Cap Payday Lender, Stop Mercury Pollution, and Fund Comprehensive Sex Education

Stop mercury pollution from thermostats (Support SB 424)

Thermostats represent the largest amount of mercury in household products. In Montana, few opportunities exist for recycling mercury thermostats and they end up in landfills, but SB 424 can change that! The bill would ban the sale of mercury containing thermostats and create a collection program for those that are already in use. This will help keep mercury, a dangerous neuro and reproductive toxin, our of our communities. SB 424 will be heard on Thursday, Feb. 19th. This is a important, non-partisan issue and we need to tell the entire committee that now is the time to stop mercury pollutants from household thermostats. Call the Session Information Desk at 406-444-4800, ask to leave a message for the Senate Energy and Telecommunications Committee. Your message will be delivered directly to the legislators. The Telephone Device for the Deaf number is 406-444-4462.  (The desk is open from 7:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.)

Cap payday lender rates and help get HB 396 onto the House Floor! 

The predatory lending debate isn't over yet. Last week, we asked you to take action on HB 396, which would cap the rates that payday lenders and vehicle title-lenders can charge. Well, the bill is now stuck in committee! We need to contact every Representative in order to get it onto the House Floor for a vote. Please contactyour Representative and ask them to support Montana families and end predatory lending by voting for HB 396. Not sure who your representative is? Click on this interactive map to find out! Or got to Project Vote Smart and enter your zip code...

Comprehensive Sex Education (Support HB 596)

HB 596, the Healthy Teens Act, would fund comprehensive sex education in Montana. It would expand the Office of Public Instruction’s existing HIV/AIDS Prevention Program to include teen pregnancy prevention, healthy relationships and other STI/STD prevention. It would also provide training, materials, and technical assistance to school administrators, teachers, AND students, so that they can act as peer educators to their schools and communities! This bill will be heard in the House Human Services Committee on Wednesday February 18th. Please contact members of the committee and urge them to support Montana's youth by providing them information to protect their health and safety and make responsible life decisions.  

Committee members:                                                         Jeffrey Welborn, Dillon (R) Committee Target, Arlene Becker, Billings (D), Mary Caferro, Helena, (D), Pat Ingraham, Thompson Falls, (R), Bill Beck, Whitefish (R), Julie French, Scobey (D), Tim Furey, Milltown (D), David Howard, Park City (R), Chuck Hunter, Helena (D), Dave McAlpin, Missoula (D), Michael More, Gallatin Gateway (R), Pat Noonan, Ramsay (D), Ken Peterson, Billings (R), Diane Sands, Missoula (D), Cary Smith, Billings (R), Ron Stoker, Darby (R)