Category: Montana Politics

Politicians <a href="http://www.billingsgazette.com//index.php?id=1&display=rednews/2005/04/20/build/state/71-votebuying.inc" target="_new">trade votes</a> for their own pet projects. [sarcasm]How horrible[/sarcasm]. What, do they really think we're so stupid to believe this doesn't happen every day in politics? Just the <a href="http://nowherethoughts.net/sarpysam/archives/886-Screwing-Us-Over.html" target="_new">other day</a> it happened for a dinosaur park or some such malarkey.<br />n<br />nWhat I find interesting is that the bill that…

Last week I talked about how <a href="http://nowherethoughts.net/sarpysam/archives/869-Confusion-Reigns-Today.html" target="_new">I was confused</a> about the State's policy on raising property taxes to fund a liability in a pension fund. I was so confused I made it my entry into this week's <a href="http://goatopolis.blogspot.com/2005/04/rascal-fair-volume-2.html" target="_new">Rascal Fair</a>. I see my <a href="http://www.billingsgazette.com//index.php?tl=1&display=rednews/2005/04/12/build/state/67-retirement-bailout.inc" target="_new">confusion has been solved</a>. The legislature is…

Another confusing thing hit me this morning. It deals with taxes and our Governor. I read where the <a href="http://www.billingsgazette.com//index.php?id=1&display=rednews/2005/04/07/build/state/25-school-bill.inc" target="_new">property tax increase</a> for the schools was "unanimously rejected" by the House. This was good news because the landowners of Montana can't stand another property tax increase but then I see another story.<br />n<br />n<a…

<blockquote>Senate President Jon Tester, a Democrat and Big Sandy farmer, said the House-passed bill offers a new marketing tool for Montana ranchers that will help the economy and attract cattle feeding and meatpacking operations to the state to make use of the Montana brand.</blockquote><br />n<br />nSo, a Montana only <a href="http://www.billingsgazette.com//index.php?id=1&display=rednews/2005/04/07/build/state/64-label-bill.inc" target="_new">country of origin bill</a>…

Interesting opinion piece in the Missoulian about <a href="http://www.missoulian.com/articles/2005/04/05/opinion/opinion3.txt" target="_new">ethanol</a>. It more correctly points out than I ever have the glut of ethanol all ready on the market and how mandating ethanol in fuel here will only cost consumers. I admit the Montana bill now requires there to be enough in state production before the…

As usual this dumb cowboy is missing something again. Going in to this Legislative session here in Montana the big issue was going to be devising a new school funding formula to satistfy the court. Only 22 days left in the session, they still haven't figured it out and they are all ready <a href="http://www.billingsgazette.com//index.php?id=1&display=rednews/2005/04/01/build/state/88-special-session.inc"…

As if our property taxes weren't high enough all ready the legislature wants to <a href="http://www.billingsgazette.com//index.php?id=1&display=rednews/2005/04/01/build/state/35-school-bill.inc" target="_new">raise them further</a>. Taxes are my second biggest expense for this place. This is exactly why I get so scared when the legislature is in session. They won't be happy until they tax us to death.<br />n<br />n<b>Our new…

The Billings Gazette today run quite a few articles about the ethanol industry that were quite interesting and deserve further comment. As any one who regularly reads this knows I oppose the law that would make ethanol in our fuel mandatory. <acronym title="<a href="http://governor.mt.gov/governor/govbio.asp">Gov. Brian Schweitzer</a>">The Second Coming</acronym> and his disciples think that it is…

So, instead of living within the law you look for ways <a href="http://www.billingsgazette.com//index.php?id=1&display=rednews/2005/03/18/build/state/24-spendingcap.inc" target="_new">around the law</a>. That's the Montana legislature for you.<br />n<br />n<b>Law grinds the poor, and rich men rule the law. Oliver Goldsmith</b>