Category: Montana Politics

Why is it that as a private individual if I risk money in the stock market for retirement and the market takes a turn for the worse, I am out the money and no help is available but the Government risks money in the stock market for retirement and the market takes a turn for…

<blockquote>A team of school finance experts hired by the Legislature earlier this year presented several school funding proposals to the committee Tuesday based off research from the past few months.<br />n<br />nThe proposals – which suggested spending no additional money to up to $200 million more per year on schools – are meant as a…

<a href="http://www.mises.org/story/1886">Ethanol and the Calculation Issue</a><br />n<br />n<blockquote>In the end, the federal government's subsidization of ethanol through various energy bills created the current debate over the efficiency of ethanol production. In an unregulated and unsubsidized economy, the market pricing system for ethanol consumption and the capital goods required in its production will soon signify if…

As we in Montana wait for the Government mandate forcing us to use ethanol in our gas, I found this interesting.<br />n<br />n<a href="http://www.scienceblog.com/cms/node/8353">Ethanol, biodiesel from crops not worth the energy</a><br />n<br />n<blockquote>Turning plants such as corn, soybeans and sunflowers into fuel uses much more energy than the resulting ethanol or biodiesel generates, according to…

<blockquote>Two Democrats seeking to defeat Sen. Conrad Burns, R-Mont., in next year's elections have been illegally soliciting campaign contributions through prerecorded telephone messages.<br />n<br />nJon Tester of Big Sandy and State Auditor John Morrison have used message systems to call people at home and ask them to contribute to their campaigns. Both Democrats are vying…

One way of not increasing "taxes." Just <a href="http://www.billingsgazette.com//index.php?id=1&display=rednews/2005/06/10/build/state/45-fees.inc">raise fees</a> and hold your head proud that it costs more for Montanans to live here since as Legislatures and Governor, you didn't raise taxes. Just made it more expensive for all of us. Thanks for Nothing.<br />n<br />n<b>The poorest service is repaid with thanks. William Shakespeare</b>

Sometimes I just don't understand things and wish I did. Most of the time these things are political in nature so it's obviously something to do with with that slimy game. This time my lack of understanding is the excitement there appears to be about <a href="http://www.billingsgazette.com/index.php?display=rednews/2005/05/25/build/state/30-tester.inc">Jon Tester</a> announcing his bid for one of Montana's…

What do we hear, "but he did it so I can too!!!" as he runs off to the corner whining and pouting.<br />n<br />n<a href="http://www.billingsgazette.com//index.php?id=1&display=rednews/2005/05/12/build/state/45-budget.inc" target="_new">Schweitzer: Racicot made budget change</a><br />n<br />nNow I wasn't bloging at the time or had access to news so I don't particularly remember this incident but there is a question…

<blockquote>It appears that the new $1-per-pack incease in the tax on cigarettes, approved by voters in November, is reducing the number of cigarettes sold in state. That means the state is receiving less tobacco tax revenue than it anticipated.</blockquote><br />n<br />n(disclaimer)The spelling mistake in the above is in the original from the Gazette. Please don't…

I didn't see a City Lights column in the Gazette this morning but I did enjoy the <a href="http://www.billingsgazette.com//index.php?id=1&display=rednews/2005/04/24/build/state/52-horse-sense.inc" target="_new">Horse Sense</a> column by Charles S. Johnson. I have really enjoyed reading these through the Legislative session because it usually gave a little different viewpoint on what was happening at the Capital.<br />n<br />nToday's column is…