Listen to Bill Schwanke
interview Bill Nooney.
Missoulian.com
June 2, 2006
Click here then click on
the Missoulian Audio
Interview Button.
interview Bill Nooney.
Missoulian.com
June 2, 2006
Click here then click on
the Missoulian Audio
Interview Button.
| Paid for by Bill Nooney for House District 100, Republican, P. O. Box 4892, Missoula, MT 59806 |
Mississippi Experience Created Nooney’s Desire To Run
By BILL SCHWANKE of Missoulian.com, June 2, 2006
Bill Nooney went to Mississippi late last year to help in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. It was the result of
shopping at a Wal-Mart there that made him decide to run for the state Legislature in Montana.
Nooney had very little previous background in politics, at least at the state level. But the life-changing three
months in Mississippi and the urging of influential Missoula-area Republicans were enough to raise his passion
and push him into the House District 100 race .....
While in Mississippi Nooney said he witnessed “a lot of government things that were done, some good, some
bad.” But he learned an important life lesson at the same time.
“One of the things I learned down there is how important people are and how one person can make an impact on
somebody else’s life,” Nooney said.
“There were some people behind me that had lost their homes, everything they had, and there was also a person
behind (them) that had lost one of her children,” Nooney recalled. (click here to read more)
By BILL SCHWANKE of Missoulian.com, June 2, 2006
Bill Nooney went to Mississippi late last year to help in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. It was the result of
shopping at a Wal-Mart there that made him decide to run for the state Legislature in Montana.
Nooney had very little previous background in politics, at least at the state level. But the life-changing three
months in Mississippi and the urging of influential Missoula-area Republicans were enough to raise his passion
and push him into the House District 100 race .....
While in Mississippi Nooney said he witnessed “a lot of government things that were done, some good, some
bad.” But he learned an important life lesson at the same time.
“One of the things I learned down there is how important people are and how one person can make an impact on
somebody else’s life,” Nooney said.
“There were some people behind me that had lost their homes, everything they had, and there was also a person
behind (them) that had lost one of her children,” Nooney recalled. (click here to read more)
 | |  | |  |
NEWS STORIES
Bill Nooney speaks with Dr.
Doug Hadnot at a Lolo
Community Council meeting.
Doug Hadnot at a Lolo
Community Council meeting.
| Audio Clip |
Missoula Republican Introduces Disaster Assistance Legislation
By MICHAEL MOORE of the Missoulian
January 17, 2007
In the days after Hurricane Katrina, Bill Nooney saw firsthand what it meant to the temporarily homeless to
have a place to stay.
“I saw firsthand the tragic impact of natural disaster on communities and individuals,” said Nooney, a
Republican state representative from Missoula. “It's difficult to explain the magnitude of damage I witnessed or
the pain inflicted on people caught up in this tragedy.”
The tragedy got Nooney to thinking: What happens to Montanans when they're forced out of their homes by
disasters, both natural and man-made? Where do those folks go?
Then he got into a conversation with a friend who is also friends with Cindy Weese, executive director of the
YWCA, which provides support to victims of domestic abuse.
“They experience the same sort of thing, which is more demand than they can fill for places for people to stay,”
Nooney said Tuesday.
Patching together those two experiences, Nooney, Weese and others crafted a bill that had its first hearing
Tuesday before the House Taxation Committee.
“I'd say it went very well, but it's the first step in a long process,” Nooney said after the hearing.
The bill would authorize a tax credit for hotels and motels that provide temporary lodging to people displaced
from their homes by natural disasters or domestic violence.
“People would be able to stay at no cost to themselves, but it would only be for five days,” Nooney said.
“That would give them the short-term relief they need, and the credit would help the business offset the cost of
providing that service.”
Nooney said the bill has the support of the Montana Innkeepers Association, domestic violence advocates and
the Montana Department of Health and Human Services.
Although there was no fiscal note attached to the bill projecting its costs, Nooney said he and others produced
an estimate of between $100,000 and $150,000.
“We anticipate that the need will be about 1,500 to 2,000 people a year, so I think our estimates are pretty
conservative,” he said. “It's not a lot of money and it serves a very good purpose.”
Although natural disasters often represent the more dramatic side of human need, Nooney said it will be victims
of domestic and sexual violence who benefit most from the program.
“We think that will be the greater percentage of people who take advantage of this program if we get it
through,” he said. “It's clear talking to organizations that deal with these problems that the need is
overwhelming. What's nice about this is that it gets state agencies, charities, nonprofits and business all working
together for a common goal.”
By MICHAEL MOORE of the Missoulian
January 17, 2007
In the days after Hurricane Katrina, Bill Nooney saw firsthand what it meant to the temporarily homeless to
have a place to stay.
“I saw firsthand the tragic impact of natural disaster on communities and individuals,” said Nooney, a
Republican state representative from Missoula. “It's difficult to explain the magnitude of damage I witnessed or
the pain inflicted on people caught up in this tragedy.”
The tragedy got Nooney to thinking: What happens to Montanans when they're forced out of their homes by
disasters, both natural and man-made? Where do those folks go?
Then he got into a conversation with a friend who is also friends with Cindy Weese, executive director of the
YWCA, which provides support to victims of domestic abuse.
“They experience the same sort of thing, which is more demand than they can fill for places for people to stay,”
Nooney said Tuesday.
Patching together those two experiences, Nooney, Weese and others crafted a bill that had its first hearing
Tuesday before the House Taxation Committee.
“I'd say it went very well, but it's the first step in a long process,” Nooney said after the hearing.
The bill would authorize a tax credit for hotels and motels that provide temporary lodging to people displaced
from their homes by natural disasters or domestic violence.
“People would be able to stay at no cost to themselves, but it would only be for five days,” Nooney said.
“That would give them the short-term relief they need, and the credit would help the business offset the cost of
providing that service.”
Nooney said the bill has the support of the Montana Innkeepers Association, domestic violence advocates and
the Montana Department of Health and Human Services.
Although there was no fiscal note attached to the bill projecting its costs, Nooney said he and others produced
an estimate of between $100,000 and $150,000.
“We anticipate that the need will be about 1,500 to 2,000 people a year, so I think our estimates are pretty
conservative,” he said. “It's not a lot of money and it serves a very good purpose.”
Although natural disasters often represent the more dramatic side of human need, Nooney said it will be victims
of domestic and sexual violence who benefit most from the program.
“We think that will be the greater percentage of people who take advantage of this program if we get it
through,” he said. “It's clear talking to organizations that deal with these problems that the need is
overwhelming. What's nice about this is that it gets state agencies, charities, nonprofits and business all working
together for a common goal.”
Nooney’s First Session Busy, Educational
By BILL SCHWANKE of Missoulian.com
Missoula Republican Bill Nooney called his first session of the Montana Legislature busy and educational and
said he's ready to go back for another one.
STATE OF MONTANA Photo
Bill Nooney went to his first session of the Montana Legislature to represent House District 100 as the only
Republican from Missoula County.
His expectation was to work hard for the people that elected him. In that regard, and perhaps some others, he
probably got more than he bargained for.
“I could not believe how much people really work,” Nooney said. “You’re working 12 to 15 hours a day. You’
re voting on an average of 17 bills a day and there were more than 1,500 bills introduced.”
Nooney likened it to being like finals week at college every day.
“It’s like drinking out of a fire hose and then trying to make sense of it all,” Nooney added.
Nooney said it is virtually impossible to read every bill that comes up for consideration in its entirety. He
concentrated more on the bills considered by the three committees on which he served - local government,
taxation and transportation. He was vice chair of the latter.
For bills outside his committees Nooney tried to network with people who served on the appropriate
committees, committee chairs and occasionally the House leadership for information and input.(To read more,
click here)
By BILL SCHWANKE of Missoulian.com
Missoula Republican Bill Nooney called his first session of the Montana Legislature busy and educational and
said he's ready to go back for another one.
STATE OF MONTANA Photo
Bill Nooney went to his first session of the Montana Legislature to represent House District 100 as the only
Republican from Missoula County.
His expectation was to work hard for the people that elected him. In that regard, and perhaps some others, he
probably got more than he bargained for.
“I could not believe how much people really work,” Nooney said. “You’re working 12 to 15 hours a day. You’
re voting on an average of 17 bills a day and there were more than 1,500 bills introduced.”
Nooney likened it to being like finals week at college every day.
“It’s like drinking out of a fire hose and then trying to make sense of it all,” Nooney added.
Nooney said it is virtually impossible to read every bill that comes up for consideration in its entirety. He
concentrated more on the bills considered by the three committees on which he served - local government,
taxation and transportation. He was vice chair of the latter.
For bills outside his committees Nooney tried to network with people who served on the appropriate
committees, committee chairs and occasionally the House leadership for information and input.(To read more,
click here)
DEQ: Zoning, Not Opinion, Rules Gravel Pit Near Lolo
By CHELSI MOY of the Missoulian
The state of Montana has granted more time for comment on a proposed gravel pit near Lolo, but officials
warned that even thousands of angry e-mails and letters won't be enough to stop the digging.
“Zoning is the tool the state has provided for these issues,” said John Tubbs, Water Resource Division
administrator.
And the gravel pit site isn't zoned.
The Montana Department of Environmental Quality extended the comment period late last week after a
request from the Missoula County commissioners.
The gravel pit is part of an industrial operation proposed by JTL Group Inc. alongside U.S. Highway 93 about
eight miles south of Missoula, on land owned by Ken Allen. . . .
. . . . .In each case, residents said they didn't know about the gravel pit until the last minute.
State law requires DEQ to pay for legal notices in the local newspaper. But critics say that's not enough.
“I have to admit that I don't regularly read the legals,” said state Sen. Greg Lind, D-Missoula.
Both Lind and Rep. Bill Nooney, R-Missoula, believe the public notice requirements in state law need to be
revisited.
“It makes any existing problem worse when you find out at the last minute,” said Nooney, who is looking into
the matter. (Click here to read more)
By CHELSI MOY of the Missoulian
The state of Montana has granted more time for comment on a proposed gravel pit near Lolo, but officials
warned that even thousands of angry e-mails and letters won't be enough to stop the digging.
“Zoning is the tool the state has provided for these issues,” said John Tubbs, Water Resource Division
administrator.
And the gravel pit site isn't zoned.
The Montana Department of Environmental Quality extended the comment period late last week after a
request from the Missoula County commissioners.
The gravel pit is part of an industrial operation proposed by JTL Group Inc. alongside U.S. Highway 93 about
eight miles south of Missoula, on land owned by Ken Allen. . . .
. . . . .In each case, residents said they didn't know about the gravel pit until the last minute.
State law requires DEQ to pay for legal notices in the local newspaper. But critics say that's not enough.
“I have to admit that I don't regularly read the legals,” said state Sen. Greg Lind, D-Missoula.
Both Lind and Rep. Bill Nooney, R-Missoula, believe the public notice requirements in state law need to be
revisited.
“It makes any existing problem worse when you find out at the last minute,” said Nooney, who is looking into
the matter. (Click here to read more)
Nooney Works With YWCA
to Pass Domestic Violence
Emergency Housing
Legislation
“It's clear talking to
organizations that deal with
these problems that the need
is overwhelming. What's nice
about this is that it gets state
agencies, charities, nonprofits
and business all working
together for a common goal.”
Bill Nooney
to Pass Domestic Violence
Emergency Housing
Legislation
“It's clear talking to
organizations that deal with
these problems that the need
is overwhelming. What's nice
about this is that it gets state
agencies, charities, nonprofits
and business all working
together for a common goal.”
Bill Nooney
Representative Bill Nooney
and Senator Greg Lind
criticize the Montana DEQ
for lack of public notice on
Lolo Gravel Pit.
Both Lind (D) and Rep. Bill
Nooney, (R) believe the public
notice requirements in state law
need to be revisited.
“It makes any existing problem
worse when you find out at the
last minute,” said Nooney, who is
looking into the matter."
and Senator Greg Lind
criticize the Montana DEQ
for lack of public notice on
Lolo Gravel Pit.
Both Lind (D) and Rep. Bill
Nooney, (R) believe the public
notice requirements in state law
need to be revisited.
“It makes any existing problem
worse when you find out at the
last minute,” said Nooney, who is
looking into the matter."
Governor Signs House Bill
240 - Emergency Lodging for
Victims of Domestic
Violence
HB 240 provides temporary
emergency lodging for
victims of domestic violence.
Under the provisions of this
bill, State designated
charitable organizations may
place victims of domestic
violence into participating
licensed hotels and motels at
no cost to the individual or the
referring organization.
Participating establishments
may be eligible to receive a
tax credit to help off set a
portion of their costs in
providing lodging.
240 - Emergency Lodging for
Victims of Domestic
Violence
HB 240 provides temporary
emergency lodging for
victims of domestic violence.
Under the provisions of this
bill, State designated
charitable organizations may
place victims of domestic
violence into participating
licensed hotels and motels at
no cost to the individual or the
referring organization.
Participating establishments
may be eligible to receive a
tax credit to help off set a
portion of their costs in
providing lodging.