The Work That DID Get Done | Politics | New West Network
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Left in the West :: Luke vs. Darth: One State's Battle Epitomizes America's Epic Struggle
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Daily Kos: MT-Gov: Bay Area fundraiser
good comment thread
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The Montana party now faces a challenge. A rabble of well-organized "outsiders" have learned the tricks of the party-insiders' trade, and they're rising in confidence, power and experience. Telemark skier Betsy Hands is now an Assemblywoman. After the 2005 session, in which Caferro was part of a successful effort to increase the minimum wage and expand the state's child healthcare program to cover 5,000 more low-income children, she was handily re-elected in 2006. The voters this cohort brought into the process are wondering what happens next. The thrill of being a "ground troop" gets old fast.
Posted by admin at 02:47 PM
Daily Kos: Senator Testor catches the DoJ's #3 man just making [censored] up.
Posted by admin at 12:27 AM
Concealed Gun Bill Scares Montana Law Enforcement Officials | Politics | New West Network
However, if the testimony from Three Forks resident Franklin Shook is any indication of those speaking out in favor of Wells’ bill, there are echoes of the 1990s when armed Freemen used similar rhetoric to incite hostility toward law enforcement officials.
Posted by admin at 03:30 PM
n Would someone remind Reps. Sales, Lange and Sinrud that the governor of Montana is Brian Schweitzer and not Rep. Rick Jore. And, if eight budget bills are better than one "House Bill 2" budget bill, why didn’t Rep. Lange share this discovery with Montana voters and legislators last fall?
Posted by admin at 02:49 PM
Dereg 10 Year Anniversary
"When we deregulated, we gave away our biggest economic development tool," Pancich said.
Quote from a Bozeman Daily Chronicle Letter:
Questions for GOP: ...
6) Will Montanans buy the primitive notion that the best way to solve the problem of violence in Montana is to take the law into your hands and ridicule anyone who happens to believe in letting law enforcement and the judicial system work? Even though history and research have shown that notion to be patently bogus? 7) Who is it that is so scared to live here in Montana without packing a gun? 8) Should we propose arming folks that are so paranoid they actually think you need to carry a gun here in Montana to be safe?
Posted by admin at 07:20 AM | Comments (0)
After the Leaders of the GOP apologize about the trash that was sent against JP, and John Sinrud apologizing in comments here, What pray tell does Jack Wells have to say about it? It's his bill, did the state republicans send it in his name? Especially since they are being ripped by their own grassroots: On the other hand, those of us who write the checks and cast the votes are hardly without standing to say what we think about self-destructive stunts like Flier-gate. The state party may have just handed those three Dems their re-elections on a platter. Brilliant tactics, brilliant content, brilliant timing.
and other derision: Anybody who is fortunate enough to receive the state Republican Party e-mail alerts knows that the folks running the show at state headquarters are chronically shrill, smug, overwrought, unfair, crude, rude and-the fault that explains their other sins-infinitely impressed with what they imagine is their own cleverness.
...all we're hearing from Jack is the wind in the trees. Maybe it's ok with him to have gun nuts calling JP and ranting.
Updated: This is what Jack Wells had to say (BDC 3/14/07): Wells said in an interview that he disagreed with negative attack ads and has never used them. and
JP had a caller that said: "'You're dead wrong, and maybe you should be dead.'"
So... Jack Wells introduces a bill to brandish a handgun, the State Republican party uses this bill to attack Democrats which causes a death threat to JP. Doesn't JP deserve an apology from Jack Wells?
Posted by admin at 10:24 AM | Comments (0)
On Tuesday, voters in Bozeman and Gallatin County received a mailing from the Republican Party. The oversized postcard showed a woman's corpse, hands bound, in a plastic bag. The caption read, "Is this your neighbor?" On the reverse of the piece, my picture, name, and cell phone number were given, along with an opinion of the vote I cast against House Bill 340.
House Bill 340 proposed to allow people to carry guns without a concealed weapons permit, to brandish a gun, to claim self-defense for any action, and to require prosecutors to delay filing charges for ten days for gun crimes if a defendant claims self-defense.
During testimony on the bill, law enforcement officials, including the Montana Police Protective Association, the Montana Association of Police Chiefs, Montana County Attorneys Association, and the Montana Sheriffs and Peace Officers Association, as well as citizens of both political parties, opposed House Bill 340. Cascade County Attorney Brant Light said, "House Bill 340 would give criminals a license to commit homicide in Montana."
The right of self-defense is already well-established in Montana law. Article II, Section 12 of the Montana Constitution states that, "The right of any person to keep or bear arms in defense of his home, person, and property, or in aid of the civil power when thereto legally summoned, shall not be called into question, but nothing herein contained shall be held to permit the carrying of concealed weapons." HB340 would have contradicted our own constitution. Additionally, self-defense is established as a natural right in Montana law. I completely support and defend a person's right to self-defense, and I was careful to check that our rights of self-defense would not be restricted by this bill. I cast my vote against HB340 because we as citizens should not be affronted by people with guns. We need the security of knowing that law enforcement can keep our communities safe. We should not be fearful that basic frustrations of everyday life will turn into gun crimes, and that those responsible for gun violence could not be held to their actions by claims of self-defense.
I am a gun owner, and a responsible citizen. The mailer that casts me as opposed to self-defense is wrong and distorts my values as a Montanan, a gun owner, and a citizen. This negative attack in the middle of a legislative session is unprecedented and creates bad blood at a time when bipartisan work is needed to govern.
I am most upset that such graphic and disturbing imagery and such a misleading message was mailed to my constituents. I respect and honor my friends and neighbors in House District 63, no matter what political belief anyone holds. No one deserved to receive such an appalling mailer, nor did I deserve to be so grossly misrepresented.
During the House of Representatives floor session Tuesday, Republican House leaders publicly apologized for the mailer. I appreciate their statement very much, but those in the Republican Party responsible for sending the mailer did a grave disservice to voters in my district and across Montana.
I am honored every day to craft good state law in our legislature and to represent the people of my district and of the state of Montana. Voting on legislation to protect my constituency is my duty, and I'm pleased to cast votes to give greater protections to all of us.
Do not believe the distorted negative attacks. They do not represent me, nor do they represent your interests.
JP Pomnichowski
Montana State Representative
House District 63, Bozeman/Gallatin County
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The Clark Fork Chronicle - What would Francis Bardanouve think about the six-pack?
Some long term perspective on the six pack:
Sen. Jim Elliott (D-Trout Creek) called it "the stupidest, most irresponsible thing I've ever seen in the legislature, except for deregulation."
Posted by admin at 01:08 PM
Montana's on the Move
Special Guests
Senator Max Baucus
Governor Brian Schweitzer
Senator Jon Tester
and
Keynote Speaker
The Honorable John Hickenlooper, Mayor of Denver
Don't miss out, purchase your tickets online today!
Tickets are $50 a person in advance, $75 at the door
Chairman's Council Memberships are $500 or $42 a month
and include 2 dinner tickets and 2 pre-dinner reception tickets.
For information about sponsorship opportunities or to purchase or reserve your tickets over the phone please call Lauren at
(406) 442-9520
This is one weekend you won't want to miss:
Friday, March 9
6-10PM Montana Democratic Party Open House Reception
303 N. Ewing Street, Helena
Saturday, March 10
9AM
Senator Jon Tester Helena Office Open House
Capitol One Building
208 N. Montana Suite 202
Helena
10AM-1PM
2007 Mansfield-Metcalf Workshops
10:00-10:30am
Update from Legislature
Health Care
10:30-11:30am
Building Stronger Organizations
Public Lands
11:00-11:30am
Labor
Communicating the Democratic Message
11:30-Noon
BREAK
12:00-12:30pm
Native American Issues
Economic Development
12:30-1:00pm
Education
Montana’s #1 Industry: Agriculture
Expert Panelists Include:
Hal Harper
Jim Farrell
Jan Lombardi
Evan Barrett
Melodee Hanes
Erin McGowan
Jason Miller
Anna Whiting Sorrell
Linda McCulloch
Dennis McDonald
Mike Volesky
Sandi Curriero Luckey
Jacquie Helt
Nancy Anderson
Cindy Palmer
Jim Messina
Dave Wanzenried
Barrett Kaiser
and more!
If you wish to attend any workshops, please join us Saturday at AFL-CIO headquarters in Helena (810 Hialeah Court). Call Chris with any questions at 442-9520.
1PM
Montana Indian Democrats meeting
AFL-CIO headquarters
810 Hialeah Court
5PM Doors open
Mansfield Metcalf Dinner 2007
Helena Civic Center, 340 Neill Ave, Helena
5:30-6:30 PM
Cocktail Reception featuring our Democratic Legislators for all dinner attendees
6:30 PM
Mansfield Metcalf Dinner begins!
After the event, don't miss the Late Night with the Big Sky Democrats at Miller's Crossing
52 S. Park Ave, Helena
Click here to buy your tickets online today!
Posted by admin at 02:53 PM | Comments (0)
Democratic Edge in Partisanship in 2006 Evident at National, State Levels
Posted by admin at 02:10 PM
From the Missoulian:
But the governor's budget director Tuesday blasted the changes being made by GOP leaders, saying it appears they're ignoring spending recommendations that bipartisan budget panels worked on for the past several weeks.
"Where's the citizen input?" asked David Ewer. "Where is the 35 days that the people of Montana came to testify on the state budget bill?
Even their own Committee Chairman are balking at their radical steps.
Rep. Edith Clark, R-Sweetgrass, who will sponsor the human-service spending bill, said Tuesday she'll be asking legislators to reinstate spending for mental health, methamphetamine treatment and other programs recommended by the budget panel she chaired.
The Lawmakers may be, in fact, breaking the law:
Ewer said Tuesday he thinks Republicans could be violating state law by scrapping the one, big budget bill and rolling out new versions midway through the session.
Posted by admin at 03:20 PM | Comments (0)
You may have heard that the House of Representatives won't pass a tuition decrease. That's not true. House Bill 194 is not a "tuition cut bill." A bundle of other house bills (HB2, HB5, HB13, HB131, and HB65) must be passed first in order to make tuition relief a reality. To make good on a campaign promise to cut college tuition for Montana's students and their families, the Republican party would have to do much more than offer half of what the Board of Regents say it would cost just to freeze tuition.
That's why Democrats, including those of us representing the Gallatin Valley, voted to send HB194 back to committee. By not first passing a bundle of bills that would enable the regents to freeze tuition, House Bill 194 by itself could ultimately lead to an increase in tuition. The bathtub won't overflow until it is first filled up.
Let's remember why student tuition now accounts for about two-thirds of the Montana University System revenue. In 1992 state appropriations were 74 percent and student tuition 26 percent of MUS funding. Today that relationship is almost reversed, with tuition accounting for 62 percent and state appropriations 38 percent in FY 2007. The trend toward decreasing the proportion of state support resulted in passing along the costs to students and their families in the form of increased tuition.
To be fair, past legislatures were probably hoping that decreasing their share of the funding would lead to a reduction in the cost of higher education. But simply cutting the state share of funding is not a method of auditing, holding accountable, or cutting the costs of the Montana University System. It's like saying that eliminating your budget for groceries will mean you no longer have to eat. You will still eat. You may eat at your neighbor's house, or find a relative willing to feed an extra mouth. You might even steal food if you have to. But you will not stop eating. You just shift responsibility to someone else.
And that's what happened to student tuition. Some costs are fixed (buildings, maintenance, utilities, energy) and some are variable "classroom" costs like faculty, staff, desks and so on. Fixed costs don't change unless the number of students or the price of energy dramatically increases. Some maintenance costs can be deferred in lean times, but they must ultimately be paid or the infrastructure - buildings and equipment - will no longer be adequate to serve the students. Variable costs are tied to enrollment. Increasing costs in the university system result from growing enrollment and increases in some fixed costs. When the state's share of funding declined - from 74 percent to 28 percent in the past 15 years - the Regents had to pass on increasing cost to students in the form of increasing tuition.
The legislature and the governor are committed to doing something to stop this trend. This is why the governor spent months in discussions with the Regents in order to come to an agreement over what costs would have to be met in order for them to hold tuition at its current level. That amount is approximately $50 million. It includes a two-year pay plan covering all personnel - faculty, staff, and classified employees - for the eight campuses in the university system at a cost of $22 million. It includes a "present law" (or present cost) adjustment - what it takes to continue existing levels of service to the expected number of students for the next two years - $22.6 million. And it includes the required payouts for employees expected to retire in the next two years, at a cost of $2.3 million.
So what we need to freeze tuition at current levels is a total of $49.9 million. HB194 only meets half of these costs. Without a guarantee that the several bills containing appropriations for all of these costs, the $26.8 million in House Bill194 would be used to cover some of these costs, and the balance would most likely have to come from increased tuition.
We, along with the rest of our party, voted to send this bill back to committee because the bundle of bills covering the costs the Regents say must be covered first would have to pass in both he Appropriations Committee and the full house. Since HB194 will not reduce tuition otherwise, our concerned is that it might even be substituted for the funding the governor and the regents agreed to work on with the legislature, and lead to increases rather than a freeze or decrease in tuition.
Representatives Franke Wilmer JP Pomnichowski, Brady Wiseman and Mike Phillips
all Bozeman Democrats
Posted by admin at 10:09 AM | Comments (0)
Pat Williams: Turnout and Same-Day Voting
America's men and women are dying everyday in Iraq to assure the right of the Iraqis to cast their ballots, and yet here at home some high, elected officials are trying to prevent our own citizens, right here in Montana, from having same-day voting--the identical process that we all cheered in Iraq.
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Drudge, global warming shut down Senate site
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The Independent Online - News
Good background information.
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NPR : Sen. Jon Tester Starts His Newest Job
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By and large, Montana’s lobbyist core is rich in knowledge and pretty dang ethical. I was proud to serve in it, but now I’ve traded the power suits for the power of the pen—and this former lobbyist is "free at last."
Posted by admin at 12:31 PM | Comments (0)
Argus Leader Media - Robyn Blumner
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The Blog | David Sirota: World Is Flat-ism Meets the Flathead Valley | The Huffington Post
They are interested in crafting laws that allow them to take the low road and trolling the world for the most desperate workers who will accept exploitation. And unfortunately, our bought-and-paid-for federal government is all too happy to help.
Posted by admin at 10:43 AM | Comments (0)
The Washington Monthly
Good Comment thread
Posted by admin at 11:32 AM | Comments (0)
Left in the West :: Lies and the Lying Liars or Nuts and the Nutting Nutters on Education
Ridiculous. Sales and other Republicans ran this year on pledges of support to K-12 and Higher Education. Now they've handed off education policy to a guy who would cut Title I, Pell Grants, Stafford Loans, university research, special education, and all other federal money to Montana's children.
Posted by admin at 02:06 PM | Comments (0)
Left in the West :: Montana Republicans Just Can't Sever Abramoff Ties
Speaker Scott Sales is apparently trying to fill Conrad Burns' boots by plugging himself in to the national corrupt conservative movement. According to the latest GOP E-Brief, Sales is going on Grover Norquist's radio talk show tomorrow. Norquist and Abramoff were best friends forever until Jack got caught doing his dirty deeds.
Posted by admin at 07:29 AM | Comments (0)
DenverPost.com - Dems forge group to milk Western gains
At least four Western governors - Janet Napolitano of Arizona, Bill Richardson of New Mexico, Brian Schweitzer of Montana and Bill Ritter, Colorado's governor-elect - are expected to lead the group's advisory council, the sources said. Incoming Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid of Nevada, Sen. Ken Salazar of Colorado and other members of Congress will provide "strategic guidance."
Posted by admin at 04:39 PM | Comments (0)
The question isn't whether or not we need a national health care program, the question is; are we happy with the one we have. And if we aren't, are we willing to pay for a better one.
Posted by admin at 03:08 PM | Comments (0)
Intelligent Discontent � Blog Archive � Recount completed, Toole wins the PSC seat…
I am not sure if the PSC really has the power to scale back much of the deregulation but I will sleep sounder, and likely warmer, with the Democrats in the majority.
Posted by admin at 01:05 PM | Comments (0)
Missoulian: Tester stops in Missoula to offer his gratitude
As Tester made his final remarks about the committees he will be serving on and the work ahead, one person yelled out: "You follow in a great tradition. Remember Mike Mansfield."
To which a woman shouted out: "And Jeannette Rankin."
Then came more voices chiming in: "Lee Metcalf." "Max Baucus." "Pat Williams."
Posted by admin at 10:04 AM
Tester (pictured above from an event he did here in Helena last night) made his campaign about cleaning up K Street corruption,
Posted by admin at 07:54 AM | Comments (0)
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)
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)
Queen City News - Helena Handbag
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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)
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)
Rocky Mountain Politics Too Early for Trendsetting | Politics | New West Network
Good collection of analysis and links
Posted by admin at 01:04 PM
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)
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)
Daily Kos: Dems Get MT House, Senate
Posted by admin at 09:46 AM | Comments (0)
TBogg - "...a somewhat popular blogger"
The comments are funny, especially if you know the movie.
Posted by admin at 11:08 AM | Comments (0)
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)
Note: we got this from the State party:
Let us know immediately if you hear of any suspicious activity. We have received numerous reports already of under-handed attempts to confuse or intimidate our supporters or smear our Democratic candidates.
This is extremely important.
* Our campaigns might be faced with:
* Rude messages or scripts allegedly in support of Democrats.
* Late night/early morning calls by callers claiming to be Montana Democrats.
* Calls designed to incite their base or depress ours on hot-button issues.
* Calls intended to confuse voters about their registration status or polling location.
These dirty tricks aren't new:
* In 2000, our candidates were hit with post-midnight, pre-7am calls into households from callers claiming to be working for Democrats.
* Other communities and targeted phone lists were barraged with calls, again claiming to be from the Democrats, which took the opposite position of those being called.
* These calls were "under-the-radar," but we believe they were effective -- and very damaging to our efforts.
* These calls may have made a difference in close local and state races.
Please be alert to anything similar in your communities. Ask your family, friends and coworkers to also keep their ears open and let you know what they're hearing.
If you get one of these calls, call us immediately after taking these steps:
* Take notes.
* Ask to speak to the caller’s supervisor.
* Ask the supervisor for the name of their company and phone number.
* Dial *69 to get their phone number and write the number down.
* If you have caller ID, check your read-out and write the phone number down.
* If the call is recorded on your answering machine, save the message.
Let us know right away so we can respond quickly and notify the appropriate law enforcement authorities.
Call the Montana Democratic Party at 1-877-495-9215
Posted by admin at 03:36 PM | Comments (0)
There's a debate tonight in Butte between Jon Tester and Conrad Burns
Missoula dot NET has all the info
BillingsGazette.com :: Guest Opinion: No help from Congress as worry grows over wages
...leadership on such pressing issues as declining wages, high energy costs, the outsourcing of American jobs overseas and the skyrocketing cost of health care are the reasons I am running for the United States Senate.
Posted by admin at 08:10 AM | Comments (0)
MT-Sen: Liddy Dole backs Conrad Burns on hiring undocumented immigrants
Tester spokesman Matt McKenna fired back.
"The only one of Burns' Washington friends that hasn't been hauled out here to help save his job is Jack Abramoff, and he's on his way to the Crowbar Hotel," he said.
Posted by admin at 12:19 PM | Comments (0)
A Belgrade citizen is pretty steamed about John Sinrud. Part of a letter in today's Bozeman Chronicle:
I find it humorous at times and maddening also that he was named Official of the Year by the National Association of Home Builders - nominated by Southwest Montana Building Industry Association. I wonder if he thinks we are unworthy of what we have worked hard for since we live in a manufactured home?
For many generations my ancestors have lived in the Gallatin Valley. You could always depend on a man's word and a handshake to close a deal. Now we can't be sure even when there are legal documents.
God help us if all our representatives in Helena are these "new" developers.
Even the Republicans are saying Conrad's race is doomed. Redstate has invented a brand new catagory of republicans: Stupid Republicans
In this modern era of politics we have a lot of categories for republican lawmakers. You have Rinos or democrats posing as republicans. Then you have moderate republicans and conservative republicans. I would like to add a new category.
Washington Post: Comments Haunt Another Senator
In a moment of unusual candor for a veteran senator fighting for his political life, Conrad Burns (R-Mont.) offered this blunt self-assessment a few months ago: "I can self-destruct in one sentence," he told supporters. "Sometimes in one word."
It seems Burns has spent a good part of the summer testing his theory.
Posted by admin at 10:45 AM | Comments (0)
The Billings Outpost has three good Articles:
Governor helps orphans; Burns helps leaseholders
Brian Schweitzer perfects nuclear fusion, promises power too cheap to meter.
Burns' bill would allow (but not force) oil and gas leaseholders to donate their leases to the Save-the-Front activists. The enviros could then tear up the leases with Uncle Sam's promise not to issue new ones. The generous leaseholders would then take a tax write-off, shifting the cost to you, me, Aunt Hilda and other taxpayers.
Schweitzer outflanks GOP on tax rebate idea
Like him or loathe him, Schweitzer made a masterful political move, and I've no doubt that the metaphorical Republican cloakroom is steaming with irate strategists trying to figure out some way to take this issue back. After all, control of the next Legislature hangs in the balance.
Do they really think that we are not concerned about our kids being killed and maimed in Iraq, or the size of the national debt, or health care, decent housing and wages? They probably think we don't care about our elected officials taking huge amounts of money from crooked lobbyists either.
Queen City News:
Burns's debate performance gets press pass
the mainstream media has transformed itself into a megaphone for each partisan side. At some point, the media's pious invocations about the importance of a free press ring awfully hollow when the Fourth Estate seems more like a servant to the interests and lies of political opportunists like Burns.
Posted by admin at 09:12 AM | Comments (0)
Democrats Deliver for Montana
Democrats passed alternative energy development, protected Montana's public lands and access to wildlife, made college education more affordable for hundreds of Montanans, made health insurance more affordable, and more "all without raising taxes" in fact, Democrats lowered taxes for 13,000 small businesses in Montana.
We Promised We Delivered We'll Continue
Alternative Energy
We promised an energy policy that puts the needs of Montana families and businesses first, lower energy prices and adding value to our agriculture products by encouraging energy, ethanol and bio-fuel production.
* Democrats encouraged the development of Montana's wind resource, diversify our energy supply, and promote investment in rural Montana. Sen. Tester, SB 415
* Democrats helped Montanans make ends meet when it comes to high energy costs. HB 332, Rep. Buzzes
* Democrats offered energy conservation assistance and renewable energy grants to support low-income energy customers. SB 365, Sen. Ellingson.
Democrats will continue to build alternative energy resources and reduce our dependency on foreign oil.
Public School Classrooms
We promised to keep college affordable for Montana students, and to get the most value out of our education dollars.
* This legislative session Democrats enhanced a long-term solution that is good for kids, provides a sustainable, affordable and equitable funding formula, is based on educationally relevant factors and is fair to taxpayers.
* Democrats created opportunities for higher education to improve the economic future of Montana by providing hundreds of scholarships for Montana students attending Montana schools. HB 435, Rep. Branae
Democrats will continue to support our public school classrooms by offering full time kindergarten as a local option.
Democrats will continue to bolster our "best and brightest" scholarship program so that more students can afford to go to college in Montana.
Access to hunting and fishing lands
We promised we'd keep Montana wildlife a public resource and protect the right to access Montanans public lands, rivers, and streams.
* Democrats encouraged hunting access by creating more public access to private and public lands through the hunting access enhancement program. SB 77, Sen. Hanson.
* Protect wildlife SB 79, Rep. Golie
* Protect access to Montana rivers lakes, and streams HB 269 Rep. Clark
Democrats will continue to improve access to hunting and fishing.
Good-High paying jobs
Democrats promised higher wages for Montana workers, new markets for Montana resources by using Montana's abundant wind, water and good paying jobs in renewable and alternative energy
* Democrats reinstated the "Made in Montana" program to promote Montana products through marketing assistance, and on-line directory and business development assistance. SB 329, Sen. Tester
* Democrats made health benefits more affordable for main street businesses by creating purchasing pools and tax credits for small businesses that offer health insurance, because small businesses are the backbone of Montana's economy. HB 667, Rep. Wanzenried
* Democrats passed a Country of Origin Labeling law to strengthen our agriculture economy and promote the sale of Montana products. HB 406, Rep Bergren
Democrats will continue to work for good high-paying jobs with benefits.
Health care
Democrats promised to make health insurance affordable for small businesses and fund Montana's Children's Health Insurance Program
* Democrats made health insurance more affordable for small businesses. HB 667, Rep. Wanzenried
* Democrats made prescription drugs more affordable for our neighbors in need. SB 324 and SB 380, Sen. Tester.
* Democrats made health insurance available to more Montana children. HB 552, Rep. Caferro
Democrats will continue to make health care more affordable for Montanans.
Ethics and Open Government
Democrats promised to stand up for Montana values
* Democrats sponsored the only ethics reform effort in the 2005 legislature to prohibit government officials from turning their public service into private profit. The bill was killed in committee, but Democrats have revived it as a ballot initiative.
Democrats will continue to support clean and open government.
We did it all without raising your taxes
Democrats promised lower property taxes for homeowners, family agriculture, and small businesses
* Democrats lowered taxes for more than 13000 small businesses in Montana. SB 48, Sen. Harrington
* Democrats lowered taxes for small businesses that give health insurance to their employers. HB 667, Rep. Wanzenried
* Democrats lowered property taxes for wind energy facilities. SB 115, Sen. Tester
Democrats will continue to be responsible stewards of your tax dollars
Posted by admin at 06:53 PM | Comments (0)
The MDLCC (an arm of the Montana Democratic Party)is seeking motivated individuals to join our campaign team for the 2006 cycle. MDLCC's goal is to maintain and increase Democratic majorities in Montana's House and Senate. Currently, Democrats hold 50 of 100 seats in the House, and 27 of 50 in the Senate; this year's elections will be hotly contested.
MDLCC Field Staff handle a variety of responsibilities on the races they are assigned to: volunteer management, fundraising, communications, and voter contact are among the basics, but staff will need to be flexible and ready to deal with whatever challenges may come up on the ground. The position is ideal for entry level staff looking to learn the fundamentals of a range of campaign areas and tactics, and extensive training will be provided. More experienced staffers are welcome to apply as well, as we are considering adding 1-2 supervisory-level staff to the program
Because of the closely contested legislative seats, the big US Senate Race, and Governor Brian Schweitzer's high poll numbers, this state will be in the national focus for the cycle. Staffers here will gain valuable exposure, as well as highly sought-after 'red-state' campaign experience.
Interested candidates should send their resume and a cover letter to mdlcc@montanademocrats.org. Questions? Call 406-442-9520 and ask for Andy.
Posted by admin at 12:49 PM | Comments (0)
House District 63 Democrat Jennifer Pomnichowski 631 631
House District 63 Democrat John Trull 387 387 House District 63 Republican Bill Warden 841 841 House District 64 Democrat Steve Kelly 203 203 House District 64 Democrat Frank Wilmer 523 523 House District 64 Republican Jim Klug 357 357 House District 65 Democrat Brady Wiseman 466 466 House District 65 Republican Kate Reid 214 214 House District 66 Democrat Mike Phillips 517 517
House District 66 Democrat Tracy Velazquez 390 390 House District 66 Republican Gordon Vance 321 321 House District 67 Democrat Jackson Cyr 321 321 House District 67 Republican John Sinrud 603 603
House District 68 Democrat Laura Obert 624 364 260
House District 68 Republican Scott Sales 1102 538 564
House District 69 Democrat Loren Acton 418 418
House District 69 Republican Jack Wells 917 917
House District 70 Democrat John Vincent 574 574
House District 70 Republican Roger Koopman 725 725
Posted by admin at 04:40 PM
State House - District 63 - Dem Primary
Gallatin
5 of 6 Precincts Reporting - 83.33%
Name Party Votes Pct
Pomnichowski, JP Dem 522 60.77
Trull, John Dem 337 39.23
State House - District 64 - Dem Primary
Gallatin
5 of 6 Precincts Reporting - 83.33%
Name Party Votes Pct
Wilmer, Franke Dem 456 72.38
Kelly, Steve Dem 174 27.62
State House - District 66 - Dem Primary
Gallatin
4 of 5 Precincts Reporting - 80.00%
Name Party Votes Pct
Phillips, Mike Dem 439 57.01
Velazquez, Tracy Dem 331 42.99
Posted by admin at 11:29 PM | Comments (0)
Alex Russell Declared winner in Senate District 35 race
Posted by admin at 11:23 PM | Comments (0)
State House - District 66 - Dem Primary
Gallatin
4 of 5 Precincts Reporting - 80.00%
Name Party Votes Pct
Phillips, Mike Dem 274 53.62
Velazquez, Tracy Dem 237 46.38
Posted by admin at 10:55 PM | Comments (0)
State Senate - District 35 - Dem Primary
Gallatin
8 of 13 Precincts Reporting - 61.54%
Name Party Votes Pct
Russell, Alex Dem 305 54.56
Fairhurst, William Dem 254 45.44
Posted by admin at 10:36 PM | Comments (0)
Morrison concedes.
Posted by admin at 10:33 PM | Comments (0)
Update: There were about 55K Democratic voters in the 2002 primary. We're already at what, 44K with a third of the precincts in? Some precincts are bigger than others, of course, but maybe Montana will buck the trend of low Democratic turnouts. It would bode nicely for November.
Posted by admin at 10:18 PM | Comments (0)
State Senate - District 35 - Dem Primary
Gallatin
5 of 13 Precincts Reporting - 38.46%
Name Party Votes Pct
Russell, Alex Dem 104 59.77
Fairhurst, William Dem 70 40.23
State House - District 63 - Dem Primary
Gallatin
5 of 6 Precincts Reporting - 83.33%
Name Party Votes Pct
Pomnichowski, JP Dem 72 59.02
Trull, John Dem 50 40.98
State House - District 64 - Dem Primary
Gallatin
5 of 6 Precincts Reporting - 83.33%
Name Party Votes Pct
Wilmer, Franke Dem 185 74.90
Kelly, Steve Dem 62 25.10
State House - District 66 - Dem Primary
Gallatin
2 of 5 Precincts Reporting - 40.00%
Name Party Votes Pct
Phillips, Mike Dem 174 58.39
Velazquez, Tracy Dem 124 41.61
Posted by admin at 10:16 PM | Comments (0)
Posted by admin at 10:12 PM | Comments (0)
State Senate - District 35 - Dem Primary
Gallatin
5 of 13 Precincts Reporting - 38.46%
Name Party Votes Pct
Russell, Alex Dem 104 59.77
Fairhurst, William Dem 70 40.23
State House - District 63 - Dem Primary
Gallatin
5 of 6 Precincts Reporting - 83.33%
Name Party Votes Pct
Pomnichowski, JP Dem 43 60.56
Trull, John Dem 28 39.44
State House - District 64 - Dem Primary
Gallatin
5 of 6 Precincts Reporting - 83.33%
Name Party Votes Pct
Wilmer, Franke Dem 75 74.26
Kelly, Steve Dem 26 25.74
State House - District 66 - Dem Primary
Gallatin
1 of 5 Precincts Reporting - 20.00%
Name Party Votes Pct
Phillips, Mike Dem 67 57.76
Velazquez, Tracy Dem 49 42.24
Posted by admin at 10:03 PM | Comments (0)
We'll keep this post updated on the election results. As of 9.06PM there is no local results, yet. They are counting absentee ballots.
Posted by admin at 09:06 PM | Comments (0)
Saturday April 29th 2006
Three Views of the Senate Race
New West: U.S. Senate Candidates Tackle the Issues in Forum
Missoulian: U.S. Senate candidates discuss issues at UM forum
Turn Left: Democrats in...Montana?
A new feature: We reduce Tammy's Bozeman Chronicle column to its bare essential. A real time saver.
Daily Kos on Montana Democrat Senate Race: MT-Sen:
Okay, the Morrison scandal IS serious
Bozeman Blogger Wulfgar is quoted in the article.Daily Kos is the blogging New York Times. Wulfgar is ferocious, as usual.
Belgrade News Editorial: As well-intentioned as the ads may have been, Koopman is a bit disingenuous in his claim that they “carried no political message,” considering that they were recorded in his voice and included his name and House affiliation — and that they ran after he filed for re-election.
Equally disingenuous is his suggestion that Vincent somehow cares less than he about improving safety in Gallatin Canyon.
A good scandal overview from TPM Cafe
I'll examine the time-lines of four other recent Montana scandals, two of which are ongoing, to demonstrate that it takes at least couple of months from the time the press goes after a story until there is reconciliation.
John Vincent's letter to the Chronicle: I’m going to say it straight out. Montana declared war on meth during the 2005 Legislature, and Rep. Koopman was AWOL.
Great Falls Tribune: Conrad Burns Hires shark lawyer:
"focuses his practice in the area of white collar crime, the defense of government enforcement actions, political and congressional investigations, corporate internal investigations and antitrust,"
Posted by admin at 09:21 AM | Comments (0)
From a Gallatin Democrat after seeing this morning's hearing:
FILIBUSTER--CALL FOR A FILIBUSTER NOW!!!!!!!!!!CALL ALL the DEMOCRATS on the
SENATE JUDICIARY COMMITTEE and your Senators now!
The ongoing Senate Judiciary Committee hearings on the nomination of Samuel
Alito for Associate Justice of the US Supreme Court are shocking. They
should galvanize EVERY WOMAN, DEMOCRAT, INDEPENDENT, SENSIBLE REPUBLICAN AND
ANYONE ELSE who values their personal privacy, civil rights, clean
environment, the US Constitution and a balance of power.
CALL IN SUPPORT OF
A FILIBUSTER OF THIS NOMINATION.
It is clear that Alito is lying under oath in the Senate in order to be
confirmed. His membership in a racist, anti coeducational, anti-female, and
homophobic group formed at Princeton in 1972 is only the most sensational
aspect of a lifetime of despicable reactionary beliefs and a craven
opportunist character. That the papers on this group, CAP (Concerned Alumni
of Princeton) in the Library of Congress seem to be "missing" and
incomplete is a creepy reminder that this regime will stop at nothing to
create a revisionist history in their efforts to take over the whole
American government.
Alito's judicial record should horrify all progressives and moderates alike:
He is an extreme right-wing jurist--finding in 84% of his judgments against
the individual in favor of the state or corporations and his rulings and
dissents have been rejected and overturned in countless appeals by even
moderate Republican judges. This will not be possible when he is part of
the Supreme Court. He has refused to answer on all issues critical to the
lives of US citizens including a woman's' right to control her own
reproductive destiny--Alito will not even go as far as conservative Judge
Roberts who called Roe v Wade settled law.
He has only voted in favor of African Americans in 2 cases out of hundreds
in his 15 years on the bench in discrimination suits, he has voted to
neutralize the Commerce Clause which carries and protects almost all
environmental law, gun control laws, and many other important protective
laws. He has decided against havng independent government agencies such as
the FDA and FCC so that they will only promote the message and policies of
the administration in power. He has tried to gut the Clean Water Act
numerous times in his career, overuled in the past by higher courts but two
critical cases will be before the Supreme COurt this summer. He is an
ardent proponent of the "unitary executive" to make Bush and all Presidents
who come after him basically "kings."
He has not answered one important question and his nomination will secure
the most important goal of the Bush regime--a generation of right wing
control of the Supreme Court as the final slavish rubber stamp on right-wing
projects, administrations and congresses.
With Alito's confirmation the coup begun by Bush-Cheney in 2000 will be
complete--a politican, Bush was appointed by the court to be President now
this same person gets to appoint lifetime members to the same court --a
catastrophic conflict of interst and death knell for demcoracy. America has
become the largest and most powerful Banana Republic in history.
call for A FILIBUSTER--Our only power is to fully support our
representatives in a filibuster--if we go down- we go down fighting! THIS
IS THE FIGHT!!!
Posted by admin at 12:40 PM | Comments (0)
Billings Gazette
Effect of Abramoff scandal to snare tribes
Abramoff's name has become synonymous with the betrayal of trust, said Rodgers, a citizen of Montana's Blackfeet Nation.
"He inflicted that pain on a people who have known a history of betrayal more so than any segment of society," he said. Missoulian
Unlimited government breeds corruption
But what's criminal isn't really the problem. It's what's legal. It's perfectly legal for lobbyists to use money and favors to influence Congress (and the administration), and to some - usually large - extent, representatives and senators are more than happy to have them do it. That's the scandal.
It's a scandal that's rooted in the size, scope and power of the federal government - all of which have expanded far beyond anything the nation's founders ever imagined.
Posted by admin at 07:10 AM | Comments (0)
The News in Review...expect an ’06 in which Burns bails and hands the Republican reins to either Denny Rehberg or former Gov. Marc Racicot, who’s recently been spotted in Montana stumping a Republican agenda for which Burns is now an irrevocably tarnished spokesman.
Posted by admin at 04:53 PM | Comments (0)
"People — and that includes senators and congressmen — need to talk to me, partly to try to twist my arm about the delegation of money, but also because they want to know about timing," the magazine quoted Ryan Thomas as saying.
Posted by admin at 07:18 AM | Comments (0)
Here's a good overview of this years election.Great Falls Tribune:'06 will be a big political year in Montana
Will the pendulum continue to swing back toward the left in Montana, or will it head back the other way?
Time will tell, but we should note that politics isn't — or at least shouldn't be — a spectator sport.
Participate and pay attention.
Posted by admin at 10:21 AM | Comments (0)
GOP essay defends intelligent design on party Web site
Earlier this year, Rep. Roger Koopman, R-Bozeman, proposed a bill that would have allowed teaching intelligent design in public schools, but he didn't pursue it.
Judge Rules Against 'Intelligent Design'"
The citizens of the Dover area were poorly served by the members of the Board who voted for the ID Policy," Jones wrote. "It is ironic that several of these individuals, who so staunchly and proudly touted their religious convictions in public, would time and again lie to cover their tracks and disguise the real purpose behind the ID Policy."
Posted by admin at 09:29 AM | Comments (0)
Billings Gazette
Ex-Burns aide talks to Justice
Burns received almost $150,000 in campaign donations, more than any other lawmaker, from Abramoff clients between 1999 and 2004, a Washington Post tally published Monday shows. Burns' role in securing federal money and help for Abramoff clients has been the subject of controversy.
Posted by admin at 07:55 AM | Comments (0)
Billings Gazette
Abramoff 'is a bad guy,' says Burns
"This Abramoff guy is a bad guy," Burns told KAJ television in Kalispell. "And he's indicted, and I hope he goes to jail and we never see him again. I wish he'd never been born to be right honest with you. Because he's done a terrible, terrible thing to our Native American community."...Burns received $136,500, more than any other lawmaker, from Abramoff's tribal clients between 2001 and 2004, a Bloomberg News database showed.Left in the West
Be Afraid
This is their opportunity to bring out school vouchers, intelligent design, homeschooling subsidized by the taxpayers, and other crazytown ideas. Koopman homeschools his kids, as does Republican Senate Minority leader Bob Keenan R- Bigfork. Koopman also supports ID.Missoula Independent
Rough start
The show will start in less than a week, which is short notice for legislators to leave home for Helena during the holiday season, and provides virtually no time for analysis or input from constituents. “All’s well that ends well” is a result to hope for—but for now, this special session is off to a very rough start, indeed.
by George OchenskiAll in the family planning
A little more than a year after the bombing, legal questions resurfaced when Republican state Rep. Susan Smith of Kalispell introduced a bill in the Legislature calling for a ban on physician assistants performing abortions. The law, which passed, became known as the “Susan Cahill Law” because Cahill was the only physician assistant performing abortions in the state.Stoking hypocrisy
For somebody who champions free-market capitalism, Stokes’ desire for the state to subsidize his business sounds very much like socialism. While complaining about excessive taxes and government spending, he hijacked money from Montanans.
Posted by admin at 07:38 AM | Comments (0)
Posted by admin at 07:44 AM | Comments (0)
Billings Gazette
Burns changed position after donation
The same document lists Shawn Vassell, Burns' former state staff director, as a lobbyist on the issue. Vassell worked for Abramoff at the Greenberg Traurig lobbying firm. Legislative panel wants look at state's corporate income tax
Sen. Ken Toole, D-Helena, said he wants to know what kind of behavior the tax system encourages within corporations in such areas of pay and benefits for chief executive officers. He criticized the compensation packages for CEOs as "far beyond the pale of what's reasonable," citing what was given by the former Montana Power Co. and NorthWestern Corp.Mining-law plan raises opposition
"I call it the biggest land grab since the Oklahoma rush," said Oscar Simpson, the group's president.Great Falls Tribune
Posted by admin at 09:05 AM | Comments (0)
Billings Gazette
NWC shareholder sues over spurned buyout
"What you're seeing here is a shareholder who has been watching that and saying, 'Wow, that looks like a pretty good offer. Why aren't you taking them seriously?' " he said. Lindeen: School funding compromise best option
"We've all come to the conclusion that it's best to continue to work on the formula (later on) and not try to bring that formula into a special session," said Rep. Monica Lindeen, chairwoman of the Quality Schools Interim CommitteeState budget experts warn future not all rosy
"We're going to have a sustainable budget," Ewer said. That means the budget won't rely on one-time sources of money to balance.
Posted by admin at 07:45 AM | Comments (0)
Burns Bad News
Abramoff himself appears to have been involved in the same scam white guys have been pulling ever since they set foot on this continent—namely, ripping off American Indians for everything they can get. According to the Journal, “Until this week, prosecutors seemed to be focused primarily on whether Mr. Abramoff and his partner, Michael Scanlon, had bilked a half-dozen tribes out of $80 million over four years.”
Posted by admin at 03:42 PM | Comments (0)
Diane Kamp Clayton is Chairman of Sweet Grass Democrats
Sweet Grass County will be the Montana county at the greatest risk of seeing thousands of acres of public lands sold to developers and foreign mining corporations; 30,419 acres to be precise if the Senate doesn’t do something fast.
Two weeks ago, Rep. Pombo (R-CA) snuck into the House Budget Reconciliation Bill (HB 4241) a provision to change the mining law. That bill with the stinky amendment passed 217-215 and opens up 350 million acres of public land for privatization.
This bill also eliminates the requirement of proving that there are minerals to be mined. The new reason for purchasing public land is to “Facilitate sustainable economic development”. You got it. Malls and condos everywhere you look. I guess that means that the only trout you‘ll see is at Mr. Fish and Chips.
Environmental Working Group’s site (ewg.org) gives you maps of how this will affect each state: “Under Pombo's proposal, nearly all of the 26,067,000 acres of public land in Montana could be up for sale to foreign corporations, oil and gas companies, real estate developers…. Once sold there would be virtually no restrictions on how the land could be developed, leaving some of America's most treasured lands open to strip mines, strip malls, oil wells, condos, or luxury homes for corporate executives.”
Sick, corrupt and also stupid, “Representative Pombo has put a big FOR SALE sign on our American heritage -- selling our National lands to mining companies. And by Mr. Pombo's own estimate, the fire sale will raise less revenue in 5 years ($155 million) than a fair royalty similar to what all other extractive industries pay (an 8% royalty would generate ~$350 million over 5 years)”. (From Westerners for Responsible Mining’s website: bettermines.com). The bill now goes to conference in the Senate. Senator Baucus came out swinging against this horror, so send him a letter to continue the fight and tell Senator Burns to get on board and tell him we don’t want a sale of our land. What we want is a revision of the Mining Bill of 1872 so that we the people get federal royalties. Norway pays for its whole education system with money from their off shore oil fields. Imagine what we could do if corporations, especially foreign ones who own 6 of the top 10 American claims, would have to pay a portion of their profits to U.S. citizens to spend on common needs.
Do we really want to go back to the feudal system when all land was private? We’d all become sharecroppers again, beholden to the lord for the ability to grow some food or hunt and fish on his land? Our forefathers who dropped their plows and left their shops to fight for a new idea; the idea that “we the people” have rights and not mere privileges ask each of us now to pick up a pen and save this republic from these modern day pirates.
So, while you are in a writing mood, send a “shame on you letter” to Rep. Rehberg who voted for this lousy bill that sold us all down the river. And all we got was this stinking T-Shirt that says, “I’ve been to Boulder World”. or "sold us down the river for 30 pieces of silver and some beads."
Diane Kamp Clayton
Posted by admin at 09:11 AM | Comments (0)
Billings Gazette
Cities vow to fight Black Hills NWC bid
"The Public Service Commission clearly cares about Montana control," he said. "We will continue to scrutinize the whole proposal from a public point of view." Special session ballots mailed
If at least 76 of the 150 lawmakers support calling a special session, one will start on Jan. 10. The Legislature has 77 Democrats and 73 Republicans.Feds investigating project's lobbyist
Neil Volz, former chief of staff for Rep. Robert Ney, R-Ohio, and Ney were told in late October by Justice Department prosecutors that investigators are preparing a bribery case against the pair, the Post reported Nov. 26.
There was an entire book written about an MSU professor losing his mind while trying to define quality.
I think the same thing is happening to my state.
Posted by admin at 07:17 AM | Comments (0)
Billings Gazette
Schweitzer: Help poor, don't overspend
He said the "most important thing to remember" in drawing up the budget is that state government must be fiscally prudent, and not embark on spending it can't sustain with existing revenue: "We cannot have an appetite that is larger than our wallet." Roadless areas should remain so, governor advised
John Wilson, conservation director for Montana Trout Unlimited, told the governor he was "really encouraged" by the consensus against new roads. But he urged the governor not to ignore the problem of existing, nonmaintained roads that erode into streams.
"One of the largest problems we have from existing roads is water quality problems," he said.House GOP backs '06 session
"If we're going to wait until next year, we might as well wait until 2007," the governor said. "I don't think the world is going to change significantly between Dec. 15 and the middle of January."
Posted by admin at 08:02 AM | Comments (0)
Out West, Democrats Roam Free
"Schweitzer has gone a long way by ignoring the party elites," said Craig Wilson, a Montana State University professor who conducts the annual poll in this state. "The most significant effect has been among independents. More and more of them are breaking for the Democrats now."
Posted by admin at 03:11 PM | Comments (0)
Washington Post
Lawmakers Under Scrutiny in Probe of Lobbyist
The Post has reported that Burns, who received $137,000 in contributions from Abramoff lobbyists and their tribal clients, obtained a controversial $3 million school construction grant for one of Abramoff's wealthy tribal clients after pressuring the Bureau of Indian Affairs.
Billings Gazette
Posted by admin at 09:30 AM | Comments (0)
Turkey roastLast week Denny Rehberg, Montana's sole representative to the House, ignored public opinion and longstanding tradition when he put his party before his constituents and voted for a budget bill with an onerous provision to allow the sale of public land to corporate interests under the guise of the hopelessly outmoded 1872 Mining Law.
Posted by admin at 12:25 PM | Comments (0)
Billings Gazette
Schweitzer aims for 2-day special session"I'm saying to every legislator in Montana, plan to pack two shirts for the week of December 13th," he said. "Two shirts for two days.
"Two shirts, two pairs of socks, and if they're working long hours they might need four pairs of underwear."
Schweitzer: State finances are less than meets the eye"We will live within our means," he said. "That's why I spend all of my time on the road, trying to get more businesses. Bring more jobs, create higher-paying jobs, increase the taxpayers."
Great Falls Tribune
Opinion
Principle of openness more than just platitudeWas