Town Hall With Governor Well Attended

Tuesday evening the community welcomed Gov. Greg Gianforte, his wife, Susan, and traveling staff to a town hall meeting at Trafton Park. The visit was part of his 56 County Tour. This town hall was the governor's fourth since June.

"Getting out of the Helena bubble and sitting down with the Montanans is the only way I know to do this job," Gov. Gianforte said. "We'll continue to invest in greater opportunity, promote strong families, and protect our way of life to help communities along the Hi-Line and across our state prosper."

Phillips County's three County Commissioners, Richard Dunbar, Bruce Christofferson and John Carnahan; Malta's Mayor John Demarais, former Sen. Mike Lang and Rep. Casey Knudsen were among the crowd. The governor fielded questions regarding securing the southern border, combating the fentanyl crisis, the Canadian border issues and standing up against federals government overreach. He took questions on investing in mental health.

One of the items he was questioned about was the crisis facing the elderly in our community. He handled the displacement and interruption of the family life when one is facing having to choose care for aging parents.

The tax relief coming in the mail, as well as reduction in other taxes was well received. The Governor announced that the Montana budget was balanced and that other states could take a lesson from Montana as an example.

Gov. Gianforte spoke about House Bill 364, a pro-housing, red tape relief bill sponsored by Rep. Casey Knudsen. Knudsen and Gov. Gianforte ceremonially signed the bill, sitting down together at a table and sealing the matter into law.

As others across the state know of the best made secret in Montana, the Governor admitted that he had stopped in at Saco's Pay-n-Save enroute from Glasgow.

"For a moment, I thought I had died and went to heaven, but NO! I was in the bacon section of the Pay-n-Save. So many flavors! It's a must stop every time through," said the Governor. "He told me he's working on a mosquito flavor now!"

The Smoking OX catered the event.