Category: Montana Politics
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Shoving It Down Our Throats
Two years ago when the Montana Legislature was in session I wrote very often about the stupidity of the ethanol mandate they were trying to put in and how if consumers wanted ethanol the market would support them and their would be no need for a mandate. As usual, nobody listened and they voted in…
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Business Climate
Mike over at <a href="http://thelastbestplace.blogspot.com/2007/03/home-again.html">The Last Best Place</a> has announced he is moving from Montana to elsewhere. His reason why he is leaving really caught my eye.<br />n<br />n<blockquote>To make a long story short I made the difficult decision to move the nuts and bolts of my operation to NoDak, where the business climate is…
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Noise
Don't you love it when politicians make noise to hear their own voice.<br />n<br />n<a href="http://www.billingsgazette.net/articles/2007/03/04/news/state/67-budget.txt" >Schweitzer cautiously optimistic about budget</a><br />n<br />n<blockquote><a href="http://governor.mt.gov/governor/govbio.asp">Gov. Brian Schweitzer</a> predicts that the Legislature will finish its work on time and leave Helena with a balanced budget, despite the flap created when House Republicans split the big budget bill,…
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Gone
Well, the hired hand is history. He left last night. I can't say it hurts my feelings, I'm just not looking forward to dealing with a new one. He should be here Saturday.<br />n<br />nThe old hired hand had his Dad come down to help him move out. He had a flatbed trailer and had…
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Tax Breaks
<a href="http://www.billingsgazette.net/articles/2007/02/01/news/state/60-breaks.txt" >Governor details range of clean-energy tax breaks</a><br />n<br />n<blockquote><a href="http://governor.mt.gov/governor/govbio.asp">Gov. Brian Schweitzer</a> wants property tax breaks as big as 75 percent for "clean and green" energy development and transmission, part of his effort to develop energy resources in the state.<br />n<br />nSchweitzer unveiled details on the tax breaks Wednesday, which he hinted at…
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Legislature Dealings
Just a little information on what the Legislature is up to from the <a href="http://www.billingsgazette.net/" >Gazette</a>. I don't have time to do much else right now.<br />n<br />nWe have a push to allow more <a href="http://www.billingsgazette.net/articles/2007/01/31/news/state/56-legicabaret.txt" >licenses</a> to sell drinks at places that serve food. Not much opposition is seen for this for a change.<br…
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Sour Grapes
<a href="http://www.billingsgazette.net/articles/2007/01/30/news/state/56-legiswitchers.txt" >GOP senator takes aim at party switchers</a><br />n<br />n<blockquote>A Republican state senator wants to let voters recall public officials who switch parties, a bill that follows a defection that cost the GOP power in the state Senate.<br />n<br />nSen. Dan McGee, R-Laurel, said his bill is not directed at former Republican Sen. Sam…
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Useless Thoughts
Some things that quickly caught my eye.<br />n<br />nWhen did the Doomsday Clock, which was used to show the threat of a nuclear cataclysm, begin to be used to show <a href="http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/B/BRITAIN_DOOMSDAY_CLOCK?SITE=MTBIL&SECTION=INTERNATIONAL&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT">environmental catastrophe</a>? I was not aware of this change, not that I'm in the loop on this one. It seems like an………interesting change.<br />n<br…
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Status Quo
<a href="http://www.billingsgazette.net/articles/2007/01/16/news/state/54-bill.txt" >Governor, developers split on bill</a><br />n<br />n<blockquote>If Montana is going to develop more of its wind, coal, oil and gas, it will need ways to move energy products beyond its borders, and a new state board or authority can help encourage new power lines and pipelines, supporters of the idea said Monday.<br />n<br…
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Name Calling
<a href="http://www.billingsgazette.net/articles/2007/01/06/news/state/35-maker.txt" >Lawmaker apologizes for comments</a><br />n<br />n<blockquote>Rep. Ed Butcher, R-Winifred, was made to apologize Friday on the House floor after referring to an American Indian lawmaker as "chief" and asking the lawmaker if a committee chairman's gavel wielded by Butcher constituted a "war club."<br />n<br />n"It was meant as a compliment," Butcher said to…