Serving the Flathead Valley & Montana since 2006. A reality based independent journal of observation & analysis. © James Conner.
I-170, the Healthy Montana initiative that would expand Medicaid in Montana, is in danger of not making the ballot. With the 20 June deadline for submitting signatures six days away, the initiative’s backers have collected approximately 20,000 signatures, but need at least 24,175 (the formal requirement is at least five percent of the qualified electors statewide, and at least five percent in at least 34 legislative districts).
Organizers are making a final push in Flathead County this weekend, with plans to circulate petitions at the farmers market in Kalispell, at Costco, and at the Avalanche Creek parking lot in Glacier National Park. I’ll be interested to learn how the Glacier adventure works out.
This is coming down to the wire because (a) getting the initiative approved for circulation was delayed, partly by frivolous challenges, and (b) absentee voting reduces the number of signatures that can be collected at the polls. The adverse effect of absentee voting was foreseeable, but that didn’t deter Democrats and progressives from embracing early voting and encouraging voters to vote by mail.
Given the legislative district requirement, going door-to-door using the Democratic walking list might be more effective than working events such as the farmers market.
If you haven’t signed the petition, but want to, send an email message to healthymtinitiative@gmail.com. If you oppose the initiative, and believe in Almighty God, get down on your knees and beg his forgiveness for denying 70,000 Montanans access to affordable health care.