The Policy Institute, based in Helena, Montana, blends authoritative research and hands-on political engagement to create public policy based on economic justice, fair taxation, corporate accountability and environmental responsibility.

Presenters from Past Seminars

Kim Abbott, Montana Human Rights Network Organizer

Kim Abbott grew up just west of Cleveland, Ohio. She graduated from the University of North Carolina-Wilmington with a B.A. in philosophy and religion and a minor in film. She has worked as Business Operations Manager for the Cleveland International Film Festival, an AmeriCorps*VISTA with the Montana Legal Services Association, and an organizer with Working for Equality and Economic Liberation. Kim currently works as Director of Organizing with the Montana Human Rights Network and lives in Helena, Montana. Being from Cleveland, the home of Dennis Kucinich, Kim is no stranger to disappointment, be it in politics (busing, school vouchers) or in the arena of professional sports (Browns, Cavs, Indians).

Sean Becker, Bozeman City Commissioner

Sean Becker has served as a Bozeman City Commissioner since 2005 and is currently running for mayor of Bozeman. Believing that government should be transparent and informed and should reflect community values, he has served on many boards and committees including the City of Bozeman Audit Board, The City of Bozeman Planning Board, The City of Bozeman Fire Code Board of Appeals, Montana RC&D Economic Development District, The City of Bozeman Impact Fee Advisory Board, Prospera Revolving Block Loan Committee, The City of Bozeman Zoning Commission, The City of Bozeman Wetlands Board, The City of Bozeman Community Alcohol Coalition, The City of Bozeman Community Affordable Housing Advisory Board (CAHAB) and the Bozeman Area Bicycle Advisory Board (BABAB).

A graduate of Denison University, Sean served in the Peace Corps in 1994 and 1995 in Nepal, managing a health facility and teaching boarding school. Over the past 10 years, Sean has been repeatedly recognized for his work with hundreds of municipal, state and federal agencies, non-profits and consortia of arts, culture and downtown development-related institutions. In each situation, Sean's goal has been to seek out ways to effectively cultivate each organization's role and mission to better reflect the needs of the community.

Patricia O'Brien Cotter, Montana Supreme Court Justice

Justice Cotter graduated in 1972 with honors from Western Michigan University with a B.S. in political science and history, and graduated from Notre Dame Law School in 1977. After practicing law in her native South Bend, Indiana, for six years, she and her husband Michael moved to Montana, and in early 1984 began practicing law with John Hoyt in Great Falls. In 1985, they established the firm of Cotter and Cotter.

In 1992 and again in 1998, Justice Cotter received the Montana Trial Lawyers Association's Public Service Award for her contributions in the preparations and filing of amicus curiae briefs before the Montana Supreme Court. In 1993, she became chair of the Association's amicus committee, and served in that capacity until resigning to run for the Court in 1999.

From 1996 to 1998, Justice Cotter served as chair of Montana's lawyer representatives to the Ninth Circuit Judicial Conference. In 1998, she was chosen as one of five Ninth Circuit lawyers to serve on the Executive Committee for the Ninth Circuit Judicial Conference.

On November 7, 2000, Justice Cotter won election to the Montana Supreme Court and assumed the position previously held by retiring Justice William Hunt. She is currently serving an eight-year term on the Court. Justice Cotter is currently chair of the Supreme Court Commission, appointed to make recommendations regarding the adoption of a new Code of Judicial Conduct for the State of Montana.

Justice Cotter and her husband Michael have two children, Jack and Kathleen.

Ellen Crain, Butte-Silver Bow Public Archives Director

Ellen Crain graduated from the Montana School of Mineral Science and Technology in 1983 with a Bachelor of Arts Degree. Since 1990, she has served as director of the Butte-Silver Bow Public Archives and has received many awards including the American Library Association John Sessions Memorial Award for Outstanding Service to the Labor Community in June 1995. She is the co-author, with Janet L Finn, of Motherlode: Legacy of Women's Lives and Labors in Butte Montana.

Ron deYong, Montana Department of Agriculture Director

Director deYong was appointed to the post of Montana Department of Agriculture Director in 2007 by Governor Schweitzer. A Montana farmer for 20 years, Director deYong hold an undergraduate degree in agriculture and philosophy from Montana State University and a master's degree in economics from The University of Montana. He has worked as an economist for the National Farmers Union and served as a member of Sen. Max Baucus' delegation to the 1999 World Trade Organization meetings in Seattle.

Shahid Haque-Hausreth, Helena Immigration Attorney

Shahid Haque-Hausrath is an attorney in Helena, Montana who dedicates his practice to helping immigrants obtain legal status in the United States. Mr. Haque-Hausrath assists clients with a wide variety of immigration matters, including visa applications and defending immigrants from removal in Immigration Court.

Mr. Haque-Hausrath believes strongly that every immigrant deserves the right to legal representation and has committed a significant portion of his practice to pro bono work for especially disadvantaged clients who cannot afford to pay for legal services. In 2009, Mr. Haque-Hausrath was the recipient of the Neil Haight Pro Bono Award, granted by the State Bar of Montana to the attorneys displaying the greatest commitment to pro bono work.

Mr. Haque-Hausrath has won asylum and cancellation of removal for over ten refugees who fled from their home countries to escape torture, persecution, and death on account of their political beliefs. He is currently representing several pro bono clients in removal proceedings. Mr. Haque-Hausrath works closely with the Montana Legal Services Association and other non-profit and charitable organizations to assist disadvantaged immigrants.

Mr. Haque-Hausrath is a member of the American Immigration Lawyers Association, and serves as vice-chair of the Montana Human Rights Network board.

Mr. Haque-Hausrath earned his Juris Doctor from the Chicago-Kent College of Law, with High Honors, in 2005. During his first year in law school, he won the West Publishing Award for earning the highest GPA in his class. Mr. Haque-Hausrath served as Notes and Comments Editor of the Chicago-Kent Law Review. Upon graduation, he was inducted into the Order of the Coif and won the school’s Bar & Gavel Award for outstanding service to the immigrant community.

Elizabeth Hubble, University of Montana Professor

Elizabeth A. Hubble: I graduated from Stanford High School in Stanford, Montana, in 1990. I attended the University of Montana from 1990-1995 and received B.A.s in History and French in 1995. After spending a year teaching English at a high school in the French town of Caen in Normandy, I did my graduate work in French at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor. I received my M.A. in 1998 and my Ph.D. in 2002. The focus of my research is medieval French literature and gender studies.

Because of my interest in feminist issues, I worked as a grants technician and grants administrator for the Missoula Office of Planning and Grants from 2003-2006. I researched, wrote, and administered grants for agencies working on domestic violence, low-income housing, and child welfare. In 2005, I began teaching at the University of Montana in the Liberal Studies Department. Because of my background in social services and gender studies, my teaching duties expanded to include Women's and Gender Studies in 2007. I am currently the Co-Director of the Women's and Gender Studies Program at UM.

Dave Hunter, Montana Democratic Party

Dave Hunter currently serves as the Coordinated Campaign Director for the Montana Democratic Party and the Chief Clerk of the House of Representatives. He has served as the campaign manager for Governor Ted Schwinden, Senator Max Baucus, Attorney General Mike McGrath and State Auditor John Morrison, and was part of Pat Williams campaign team for Congress in 1978. He was the Western Regional Director for the DCCC in the 2002 election cycle.

David has held many positions in state government: State Budget Director, Commissioner of Labor, Secretary of the Senate, Deputy State Auditor, and Deputy Director of the Department of Revenue. He owns several businesses in the Helena area and has run the Grand Canyon four times.

Denise Juneau, Superintendent of Public Instruction

Denise Juneau, Superintendent of Public Instruction, most recently served as the Director of Indian Education for the Office of Public Instruction, overseeing the Indian Education for All program. Her teaching career began in New Town, North Dakota, on the Fort Berthold Reservation. Juneau taught 9th and 10th grade English, and coached the speech and debate team, before returning to Browning to teach at her alma mater.

Denise served as Indian Education Specialist for OPI before attending law school. Graduating from the University of Montana Law School gave her an understanding of how the law influences and affects our education system. In 2004, she became Supreme Court Clerk for Justices Jim Regnier and Brian Morris. Working in the legal profession has sharpened her principles for fairness, integrity and respect for others.

Juneau is the first American Indian to serve in a statewide executive level office. She graduated from Browning High School and earned her Bachelor's Degree in English from Montana State University; her Master's of Education Degree in "Risk and Prevention for School Aged Children" from the Harvard Graduate School of Education; and her Juris Doctorate from the University of Montana. While at MSU, she received a Rockefeller Brother's Foundation Fellowship.

Denise credits Montana teachers with showing her that she could achieve her dreams and goals, and is grateful for their lessons. She is honored to serve as Montana's Superintendent of Public Instruction and looks forward to continuing her work with Montana's schools and education community, for the benefit of all students.

Theresa Keaveny, Montana Conservation Voters Director

Theresa Keaveny was Montana Conservation Voters founding staff person and has been Executive Director since 1999. She is responsible for program and development, fundraising, and she coordinates staff and Board activities. She has been a community organizer and director of rural environmental organizations in the Dakotas and high plains since 1981.

Keaveny also has extensive political experience, having worked on several legislative and statewide political campaigns and ballot measures. She is an active member of two local conservation groups, and serves as Secretary of the Billings-based Good Earth Market and the national League of Conservation Voters Education Fund.

Anita Kuennen, Blue Mountain Clinic Director

Anita Kuennen returned to Blue Mountain Clinic in May 2007, after working for the National Abortion Federation for eight years. Her work in the reproductive health field began in 1990 at Blue Mountain Clinic, initially as a health counselor, nurse and executive director. Her work evolved into developing international and domestic training and education programs, and managing quality improvement efforts in abortion care nationwide.

Originally from the Washington, DC area, Anita moved to Missoula in 1987 and attended MSU, earning her BSN RN in 1994. She is married with two daughters.

Bethany Letiecq, Montana State University Professor

Bethany Letiecq is associate professor of family and community health at Montana State University. She teaches courses in family law and public policy and conducts community-based action research with Latino migrant families in Montana. Her research is specifically examining the mental health of migrant families and developing a mental health intervention to ameliorate depression among migrants who often live in the shadows and on the margins of our society.

As the President of the Gallatin Valley Human Rights Task Force and board member of the Montana Human Rights Network, Bethany works to promote a human rights agenda (including advocating for LGBT and immigrant rights) and a more welcoming community in the valley and mobilizes community members to take action against hate. Most recently, she co-organized the Hate-Free Bozone march and rally to take a stand against the neo-Nazi "Creativity Movement" in Bozeman. She and her partner Bob are also raising their 11-month old daughter Betsy Lyn while Bethany runs for the Montana state legislature!

Alan Peura, Montana Department of Revenue Deputy Director

Alan Peura is a city commissioner in Helena, where he was elected to a four-year term in 2005, defeating an incumbent in an at-large citywide election. His primary motivation to run for local government office was to help build a progressive city. Alan moved to Montana in 2003, coming from Pennsylvania, and is employed by the Montana Legislative Fiscal Division, where he works as a fiscal analyst for the legislature focusing on higher education and the Montana University System. He has also worked in higher education administration, health care administration, non-profit human services, and grassroots community organizing, including a position in Bluefields, Nicaragua in 1988-1989.

Alan has an undergraduate degree in history from the University of Wisconsin at Madison, and a graduate degree in education from Widener University in Pennsylvania. Alan has been involved in progressive politics since 1984, including work as a community organizer for the Labor-Farm Party of Wisconsin where he served as campaign manager/campaign committee member for several third-party candidate campaigns including: Dane County Commissioner, Wisconsin Dane County Sheriff, Wisconsin First Congressional District, Wisconsin Governor, Wisconsin Attorney General.

Tom Power, University of Montana Professor

Tom Power is currently a Research Professor and Professor Emeritus in the Economics Department at the University of Montana where he has been on the faculty since 1968 and served as Chairman from 1978 to 2007. He specializes in natural resource and regional economic development issues. Professor Power has published six books.

His most recent book is Accounting for Mother Nature: Changing Demands for Her Bounty (with T.L. Anderson and L.E. Huggins, eds. Stanford University Press, 2007). In 2001 Island Press published his Post-Cowboy Economics: Pay and Prosperity in the New American West (with R.N. Barrett). In 1996 Island Press also published his Lost Landscapes and Failed Economies: The Search for a Value of Place. An earlier book, The Economic Pursuit of Quality (M.E. Sharpe Publishers, 1988) was revised, rewritten, and published in 1996 under the title Environmental Protection and Economic Well Being: The Economic Pursuit of Quality. Dr. Power is also the author of The Economic Value of the Quality of Life (Westview, 1980).

In addition he has written over a dozen book chapters and over a hundred papers, reports, and monographs in the field of resource economics and regional economic development. He regularly testifies before state and federal regulatory agencies on energy policy, natural resource development, environmental protection, and local economic development. He is a regular commentator on economic issues on Montana Public Radio and in the national press.

Robert Putsch, Healthcare Reform Advocate

Dr. Putsch is a Clinical Professor Emeritus of Medicine at the University of Washington School of Medicine. A primary care internist since 1968, he helped initiate Seattle's Cross-Cultural Health Care Program (CCHCP) and developed training programs for medical interpreters as well as a cultural competency training curriculum used at various sites such as the CDC, various medical colleges, state and local agencies. CCHCP's work has involved negotiation around community-institution relations in hospital, outpatient, outreach and training environments, researching issues ranging from perceived racism in health care encounters and non-Western ethical systems around truth telling and death and dying, to cultural competence in Medicaid Managed care. In 2004 he coauthored an OMH-funded paper dealing with institutions, power and the equitable care of patients in the US.

Joining the staff at Pacific Medical Center in 1978 as a general internist he also cross-covered the nephrology service for a decade. An attending on University of Washington teaching services at PMC and at Providence Hospital, Seattle, he ran their cross-cultural rounds for ten years. In 1992 he began as a consultant in psychiatry at Asian Counseling and Referral Service (a 28 language Asian Pacific Islander community mental health clinic). He has published articles on Cross-cultural communications, Ghost Illness, Methodology and Language in Cross-cultural care, the meaning of death to adolescents in an American Indian community, ethical dilemmas arising from differences in class, culture, language and power, and end-of-life decision making. Brief papers provide commentary about a variety of issues. A recent paper incorporating issues of language, class and cross-cultural communications is focused on teachers in family medicine training programs, and a second is an OMH-funded report on applications of the CLAS Standards at five of six sites studied around the country.

Dr. Putsch left his internal medicine practice in 2002 and is semi-retired. He continues teach at the School of Medicine and saw patients at Asian Counseling and Referral Service through 1/08. His ACRS panel (restricted to patients with PTSD and affective disorders) consisted of patients who were entirely limited English proficient speaking Khmer, Vietnamese, Hmong, Lao, Mien and Samoan. Current work and publications that are underway include a paper on Navajo divination practices, a commentary on dealing with victims of war and a case book that looks at the care of individual patients as well as a 15 year experience brokering relationships between a subset of communities and a major medical institution.

An active member of Physicians for a National Health Program, he has written editorials about health care reform. As a member of a group calling itself Health Montana, he helped coordinate Finding Solutions: A U.S. Senate Candidates' Forum on Health Care held at Carroll College, 4/30/06 and aired on NPR's Home Ground. Recent volunteer work also includes acting as a community representative on the Montana Medicaid Drug Utilization Review Board representing WEEL, teaching at the University of Washington, and annually at Carroll College. In 2009 he was appointed to the Universal Health Care Task Force of the Lewis and Clark City-County Board of Health.

Jon Sesso, Montana House of Representatives

Rep. Sesso is a native of Wisconsin who holds bachelor's and master's degrees from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. He moved to Butte in 1970 and worked as a technical writer, information director and vice-president of operations of the National Center for Appropriate Technology from 1978-1987. From 1988-1991, he was the Director of Natural Resource Information System in Helena, and has served as the Butte Silver Bow city-county planning director since 1991.

He was elected to the Montana House of Representatives in 2004, 2006 and 2008 and served as the chairman of the House Appropriations Committee during the 2009 legislative session.

James Steele Jr., Confederated Salish-Kootenai Tribal Council Member

James Steele, Jr. was born in Missoula and graduated from Arlee High School. He went on to college at The University of Montana where he earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in political science. He has served as the chairman of the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes. He is currently the chairman of the Montana Wyoming Tribal Leaders Council, a CSKT Tribal Councilmember and a candidate for Montana House District 15.

Tara Veazey, Montana Budget and Policy Center Director

Tara Veazey is the Director of the Montana Budget and Policy Center (MBPC), a project that seeks to advance state policy through timely and objective research and analysis in order to promote shared prosperity and opportunity for all Montanans. Before moving to MBPC, Tara worked for eight years at the Montana Legal Services Association, most recently as the Director of Community Lawyering, and before that as Director of the Self-Help Law Program. Tara received her undergraduate degree in Public Policy from Stanford University and her J.D. from Yale Law School.