Intelligent Discontent

• Written by: Bob FunkMay 17th, 2008
• Comments:No Comment
• Category:2008 Election, Montana, Montana Politics, Pogreba/Neiffer
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Don Pogreba, candidate for Governor, is finally getting the attention he deserves (and I’m not just saying that because we both write on this site). In a recent Helena Independent Record article, which received a fair amount of circulation in the Montana blogsphere, Pogreba hammered away at the inadequate amount of funding our schools are receiving;

Despite some additional spending, Montana hasn’t complied with the 2004 and 2005 District and Supreme Court decisions that declared the state funding unconstitutionally inadequate, Pogreba said…

Pogreba and running mate Jason Neiffer, another Helena teacher, have emphasized the need to increase school funding and accountability…

Pogreba is bringing attention to a very important and under-recognized issue: the government of Montana is acting unconstitutionally by continuing to fail the needs of our public school system. There was another issue that Pogreba hit on: the death penalty.

The death penalty, Pogreba said, is a clear violation of the Constitution’s ban on cruel and unusual punishment and is imposed nationally far more against the poor and racial minorities.

Is Pogreba a constitutionalist? Maybe a bit, but I think it’s more about having a responsive and responsible government in Montana, which wouldn’t be a bad idea.

Let me insert that I am a supporter of Governor Schweitzer and I am happy with the way he has led our state, but I am torn with how I will vote in this primary - more and more I think I will be casting a vote for the Pogreba/Neiffer ticket.

This is because I want to bring attention to the issues Pogreba is running on: a government that upholds its constitutional obligation to schools, the correctional system, and the environment. Perhaps, if Pogreba and Neiffer receive enough votes in the primary, our representatives will feel the pinch to start doing what we put them in office to do: protect and uphold our constitution.