Senator stops by Pablo

PABLO - Back in Montana during the Senate's summer recess, Sen. Max Baucus, D-Mont., made a pit stop in Pablo last Thursday for a listening session with the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribal Council and members of the public.

Making it back to his home state for the first time this year, Baucus and his advisors sat before members of the Tribal Council to hear issues and concerns they'd like to see addressed in Washington, D.C.

"I'm hear to listen, to learn what your concerns are, especially in relation to the federal government," Baucus said.

There were plenty of concerns and opinions, from broadband Internet access, to healthcare and water rights. Council chairman E.T. "Bud" Moran listed his concerns, as did other council members. Many took the opportunity to thank Baucus for the hard work he's put in on behalf of the Flathead Reservation and for coming to the session.

Tribal Health Department head Kevin Howlett had a more extensive list, including behavioral health and its link to teen suicides, of which there are many in Indian country, he said. Insurance coverage and health care reform were other issues Howlett has been swamped with lately, and high costs have been tough for tribal members.

"There is an enormous amount of money spent on health care because they don't have [Medicare] Part B," Howlett said of the Medicare coverage that includes outpatient expenses like doctor visits.

Janet Camel, a representative of the Tribes economic development office, came and lobbied the senator for support of her office's application for funds to improve the reservation's access to high-speed Internet.

"There are three different companies that supply service so we have to work with three different companies to get service from one end of the reservation to the other," Camel said, after naming all the important things a reliable broadband Internet connection is needed for in the area.

Baucus touted the fact that Montana received more than $1 billion in stimulus funds, a big boost for the state, he said. He also made sure to touch on the issue of mining in the North Fork of the Flathead River, and lauded the hard work of so many groups on both sides of the U.S. - Canada border to get a memorandum of understanding in place.

"Secretary [of State Hillary] Clinton is very pleased and excited about the agreement and she's a lady of her word," Baucus said. "I don't have to tell you how excited Secretary [of the Interior Ken] Salazar was."

The senator had nice things to say about the Salish and Kootenai College, which he said has become nationally recognized as one of the best tribal colleges in the nation.

"Take advantage of your advantages and that's an advantage," Baucus said.

In an effort for transparency, Baucus told council members and members of the public a way they could reach him electronically, even when he's out of town.

"I'm probably the only person in the senate who gives out their personal e-mail address," Baucus said with a smile. "I'm so lucky, I have 970,000 of the world' best bosses, the people of the state of Montana."

The hour and a half session was one of many for Baucus as he trail blazed the state from Bozeman to Libby to Miles City. Many of the stops he made included Montana's Indian Reservations, the first being the Flathead. Baucus will be in the state until September, when he'll head back to Washington for the next session of Congress.