Letters to the Editor

Control borders

Most of us are aware that Congress is struggling to find a solution to the problems of border control and of the illegal immigrants. Please inform our senators that the solution is to secure our borders. Resident illegals are a separate and very complex issue which can and should be addressed with separate legislation. No amnesty! Call your senators today! Senator Baucus, 449-5480, Senator Burns, 449-5401

Vic Shearer

2116 Butte Ave #3

Fighting hunger

Hunger in America has been on the rise for five straight years with more than 38 million Americans -- 130,000 Montanans -- living on the brink of hunger.

Congress is currently considering a tax bill that would provide unprecedented tax incentives for all business taxpayers--both large and small -- to make charitable donations that would generate millions of additional meals for low-income Americans.

Only the Senate version of the bill includes the critical tax incentives. A conference committee is considering both versions and is expected to reach an agreement in the coming weeks, and our own Sen. Max Baucus is on the committee.

In order for the Montana Food Bank Network to continue meeting increased demands from the 154 hunger relief agencies we serve, the charitable emergency food distribution system must access more food. Sen. Baucus has been a longtime strong supporter of this provision and we commend him for his efforts to make certain that section 203 of S. 2020 is incorporated into the final legislation with the enhanced tax deductions included. The Republican-controlled committee, however, has put priority on extending capital gains and dividends tax cuts -- which overwhelmingly benefit the very rich. Where are our priorities?

Peggy Grimes

Executive Director

Montana Food Bank Network

5625 Expressway

Missoula

Insurance questions

I have some serious issues with John Morrison's health insurance subsidies for small businesses. At first glance it looks like a great program, but the devil is in the details, which can be found at www.insuremontana.org.

First, the restriction of two to five employees cuts eligibility to many small businesses and excludes the self-employed. Having fallen into both of these categories I have personal experience in the difficulties of finding affordable health care for myself and my family.

Second, the cap of $75,000 per employee earnings baffles me. Are these the people who really need subsidized health insurance? Why not lower the earnings cap and provide for those who most need affordable health insurance? I find myself wondering exactly who is benefiting from this plan?

I understand that this is not a solution, but merely a first step toward addressing the health care crisis in Montana. However, each step must be thoughtful and inclusive if we are to succeed in providing affordable coverage to the people of Montana.

Those interested in learning more about what our legislators are doing about health care should attend the candidates forum on Sunday, April 30 at Carroll College from 2 to 4.

Judy Paton

7585 Hwy. 12 West

Zoning conerns

The Central Chapter of the Montana Association of Registered Land Surveyors believes the intent of Lewis and Clark County proposed Special Zoning Districtthe proposal is idealistic. But is it truly needed county wide, or perhaps only in the immediate Helena Valley?

The proposed Section F, Lot Size of 5 acres for any individual on-site, Level 2 wastewater treatment system immediately takes away a landowners ability to transfer a small parcel for a home-site to his children, or to create a one to five lot minor subdivision, without exorbitant costs. If you own less than 10 acres your cost to transfer to a family member amounts to five times the land cost, you have to transfer 5 acres instead of 1, from which you will never realize a monetary return -- and from $8,000 to $10,000 in additional costs of installing a Level 2 system, amounting to $16,000 to $20,000 additional expenses or potential lost revenue over and above the current regulations.

We urge residential landowners to voice your concerns at the County Consolidated Planning Board Public Hearing on May 2, Room 330, 3rd floor of the City-County Building, and again on May 16 at the County Commissioners meeting. Your current rights as a landowner are being challenged by your local government.

Dan Dengel, PLS, President

Central Chapter of MARLS

P.O. Box 2201

East Helena

Faint-hearted fools

To the faint-hearted fools who endorsed that cowardly resolution to take our troops out of Iraq. The blood of every soldier who dies in the following years is forever smeared on your misguided souls. Your ilk chased us out of Korea and Vietnam and retained the infamous murderous regimes that hold sway now. Listen very carefully to the future and try to learn from the past. Remember Prime Minister Chamberlain of England who appeased Adolf Hitler and led us into WWII. Came then Saddam the future leader of the Moslem world. Had the elder Bush not chased him out of Kuwait, by now he would own Syria, probably Saudi Arabia and be ready to knock off Iran. I can hardly wait for you to reap the rewards of your efforts when we are faced with a united Moslem front with a several million-man army, intercontinental ballistic missiles with atomic warheads and the will to use them. As a former regular Army soldier, the father, son, nephew, brother and cousin of many military orders who hold you in deep contempt, I pity your children and mine if your ilk perseveres.

Skip Stillman

5996 Timber Trail Dr.

Fund music study

When school budgets get tight, music programs often experience cuts. From elementary through college, music programs lose funding. Why has music received little support from the nation at large? Does the public think math, science and English are more important to education than music? This belief is a fallacy. Music teaches life skills while providing academic benefits.

In public school choral programs everyone is welcome. Students perform, learn teamwork, and gain leadership skills. Everyone can benefit from ensemble singing. The young people in Helena's choral programs are involved in everything from Grandstreet Theatre to sports. These students perform at "Night to Shine." They organize community forums on social issues. Music has given them skills to be examples for Helena's youth.

Choral programs teach information that applies across curriculums. In four years with Dr. Michelson at Helena High I was exposed to the poetry of Keats, Whitman, Dickenson, Frost and other masters. Additionally, I learned vocal diction in French, Latin and Spanish. Finally I learned to appreciate the art of song.

Music belongs in public schools. Everyone deserves to understand and make music. Helena, you are a community that supports the arts. Don't forget your schools. They need arts too!

Rachel Waniata

1015 Missoula Ave.

Missing the gas boat

President Bush's recent attempt to figure out our energy problems and reduce gas prices is far from encouraging. Instead of addressing the problem, his "new" energy plan merely combines old failed policies and a few short-term moves that are not expected to have a significant impact on gas prices or our larger energy problems. If Bush and congressional leadership had raised corporate average fuel economy standards (CAFE) when the president first took office, our country wouldn't in such a bad slump. In fact, according to some calculations, we could already be saving 267 million barrels of oil per year. If the White House is really serious about addressing gas prices, energy security, and global warming, Bush and Congress would move to increase fuel economy standards for our vehicles. We need an energy plan soon that deals with our dependence on fossil fuels and reduces global warming.

Anna Swanson

714 Defoe St.

Missoula