Blue Cross Blue Shield of Montana just cannot catch a break. My company is an employee benefits consultancy and we work with a large number of insurance carriers. I am on the Board of Insure Montana and have been since its inception.

The only press Blue Cross seems to ever receive is when there is something controversial to which they are related or have some involvement with. Last year, it was the rate increase they were requesting of Insure Montana. This year it is their relocation to the business park out by the airport.

To some, Blue Cross is a necessary evil. There are others who might choose to eliminate the adjective "necessary." What I find really bothersome in all of this is the lack of recognition and appreciation for the many good things this company does here in the City of Helena, in Lewis and Clark County and in other communities all across Montana.

I find it disingenuous for some in leadership in this community, some of our city commissioners and others to cry foul when Blue Cross decides to make a business location change, using as the argument all the negative implications it will have for the taxpayers of our community.

Helena is incredibly lucky to be the home of not only one but two outstanding health insurance companies. These two companies employ hundreds and hundreds of Helena based employees. Blue Cross and New West Health Care Services are both located about a stones throw from the city and county offices, yet neither our city nor our county has a business relationship with either company.

Look north to Great Falls -- the city, county and school district are all clients of the Blues. I am not smart enough to do the math to determine what the positive economic impact is to our community due to New West and Blue Cross having their corporate offices located here in Helena, but my hunch is that the taxes these two company's employees generate, as well as the business taxes they pay, would be sorely missed if either was to relocate to another city rather than a relocation of a few miles.

Missoula, where Allegiance Benefit Plan Management is located, the third Montana-domiciled health insurance company and equally good as either New West or Blue Cross, has loyal political subdivisions. The school district, city and county are all customers of Allegiance. All things equal, I believe this is how it should be.

In Billings, where the fourth significant player in the group medical insurance business in our state is located, Employee Benefit Management Services (EBMS), both the city of Billings and the school district are clients of EBMS. Yellowstone County is a long-time Blue Cross customer.

If I was in charge of Blue Cross, I would seriously consider moving to a cozier, more friendly confine than the land out by the Helena Regional Airport -- I wonder what kind of financial arrangement they could negotiate should they choose to relocate to either Cascade County or Yellowstone County? New West -- how does Gallatin County sound?

Seriously, this is not a Public Service Announcement for either the Blues or NWHC. It is a request for a reality check for all of us here in Helena. We shouldn't bite the hand that helps to feed us. If this silliness continues and BCBSMT were to relocate to a different city (as opposed to a new location here in Helena) then we really would have a serious problem.

To choose to portray the glass as half empty, to not recognize the fact that the offices vacated by Blue Cross employees in downtown Helena, will be reoccupied by employees from other organizations, is from my perspective, putting a spin on things that simply does not need to be spun.

Blue Cross and New West -- thank you for your commitment to Helena and please do not take me seriously on the idea to relocate to other cities. Our community would not be the same without either one of you.

JIM EDWARDS is president of Mountain West Benefits in Helena.