IT HAS been many years since France last had a revolution, or even a serious attempt at reform. Stagnation, both political and economic, has been the hallmark of a country where little has changed for decades, even as power has rotated between the established parties of left and right. Until now. This year’s presidential election, Read More…
On Wednesday morning, the United States Senate voted to confirm Montana Congressman Ryan Zinke as Secretary of the Depart of Interior on a vote of 63 to 31. Both of Montana’s Senators Steve Daines and Jon Tester voted to confirm Zinke. The Whitefish native will become the first Montanan to serve in a Cabinet position. Read More…
The Billings Gazette editorial blasting my opposition to SB305 is alarmingly short on facts. The only voters being suppressed under the bill are those that want to vote at the polls to ensure their ballot makes it to the ballot box and is counted. SB305 would actually reduce voter choice and require all voters to Read More…
State Sen. Eric Moore, R-Miles City, was expected to introduce legislation this afternoon to modernize the way workers’ compensation insurance is purchased in Montana. The measure, if approved, would eliminate the state-operated Montana State Fund, which is currently the largest provider of workers’ compensation insurance in the state. The bill would allow for greater competition Read More…
For a state that has the highest ratio of entrepreneurs, Montana does not rank well in how it treats those entrepreneurs, and the impacts of those policies are far reaching for every citizen. Montana ranks 32nd in the 21st annual ranking of all states by the Small Business and Entrepreneurship Council (SBE), regarding policies which Read More…
On a recent Wednesday night, Montana State University channeled its inner Silicon Valley. A group of startup businesses gathered to present their various ventures — from a rideshare app to a bioengineered toothpick — in front of a crowd in the atrium of Jabs Hall. The startups, six in total, represented the first cohort of Read More…
Helena – A Democrat legislator from Bozeman has introduced a bill to raise the state income tax. House bill 452, by Representative Tom Woods would cost taxpayers more than $78 Million over the next 4 years. If it becomes law, Rep. Tom Woods’ bill would increase income taxes by $6.6 million in fiscal 2018, $24.5 Read More…
Two Republican state lawmakers from Hamilton are asking for $5.5 million to expand a healthcare program. “This bill is not only a good bill, it may be the most important we have to do all session.” That’s Representative Nancy Ballance. She and Representative Ron Ehli are teaming up to spend more public money on healthcare Read More…
Talen Energy is pushing Montana lawmakers for a tax break worth millions to keep two units of the coal-fired Colstrip power plant open, with one Republican leader saying Tuesday the units could close within the year without some form of assistance. House Speaker Austin Knudsen, R-Culbertson, said the $10 million coal severance tax reduction proposed Read More…
The Wyoming Legislature has passed a bill that will require large retailers that don’t have a presence in the state – including online retailers – to collect sales tax on purchases that are delivered into Wyoming. As long as House Bill 19/House Enrolled Act 41 makes it past Gov. Matt Mead’s desk, the law Read More…
A Senate committee on Wednesday tightened a bill that deals with penalties for possession of marijuana-infused products. House Bill 197 originally created a tiered penalty system for possession of small amounts of marijuana or marijuana-infused products. The penalty system applied to possession of marijuana in plant form of less than 3 ounces and marijuana-infused products Read More…
People who live in Missoula or are just going to be in the area will no longer have to leave their cars to pay for parking downtown. On Friday, the Missoula Parking Commission will roll out a pay-by-phone option. Tiffany Brander, administrative services manager with the Missoula Parking Commission, says people will never have to wait in line or Read More…
Some House Republicans on Tuesday defended their party’s work on the public health and human services budget for the next two years and offered cost-saving ideas to ensure more is spent on critical human services for the elderly, disabled and children. At a press conference, House Majority Leader Ron Ehli, R-Hamilton, said Republicans wanted Read More…
Distillers and a brewer testified at the Montana Capitol on Wednesday to support a bill that would make their businesses operate under the same tasting room laws. Montana breweries can serve up to 48 ounces of beer per customer until 8 p.m., and it may be consumed on premise until 9 p.m. Distilleries can Read More…
Someone is poaching bald eagles and hawks in the Mission Valley and selling their feathers. The U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service along with Tribal game wardens are working the case to find whoever is doing it. Last weekend, residents in the Saint Ignatius area between Missoula and Polson found several bald eagles and hawks dead Read More…
Montana’s Democratic Senator Jon Tester said Monday there is an agenda behind new attack ads aimed at the politician. The ads from the Judicial Crisis Network claim Tester is threatening to block support for Supreme Court Judge nominee Neil Gorsuch, creating gridlock in Washington. From KULR 8
Some health advocacy groups on Monday said they are supporting a draft bill to raise the state tax on cigarettes by $1.50 a pack to boost it to $3.20 a pack. Montana’s current cigarette tax of $1.70 a pack ranks 22nd highest nationally and hasn’t been raised since 2005, backers said. The national average Read More…
Local taco connoisseur Marley McKenna is hoping to feed Four Corners’ growing appetite with a new Taco del Sol shop off Huffine Lane. The restaurant, which will join McKenna’s Main Street location, is set to open in April. From Bozeman Daily Chronicle
Helena – A recently released state audit that included the Montana Department of Transportation shows that MDT gave out raises to 82% of employees while postponing construction projects and asking the legislature to raise the state gas tax. The audited conducted by the Legislative Audit Division revealed that MDT handed out raises of $2.4 Million Read More…
Obamacare is in a “death spiral,” the influential CEO of Aetna, Mark Bertolini, declared Wednesday morning. Bertolini’s doomsday prophesy: More insurers will pull out of the government-run marketplaces in the coming weeks and many areas will have no insurers to provide Affordable Care Act coverage in 2018. From Politico
Federal prosecutors may be investigating Fox News Channel’s parent company for not reporting settlements related to sexual harassment cases to the Securities and Exchange Commission, an attorney representing a former Fox News host said in open court on Wednesday. The lawyer, Judd Burstein, said that he had received a federal grand jury subpoena from the Read More…
Andrew Puzder withdrew his nomination Wednesday to be secretary of labor after Senate Republicans informed the White House that he lacked the votes to be confirmed. GOP senators advised the White House that Puzder could not pass through the narrowly divided Senate, sources said, and shortly thereafter the White House confirmed his intention to pull Read More…
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell is trying to clear the traffic jam of votes on six of President Donald Trump’s cabinet nominees, including Montana Rep. Ryan Zinke, who stands to be confirmed as the next interior secretary. McConnell filed cloture on Monday night for Rep. Mick Mulvaney, who will head the office of management and Read More…
Kelly McCarthy is a long-shot hopeful for the Montana Democratic nomination in the U.S. House election, according to a recent poll. Ahead of him are musician Rob Quist and schoolteacher Amanda Curtis. From Bozeman Daily Chronicle
Could a collection of tiny home-style units, clustered into a village with on-site social workers, help Bozeman get a handle on homelessness? It’s worth trying, say advocates with St. James Episcopal church and social service agency HRDC. From Bozeman Daily Chronicle
There has been a sudden surge in job openings in the Bakken – particularly for hydraulic fracturing and completion crews – as companies ramp up to put more wells on line in the first half of 2017, reports Oil Patch Hotline. Pay scales are running between $16 and $30 an hour. The number of job Read More…
People stood up again during the public comment period at the Bozeman City Commission meeting Monday evening to again ask commissioners to consider making Bozeman a sanctuary city. After everyone supporting the request had commented, Mayor Carson Taylor read aloud the proclamation he presented last week declaring Bozeman a safe and inclusive place for everyone. From KTVQ
About 77,000 visitors to Montana used Airbnb accommodations last year spending more than $10 million. Bozeman led all of Montana cities in 2016 in Airbnb use with 13,000 guests spending $1.9 million for their accommodations, according to an Airbnb press release issued Wednesday. From KTVQ
State lawmakers are continuing to work on Wyoming’s supplemental budget bill, and a committee is expected to be appointed today to iron out the differences in the House and Senate versions of the budget. The House passed its version of the budget Monday, and the Senate passed its version Friday. From Wyoming Business Report
MONTANA IS BROKE. As Subcommittee Chairs of House Appropriations, we are the first stop for spending bills in the Montana Legislature. We are responsible for hearing testimony in our area of focus, then making decisions and moving bills to the full Appropriations Committee. In a low budget situation, like we are currently experiencing, we are Read More…
Helena – Despite months of campaigning on fiscal responsibility and opposition to a statewide sales tax, Governor Steve Bullock is now supporting a raising the state fuel tax. At a contentious confirmation hearing this week, Department of Transportation director Mike Tooley admitted the Bullock administration wanted to propose an increase in the fuel tax but Read More…
Following the Governor’s State of the State address and the response by the Speaker of the House, the media reported on the stark differences the two made regarding Montana’s fiscal condition. However, the more important point that needs to be made is an explanation of the underlying factors contributing to these views and our differing Read More…
Montana educators expressed their concerns to Montana’s Superintendent of Public Instruction Elsie Arntzen at an education conference on Thursday. Arntzen stopped by the Montana Association of Elementary and Middle School Principals Conference in Great Falls to update attendees on various areas of education since taking over office in December. From KTVQ
Only two people filed applications by Friday’s deadline to indicate their desire to replace the state’s commissioner of political practices, Jon Motl. Michael Larson of Billings submitted his application to be the state’s campaign watchdog last week. Larson was a Billings City Commissioner from 1996 to 2004, a nonpartisan office. From Bozeman Daily Chronicle
President Donald Trump’s controversial executive orders on immigration and refugees — which were immediately challenged in federal court — brought into sharp relief the high political and legal stakes for the Supreme Court fight that will unfold this week. With Trump planning to announce his nominee on Tuesday night, his allies are moving quickly to Read More…
Helena – Montana Attorney General Tim Fox has issued an Attorney General opinion that nullifies a Missoula City Council ordinance that would require background checks for private gun purchases within Missoula city limits. Fox ruled Thursday that the ordinance violates state law stating that, “Plainly interpreted, the Montana Legislature has prohibited all forms of local Read More…
Helena – More than 300 people rallied at the capitol Wednesday in support of school choice. Supporters are asking the Legislature to support several bills this session. Montana is one of only three states in the nation with no form of school choice. “Every student deserves the chance to find his or her perfect educational Read More…
Dark. Negative. Divisive. That’s was the immediate narrative about President Donald Trump’s inaugural address. But many Americans liked it. A new POLITICO/Morning Consult poll shows that the new president’s message is resonating with voters, refuting the idea that Trump bungled his first speech as commander in chief. From Politico
Embattled State Sen. Bill Kintner resigned Wednesday from the Nebraska Legislature following months of criticism from lawmakers, constituents and Gov. Pete Ricketts. The resignation is effective Jan. 30. From Omaha World-Herald
Lawmakers are considering a bill that seeks state funding for 19-year-old high school students. Currently, Montana only funds students who are age 18 or younger at the start of the academic year. Democratic Rep. Jean Price of Great Falls introduced her bill Monday. The House Education Committee heard testimony in favor, but did not take Read More…