Ed's work in the Legislature has received extensive news coverage. Here are links to a smattering of the articles:
”’Bridge money’ for mental health services runs out” Daily Montanan, by Keila Szpaller, January 13, 2022
“Following Tour, Lawmakers Press Meier on Solutions for Troubled State Hospital” — Flathead Beacon article by Mara Silvers, Montana Free Press, May 16, 2022
“Lawmakers Block Vaccine Exemption Rule for Childcare Facilities“ — Montana Free Press article by Mara Silvers, August 29, 2022
”Lawmaker, advocate offer sharp criticism of Montana State Hospital” — NBC Montana, by NBC Montana Staff, March 30, 2022
”Legislative committee looking to transfer dementia patients out of State Hospital” — Daily Montanan, by Keith Schubert, March 4, 2022
”Lawmakers agree to begin work on Montana State Hospital” — Independent Record, by Seaborn Larson, March 4, 2022
”Committee to meet Friday to discuss Montana State Hospital” — NBC Montana, by Mackenzie Quinn, March 2, 2022
”State Lawmaker Questions The Science Behind The Governor’s School Masking Rule” — Montana Public Radio article by Aaron Bolton, September 24, 2021
”Lawmakers press on emergency rule over school mask use” — Independent Record article by Holly Michels, September 22, 2021
“Montana House endorses bill undercutting public health mandates” — Missoula Current article by Mike Dennison, February 18, 2021
“Proposal to nullify local mask mandates advances” — Montana Free Press article by Chris Aaland, February 17, 2021
Supporting Public Health & Health Facilities
“Democrats Oppose Changes to Medicaid Expansion Eligibility”— US News & World Report by Amy Beth Hanson, August 11, 2021
“Proposed changes to Medicaid eligibility in MT receive pushback in interim hearing” — Daily Montanan by Arren Kimbeil-Sannitt, August 11, 2021
“Montana Legislature made lots of late changes, without public comment” — Bozeman Daily Chronicle article by Holly K. Michels and Sam Wilson, May 8, 2021
“Montana Legislature adjourns, passing budget” — Helena Independent Record article by Holly Michels, April 29. 2021
“Montana Legislature Adjourns With Marijuana, Budget and Tax Plans En Route to Governor” — Three Forks Voice article by Austin Amestoy, May 5, 2021
“Montana Legislature adjourns with marijuana, budget and tax plans en route to Governor” — Seeley Lake article by Austin Amestoy, May 6, 2021
“Montana Legislature adjourns; Marijuana plans, $12.5 billion budget, federal relief and more roll on to Governor's desk” — Seeley Lake article by Austin Amestoy, May 6, 2021
“House Human Services Committee tables HB676” — Daily Montanan article by Keila Szpaller, March 31, 2021
Defending Medicaid Expansion for the Working Montanans
“Montana bill proposes 90-day state stockpile of PPE” — Billings Gazette article by Tom Kuglin, Mar 16, 2021
“Montana bill proposes 90-day state stockpile of PPE” — Missoulian article by Tom Kuglin, March 16, 2021
“Montana bill proposes 90-day state stockpile of PPE” — Helena Independent Record article by Tom Kuglin, March 16, 2021
“Privacy Protections, Voting Restrictions, Bison Bills and Pandemic Preparedness” — Seely Lake article by Austin Amestoy, February 25, 2021
Preparing Us for the Next Health Emergency
https://forwardmontana.org/tag/what-the-helena/
“Montana plan for local plastics laws suffers setback” — Plastics News article by Bridget Janis, February 23, 2023
Protecting the Environment
"State officials discuss possible AI manipulation of elections," NBC Montana, January 25, 2024, https://nbcmontana.com/news/local/state-officials-discuss-possible-ai-manipulation-of-elections
"Montana begins discussion about addressing artificial intelligence in election campaigns," Daily Montanan, 1/21/2024, https://dailymontanan.com/2024/01/25/montana-begins-discussion-about-addressing-artificial-intelligence-in-election-campaigns/
https://montanafreepress.org/2023/03/21/legislature-election-security-committee-enforcement/
https://nbcmontana.com/news/local/legislators-approve-several-bills-in-busy-house-floor-session
https://montanafreepress.org/2023/01/13/montana-special-election-security-committee-convenes/
“Montana Republicans to Form Election Integrity Committee for 2023 Session” — Missoula Current article by Blair Miller, December 30, 2022
Standing Up for the Integrity of Our Elections & Officials
“Redistricting Commission Gather Input for Legislative Maps in Bozeman” — Bozeman Daily Chronicle article by Alex Miller, September 1, 2022
Advocating for Fair Redistricting
“Eroding public schools' role as the great equalizer” — https://www.bozemandailychronicle.com/opinions/guest_columnists/guest-column-eroding-public-schools-role-as-the-great-equalizer/article_aeff6b67-daef-5cd9-a797-fa93b0aff737.html
Supporting Public Schools
“How are conflicts of interest handled in a citizen legislature? It's complicated” — Montana Public Radio article by Shaylee Ragar, Austin Amestoy, April 12, 2023
“Bill to give the majority party control of interim committees passes Montana House” — Montana Free Press by Arren Kimbel-Sannit, March 23, 2023
Advancing Legislative Ethics
“Partisan Supreme Court elections bill goes down in Montana House vote” — Missoulian article by Seaborn Larson, March 1, 2021
The GOP’s Many Attempts to pack Montana’s Courts — Bozeman Daily Chronicle Op-Ed by Senator JP Pomnichowski and Rep. Ed Stafman
Defending an
Independent Judiciary
“Montana plan for local plastics laws suffers setback” — Plastics News article by Bridget Janis, February 23, 2023
“House gives initial OK to sanctuary city ban” — The Missoulian article by Holly Michels, February 2, 2021
Supporting Local Autonomy
“State racks up at least $119K in legal costs defending law from 2021 session” — Independent Record article by Sam Wilson, December 31, 2021
Opposing Wasteful Government Spending
https://www.newsweek.com/abortion-religious-belief-legislator-argues-1781528
https://keyt.com/news/2023/02/17/montana-lawmaker-theres-a-religious-right-to-abortion/
https://www.jta.org/2021/02/11/politics/this-montana-rabbi-cites-jewish-law-in-the-state-legislature
https://www.ktvh.com/news/montana-legislative-committee-split-on-abortion-gun-safety-law
“Montana House endorses bills targeting abortion access, transgender athletes” — Helena Independent Record article by Holly Michels January 25, 2021
Advocating for
Women’s Health Care
“Lawmakers debate free speech, respect for transgender students” — Montana Free Press article by Alex Sakariassen, February 15, 2023
“Religious freedom, LGBTQ rights clash at Montana Legislature” — Missoulian article by Seaborn Larson, February 17, 2021
“Transgender restrictions bills advance” — Montana Free Press article by Mara Silvers, January 22, 2021
Advocating for
LGBTQ Rights
https://www.rawstory.com/montana-rabbi-removed-from-state-house-prayer-schedule/
https://www.bigskychathouse.com/p/rep-ed-stafman-ties-his-cancelled
See also the articles listed on this page under 'Advocating for Women's Health Care
Advocating for Religious Freedom
https://sports.yahoo.com/republicans-table-proposal-red-flag-140200066.html
https://dailyinterlake.com/news/2023/jan/18/republicans-tabled-bill-last-week-deals-gun-safety/
https://billingsgazette.com/news/article_2f2445d4-1e63-556d-b56c-d9bf1f278747.html
https://www.ktvh.com/news/montana-legislative-committee-split-on-abortion-gun-safety-law
https://montanafreepress.org/2023/01/16/a-red-flag-bill-too-far/
“Montana bill allowing concealed carry on campuses gets initial House approval” — Bozeman Daily Chronicle article by Liz Weber, January 13, 2021
“Tense gun law debate continues on House floor” — Montana Free Press article by Alex Sakariassen, January 13, 2021
“Montana House committee advances gun-rights bill after amendments” — KTVH article by Jonathon Ambarian, January 11, 2021
“Bill To Allow Expanded Conceal Carry Of Firearms Clears House Committee” — Yellowstone Public Radio article by Kevin Trevellyan, January 11, 2021
Link to video of House Floor debate(January13) - http://sg001-harmony.sliq.net/00309/Harmony/en/PowerBrowser/PowerBrowserV2/20210113/-1/41608 (Ed begins speaking at 13:19:30).
Common Sense Gun Safety
“20-Year-Old MAGA Politician’s War on Antifa Backfires Horribly” — Daily Beast article, by Kath Weill, March 2, 2021
“Montana bill would designate antifa as domestic terrorism” — AP News article, by Iris Samuels, February 16, 2021
Addressing Domestic Terrorism
“'This is torture:' Proposed law in Montana looms over Canadian on death row” — City News article by Bill Graveland, April 5, 2021
“Done With the Death Penalty” — Forward Montana article by Forward Montana Staff, February 9, 2021
“Revising lethal injection — and reviving a death penalty in legal limbo” - Montana Free Press article by Alex Sakariassen, February 3, 2021
Opposing the Reinstitution of Montana’s
Death Penalty
“Bill seeks to refute Biden executive orders” — KULR8 article by Zach Kaplan, March 15, 2021
“Bill seeks to refute Biden executive orders” — Montana Right Now article by Zach Kaplan, March 15, 2021
Opposing Attempts to Exclude Montana from Federal Law
“After Montana rabbi retired, a life in politics began” — Forward article by Arno Rosenfeld, January 2, 2021
“Stafman Follows Divine Flow to Legislature” — Bozeman Chronicles article by Arren Kimbel-Sannit, Feb 23, 2021
“God’s defenders vs. God’s defenseless in Montana” — Daily Montana article by Darrell Ehrlick, February 4, 2021
“Rabbis congratulate Rep. Ed Stafman on election to Montana legislature” — The Jerusalem Post article by Jerusalem Staff, January 29, 2021