product, or make it market viable. Why should they? To do so means the end of subsidies that eliminate market risk. Subsidies give participants immunity to the market.

Incentives matter.

A subsidized market does not attract entrepreneurs; it attracts exploiters who are dedicated to milking the system. A product like electric vehicles, a concept which holds many positives and promises great potential, will never become economically viable as long as it is subsidized – as long as the government is a partner.

The damages to the automobile manufacturers who have lost hundreds of millions of dollars as a consequence of their schemes with the government to subsidize electric vehicles was entirely predictable. The product was a loser in the marketplace, which is why the government subsidized it; and once subsidized, it was never going to become profitable. The realities of subsidies is a basic principle of economics, which any company executive should understand as clearly as the ‘law of supply and demand’. The CEOs were either wholly unqualified to be leading the companies, or not the innocents they would want us to believe. They thought they would get away with bilking the taxpayers. 

Subsidies discourage entrepreneurs because of the corruption involved. There are plenty of incidents in which innovators – those who dare to upset the apple cart – have been undermined by the political alliances that subsidies create. Successful innovators would upset their cozy alliance — the easy “profits” to the businesses and the power to politicians. 

Taxpayer funded subsidies create special interest groups who give politicians power. The greatest example of that which we are currently enduring is the quashing of individual liberties being instigated in the name of global warming.  While people who object to the laws, which are invading all aspects of our lives, are being ridiculed as “global warming deniers,” the truth is most are not denying the possibility that the planet is warming (Earth is going to eventually be burnt to a cinder, so why wouldn’t it gradually be warming?) — they are objecting to using that possibility as a ploy for eliminating our freedom. If we are to deal with such threats we will need the freedom to do so. What? We are supposed to count on government to save us from the perils that loom?

Subsidies do serve a purpose for some people, hence, fake entrepreneurs and politicians often work in tandem to make the efforts of innovators as difficult as possible, if not downright illegal. Innovators cannot be allowed to succeed because it would upset the cozy alliances.

Look around the community at those things in which government is involved, real business people don’t go near them – at least not until the government has made such a mess of things that it opens the door for opportunity.  Competition (like FedEx or UPS) only challenged the US Postal Service once technology and market demand for greater efficiencies opened the door to a market that the government was managing incredibly poorly.

One can only speculate, but the many years of city government promising to enter the Billings convention services market, surely must have impacted one company’s decision about the risk factors involved in investing to remodel their convention center, and probably dissuaded others from entering the business. No one wants to have to compete against a government that can forcibly acquire capital from hapless taxpayers, no matter how poorly they manage things.

Those who believe that “clean energy” alternatives such as wind and solar hold promise for the future should take note. These alternatives only exist because of subsidies. In fact, they are so wholly subsidized by the government that there have been reports that some “investment” costs were fully paid for by subsidies before the first day of energy generation. Such is not a market environment that holds promise for the future of such technologies. The number one priority of those on the forefront of these enterprises is to continue the subsidies. A product that can economically sustain itself will never happen as long as this is the situation.

The great irony is these energy alternatives do not reduce greenhouse gas emissions as we consumers are constantly told they do. The case is made that they do, by not including all the costs involved in getting them to market. The amount of the subsidies that the government gives to the generating facility is an indication of how much of their cost – hence their emissions — is not being accurately calculated.

So, when was the last time a news announcement about a new wind or solar facility included the amount the project is being subsidized? Why would such important information for taxpayers be left out?

All that deception is a tragedy for society because the concepts of wind and solar energy are great – especially for areas in the world where electrical grids like that in the US do not exist. To develop an energy technology that is truly economically viable would serve the world unlike anything ever devised to sustain humanity. But one has to suspect that would-be innovators are not focused on them because subsidies have destroyed all incentives to do so.

Subsidies sustain failure by destroying incentives.