« October 2006 | Main | December 2006 »
November 30, 2006
Thursday George: Ready for Battle
For some unknown reason they apparently haven’t noticed that the Republican-controlled White House and Congress have created trillions in deficit spending in their recent years in power, while massively expanding both the size and intrusive power of government. Not to put too fine a point on it, but the same thing happened when Republicans were in charge of Montana. They grew government and spent big—it’s just that they spent primarily on pet projects like corporate tax breaks and coal mines, not on such piddly concerns as education or health care.
Posted by admin at 05:24 PM | Comments (0)
November 29, 2006
GOP to control House
Missoulian: GOP to control House
"The challenge for the House Demos is the same as it was yesterday," he said. "We've got to achieve progress by finding moderate Republicans who share our commitment to economic development, strong schools and affordable health care.
Posted by admin at 07:20 AM | Comments (0)
November 24, 2006
Helena Handbag
Queen City News - Helena Handbag
Posted by admin at 12:47 PM | Comments (0)
November 23, 2006
Montana Politics: 2008, Here We Come
Montana Politics: 2008, Here We Come | Politics | New West Network
R), who won big.
Some say Rehberg has been licking his wounds for a decade, waiting for a rematch against Sen. Max Baucus (D). (Baucus beat Rehberg by 49.6% to 44.7% in the 1996 Senate race. Baucus has held federal office since 1974. This was his closest contest.)
Posted by admin at 09:24 AM | Comments (0)
November 22, 2006
Kitzenberg: GOP left me
The Billings Outpost
Kitzenberg ran for the state Senate when term limits ended his career in the House. He won easily the first time but collided with serious opposition in the 2004 primary. Don Hedges, a conservative from Antelope, filed against him. Party leaders convoyed to Glasgow to campaign against Kitzenberg and raise cash for Hedges.
Posted by admin at 11:42 AM | Comments (0)
November 20, 2006
Daily Kos Article: 6The Montanan
For the Democratic party, this is a powerful new archetype. In his demeanor, in his approach to politics, Tester is the common man, the simple citizen. As a politician, he projects these personal qualities into a message of common sense, the common good, and representation of the little guy. In that, Tester's political approach shows us how to recapture what Americans have always liked about the Democrats, that it's the party of the little guy.
Posted by admin at 01:51 PM | Comments (0)
Rocky Mountain Politics Too Early for Trendsetting
Rocky Mountain Politics Too Early for Trendsetting | Politics | New West Network
Good collection of analysis and links
Posted by admin at 01:04 PM
SENATORS' SEATS
SHOWDOWN 06: The Washington Monthly
Montana's Sen-elect Jon Tester has been tapped for the Energy committee, which ought to be a hotspot over the next two years. I'm a little disappointed, though, that the first organic farmer turned senator didn't also get a spot on the Agriculture committee; next year's Farm Bill promises to be an epic showdown among traditional ag interests, conservationists, and energy proponents -- Tester would have been welcome.
Posted by admin at 10:40 AM | Comments (0)
November 17, 2006
Tester will appear on Meet the Press
Great Falls Tribune
Tester, a Democrat, will appear on Sunday’s show from his farm to discuss his recent defeat of Sen. Conrad Burns, R-Mont., and the upcoming session of Congress.
Posted by admin at 07:21 AM | Comments (0)
November 16, 2006
Thursday George:
We’ll see how it shakes out in the coming weeks, but for now the Dems have the majorities and the power they bring. And ironically, it’s the defection of two of their own—Jore and Kitzenberg—that has left the Republicans hanging.
Posted by admin at 05:06 PM | Comments (0)
November 15, 2006
Governor Schweitzer Releases 2008-2009 Executive Budget
Governor Schweitzer Releases 2008-2009 Executive Budget
Executive Budget Posted at www.governor.mt.gov
(HELENA) - Governor Brian Schweitzer released the 2008-2009 Executive Budget today."My budget will be fiscally responsible and sustainable," said Governor Schweitzer. "We will not raise taxes - in fact - we are proposing to cut taxes by $150 million."
The fiscal parameters on the budget include:
* Cap on ongoing spending of $1.8 billion for FY 2009 going forward to next biennium
* Spending below estimated revenues
* $500 million cap on one-time spending for FY 08 and FY09
* No bonds, pay cash
* $100 million ending fund balance
* Anything left, goes into Big Sky Savings
Highlights of the budget covering the 2008-2009 biennium include:
$150 Million Tax Cut - Tax cuts include $100 million of one-time money back to homeowners, $20 million one-time money for suspending the water tax and $30 million in relief to small businesses (business equipment tax). Unlike the tax cuts in the 1990's, the tax cuts are actual cuts for Montanans, not tax shifts that give out-of-state residents and corporations a break while forcing an increase in small business and homeowners taxes.
Mental Health - The Governor's budget provides nearly $56 million for new facilities for criminally mentally ill and more community based care for those that suffer from mental illness. The administration began the transformation of Montana's mental health system by assessing the services and identifying gaps in the current delivery system so that Montanans suffering from mental illness can access consistent treatment therapies.
Full Day Kindergarten - The proposal would provide $25 million to schools to offer full-time kindergarten, but not mandate school boards to offer it or require parents to enroll students in kindergarten. The budget includes a total of nearly $230 million in ongoing and one-time-only for K-12.
Zero Tuition Increase - As part of his Square Deal for Montanans, the Governor's College Affordability Plan (CAP) proposal gives the Montana University System and the community colleges the money needed to hold tuition at current levels for the biennium. The biennial cost of this tuition proposal is approximately $50 million. This would be the first time since 1991 that tuition did not increase.
State Parks and Fishing Access Site Acquisition - To ensure that Montana continues to protect its cherished outdoor traditions, as part of his Square Deal, Governor Schweitzer is proposing $15 million for the acquisition of state parks and public access sites for hunting and fishing, and a "Families Fish for Free" program.
Increased Public Safety - For far too long Montana has had an overcrowded corrections system without adequate rehabilitation for offenders. This budget proposes $40 million for more community facilities including methamphetamine treatment, more parole officers and chemical dependency counselors, better wages for employees, additional guards and meeting the needs and the capacity up front.
Retirement Systems - The budget recommends a $100 million injection to the Teacher's Retirement System to help fix pension problem and saving taxpayers $500 million by cutting public pension guaranteed annual benefit adjustment (GABA) to 1.5% for new employees.
Pay Plan - A negotiated, fair pay plan with new labor/management flexibility is included in the budget with a base salary increase of 3%, a flexibility component: .6%, health insurance $33/month in 2008 and another $36/month in 2009 and longevity after 10 years 2% (from the current 1.5%)
Fire fighting - Wildfires can affect hundreds of lives, and dramatically and permanently damage and devalue property. The administration proposes to set aside $10 million for fighting fires.
Senior Trust Fund - The budget proposes establishing and funding $5 million into a trust fund to help provide for the needs of our aging population.
Secure Data Center and Back-Up Site - The state computer system is critical to the overall operation of state government, including 24/7 services for Montana citizens and businesses, it is currently not secure and does not properly back-up information the budget proposes we spend $25 million on this project.
Posted by admin at 05:56 PM | Comments (0)
Abramoff Reports to Prison; Officials Focus on Reid, Others
Abramoff has been most closely questioned about his contacts with Sen. Conrad Burns (R-Mont.), who was defeated in last week's election.
"Being defeated may have been one of the best things that ever happened to Burns," said a source close to the investigation.
Posted by admin at 01:38 PM | Comments (0)
November 14, 2006
Daily Kos: Dems Get MT House, Senate
Daily Kos: Dems Get MT House, Senate
Posted by admin at 09:46 AM | Comments (0)
November 10, 2006
Jon Tester looks like...
TBogg - "...a somewhat popular blogger"
The comments are funny, especially if you know the movie.
Posted by admin at 11:08 AM | Comments (0)
November 09, 2006
Daily Kos 06 Tester Campaign
Daily Kos: The Day After
from my perspective, no Senate seat was more important than Montana's. This win was obviously huge for the netroots, but a far more important victory for the Party, the state of Montana, and the nation. Jon Tester is the new face of the Democratic majority, reflecting integrity, pragmatism, and a rock-solid commitment to using government to fix the things that it should be fixing--health care, energy independence, education--and away from the things that should be irrelevant to governance, those values issues the GOP became so fond of in recent years. He's shown us how to win with a new message of change. We'll take that message, and use it to get the rest of those western red states in '08.
Posted by admin at 09:28 AM | Comments (0)
November 08, 2006
Tester Clings to 1,556 lead
MT-SEN: Morning Update: Tester Clings To 1,556-Vote Lead | TPMCafe
Comments:
If exactly 99% of precincts have reported, assuming same number of votes per precinct, total votes =
393309.
So remaining votes = 3933.
1586 should be safe against that, no??
Posted by admin at 08:00 AM | Comments (0)
Long Day In Montana?
Hotline On Call: Long Day In Montana?
Democratic officials are confident that Jon Tester (D) will win.
Posted by admin at 07:46 AM | Comments (0)
November 07, 2006
Contestants hit finishing stretch; absentee ballots may provide early indicator
Great Falls Tribune - www.greatfallstribune.com - Great Falls, MT
If Burns doesn't have a clear majority over Democratic opponent Jon Tester of Big Sandy among the absentee voters, it could indicate trouble for his campaign, said Wilson. But he cautioned that more Republicans traditionally vote absentee than Democrats.
Posted by admin at 08:09 AM | Comments (0)
November 05, 2006
Polls from Daily KOS
Daily Kos: Senate polls, polls, polls
MONTANA (Senate)
Rasmussen. 11/4. Likely voters. MoE 4.5% (11/1 results)
Burns (R) 48 (46)
Tester (D) 50 (50)
Mason-Dixon. 10/31-11/2. Likely voters. MoE 4.5% (10/17-19 results)
Burns (R) 47 (43)
Tester (D) 47 (46)
The APB on this race last week seems to have been justified. This race, always tight, has tightened even further with Tester hanging on to the slightest of leads heading into Tuesday. The early voting looks good, the ground game may be the best the Democrats have ever deployed in the state, and Tester's late-week fundraising drive gave him the funds he needed to close out the race. I feel good about this one, but it'll still be scary.
Posted by admin at 08:35 PM
Tight Senate race may come down to your vote
Our nation turns its lonely eyes to — Montana. Control of the U.S. Senate may hinge on the outcome of this race.
Posted by admin at 11:21 AM | Comments (0)
Bozeman Chronicle endorses Tester
The Bozeman Daily Chronicle has endorsed Jon Tester for Senate. That makes it every single major newspaper except one (The Missoulian endorsement is expected today.) has endorsed Tester.
The Bozeman Daily Chronicle OP-ED is behind a firewall that's slammed and now down. Here's an excerpt.
...Burns has given Democrats ample ammunition to use against him in this race. In recent years he has opted to do the White House bidding in the Senate, including unflinching support for the Iraq war and the Patriot act. He is accused of taking $150,000 in political donations from former lobbyist Jack Abramoff and his associates. And his vocal outbursts against wild land firefighters, flight attendants, Arabs, African-Americans and even cab drivers-never seems to embaress him as much as it does the rest of us.
Conversly, Tester,50, is one of a breed of commonsense populist politicans making gains on the Western political landscape. He is a Montana native who looks and acts like one. He is pro-gun rights, familiar with agricultural issues and approaches conservation issues with the state's hunting and fishing traditions in mind. ...
Jon Tester deserves your vote.
Posted by admin at 08:37 AM | Comments (1)
Helena Indendent Record endorses Tester
IR // News // Jon Tester for U.S. Senate
Now it's four of the six major Newspapers
that have endorsed Tester.
Posted by admin at 06:34 AM | Comments (0)
November 03, 2006
Brokeback Democrats
MT-SEN: New Ad By Swift-Boat Funder Slams Tester And "Brokebank Democrats" | TPMCafe
You gotta see this video. It's obviously not made here the Montana, the accents are
terrible. They clearly have contempt for the Montana voter.
Vote. Get you Friends to Vote. These guys need a beating.
Posted by admin at 11:06 PM | Comments (0)
Proof
Posted by admin at 07:16 PM | Comments (0)
In Montana, visit by Bush has lost its magic
In Montana, visit by Bush has lost its magic - Americas - International Herald Tribune
his visit showed the new political reality that confronts him wherever he goes this election season, even in usually solid patches of Bush Country like this one: With those low poll ratings and bad news out of Iraq inescapable, his visits are as likely to galvanize the other side as they are to buck up local Republicans.
Posted by admin at 01:01 PM | Comments (0)
3 for 3 Montana Standard endorses Tester
The Montana Standard - Butte, Montana USA
So the Billings Gazette, The Great Falls Tribune, and now the Montana Standard have endorsed Jon Tester.
Posted by admin at 11:44 AM | Comments (0)
November 02, 2006
Mr Litigation: Has Roger Koopman set the record for filing lawsuits against his clients in Montana?
In 1989 the Supreme Court of Montana said this about Roger Koopman:
he has sued applicants in Justice Courts 112 times since 1983, and 12 times in the District Court. We do not know if all of those suits involved the precise interpretation of the contracts in relation to the facts here, but if they do, they cause an intolerable burden to be placed upon the court system in Gallatin County. The PDF file:
Download file
Posted by admin at 08:57 PM | Comments (0)
Rasmussen Continues to Say 4 Point Race
Left in the West � Blog Archive � Rasmussen Continues to Say 4 Point Race
Posted by admin at 01:55 PM | Comments (0)
MT-Sen: Tester leading big in early voting (according to his campaign)
Daily Kos: MT-Sen: Tester leading big in early voting (according to his campaign)
Early voting results and exit polling both conspired to give us big hope in 2004. We'd be well advised to take everything with a grain of salt and realize that nothing is over until it's over.
Posted by admin at 01:44 PM
Montanans Voting for Change; Voting for Tester
Poll shows Burns trailing badly among early voters
(BIG SANDY, Mont.) -- As President Bush lands in Montana to plead for support for Sen. Conrad Burns, a new poll released Thursday shows challenger Jon Tester with a commanding 21% lead among early voters.
The poll, conducted by Lake Snell Perry Mermin this week, shows Tester leading Burns 58% to 37% among Montanans who have already voted. According to the Montana Secretary of State's office, 56,453 Montanans have cast early ballots as of this morning.
Sen. Burns has trailed in every poll so far in his re-election campaign. In the past Sen. Burns has never trailed in the polls with only five days left until Election Day.
"Montanans are so eager for change that they are early-voting in unprecedented numbers. And we are seeing a stunning number of them preferring Jon Tester," said Tester spokesman Matt McKenna. "We are a long way from the finish line, and nobody on our side is popping the corks, but we are happy with our Montana-fueled field effort so far."
Posted by admin at 11:21 AM | Comments (0)
In Montana, things are looking blue
In Montana, things are looking blue - Los Angeles Times
"If you look at ballot questions from recent years, you see big majorities voting to cut taxes and protect the environment at the same time," Calvert said. "A lot of people who have moved in state are fiscally conservative, but they are also moving in because of the environmental amenities that they see. A lot of these voters are really up for grabs."
Posted by admin at 05:38 AM | Comments (0)
November 01, 2006
Take the poll: Billings Gazette
BillingsGazette.com ::
Poll is on the right. It's a vote for choice of Senator
Posted by admin at 02:50 PM
2 for 2 Billings Gazette endorses Tester
BillingsGazette.com :: Gazette Opinion: Tester would bring welcome change in U.S. Senate
For those Montanans who are appalled at the burgeoning national debt, concerned about U.S. foreign policy, alarmed that today's spending will be paid for by our children and grandchildren and fed up with business as usual in Washington, D.C., Tester is a fresh alternative.
Posted by admin at 10:06 AM | Comments (0)