My name is Bob Bergren. I am serving as Speaker of the House for the 61st Montana State Legislature. This is my 4th term, serving since 2004. It's been my great honor to represent House District 33 and I am pleased to carry on my work on issues including rural economic development, affordable health care, and energy production.February 23, 2009
Dear Representative Rehberg,
Thank you for the letter you sent recently to leadership in Congress expressing your support of the State Children’s Health Insurance Program (SCHIP). Your Republican colleagues in the Montana Legislature need to receive the same message.
Montana’s children deserve access to quality health care, during these tough economic times making the State Children’s Health Insurance Program more important than ever. I believe it is incumbent not only upon the Congress to expand SCHIP to cover more uninsured kids but the Montana Legislature should listen to the voters who passed the Healthy Montana Kids Initiative. Seventy percent of Montana voters approved Initiative 155 - the Healthy Montana Kids plan - last fall. It passed in every county and every legislative district. Read More→
Speaker of the House Bob Bergren (D-Havre) released the following is a statement today in relation to House Bill 388, heard today in the House Education Committee:
My Democratic colleagues and I are committed to ensuring quality education for Montana kids. This session we are continuing the fight to adequately fund schools at all levels.
“Energy for Education,” a bill being sponsored by Rep. Kendall Van Dyk (D-Billings), seeks to increase teacher salaries. Raising salaries is critically important, especially for rural areas where we are struggling to recruit and attract new teachers. Read More→
I am pleased to let you know that HB 190, guaranteeing that Montanans can walk from public bridges to float or fish state waters cleared the House committee on a 16-2 vote. The bill will be heard on the floor of the house next week and we expect it to pass.
I am a strong supporter of the bipartisan effort led by Rep Kendall Van Dyk (D-Billings) to put in statute the rights of citizens who want access to the streams and rivers that we own. The bill provides access to public waterways and lets landowners control their livestock. Hopefully, it will put an end to the litigation brought on behalf of a few wealthy out-of-state landowners who have tried to deny public access to rivers. Read More→
HELENA - Speaker of the Montana House of Representatives Bob Bergren (D-Havre) said today that recent remarks by Montana House Minority Leader—and former Speaker of the House—Scott Sales illustrate how differently Democrats and some Republicans approach economic recovery and jobs for Montanans.
“We think action from the U.S. Congress to pass a package of job-recovery legislation and infrastructure improvements is essential to bring jobs to Montana and start economic recovery,” Bergren said.
“A recovery package that creates jobs and builds infrastructure is good for all Montanans. Construction projects to improve our bridges, roads, hospitals and schools will put Montanans to work in good-paying jobs.” Read More→