President Donald J. Trump has directed the Department of Justice to investigate the nation’s largest meat packing companies for potential collusion, price fixing, and manipulation, with a focus on foreign-owned or heavily foreign-influenced firms. The probe targets the “Big Four” meat packers — JBS (Brazil), Cargill, Tyson Foods, and National Beef — which together control Read More…
Western Montana Congressman Ryan Zinke announced his co-sponsorship of the “H.R. 5818 Country of Origin Labeling Enforcement Act of 2025” (COOL Enforcement Act), legislation introduced by Congresswoman Liz Cheney’s colleague, Congresswoman Hageman of Wyoming. The bill seeks to strengthen labeling requirements for U.S. beef by clarifying that products marketed as “Product of the USA” must Read More…
(The Center Square) – States rely on federal dollars more than they have in modern history, according to a new report, with one of the report’s authors saying such dependency makes states easy victims to the whims of federal bureaucrats and turmoil. Co-author of the State Policy Network’s report as well as senior policy adviser Read More…
The federal government shutdown entered its sixth week this weekend, stretching into the longest in U.S. history and revealing the mounting toll of Washington’s political stalemate. With more than 1,000 flight cancellations nationwide for the second straight day and critical federal services strained, the crisis is now hitting ordinary Americans far harder than the politicians Read More…
There’s a congressional election coming up on May 25th and three candidates are currently out barnstorming the state to gather votes and remind people that the special election actually exists. Republican Greg Gianforte and Democrat Rob Quist have big-name parties to help promote their message and a head start. Libertarian Mark Wicks was picked at Read More…
The Montana House Judiciary committee will look at resolution this week that states a proposed American Bar Association rule limits free speech and is unconstitutional. Proposed Rule 8.4 (g) states: “It is professional misconduct for a lawyer to engage in conduct that the lawyer knows or reasonably should know is harassment or discrimination on the basis of Read More…
Rep. Trey Gowdy (R-S.C.) asked FBI Director James Comey on Monday whether reporters could be prosecuted for leaks — despite a longstanding tradition and court history of not prosecuting the press. “Is there an exception in the law for current or former U.S. officials requesting anonymity?” Gowdy asked Comey during testimony about Russia’s interference in Read More…
A large part of the House GOP plan to repeal and replace ObamaCare is predicated on the idea of giving states more flexibility to run their Medicaid programs. But with an $880 billion price tag estimated over 10 years, governors and state officials from both parties are pressing Congress to slow down. States play a Read More…
Former top officials for Hillary Clinton’s campaign vented their frustration with both FBI Director James Comey and congressional Republicans on Monday as he testified on Capitol Hill. Five months after Comey stepped into the 2016 election fray in the campaign’s closing days to talk about investigations into Clinton’s email use — which Clinton herself has Read More…
High-rise wood-framed buildings are a rarity in the United States, but that may change with the help of a bipartisan bill that calls for accelerating research and development of tall wood buildings. U.S. Sens. Steve Daines, a Republican, and Jon Tester, a Democrat, have introduced legislation they say would support Montana’s timber industry, create jobs Read More…
The Montana Legislature is responsible for accomplishing a great deal during the 90 days it meets every two years. But lawmakers are actually only constitutionally required to do one thing — create and pass a state budget. Last week, the House of Representatives got one step closer to that goal. Fifty-six days into the session, Read More…
While campaign for the Democrat nomination to replace Congressman Ryan Zinke, Rob Quist supported a national gun registry; now that he has the nomination he is trying to walk back his earlier comments. In late January, Quist, a 69 year old banjo player and singer from Creston, told the Bozeman Chronicle, “You register your car Read More…
Helena – Representative Carl Glimm (R-Kila) announced the Montana locker room privacy act on Thursday. The bill would create a ballot referendum that would protect privacy for people in locker rooms and showers in public schools and other government facilities by barring men from women’s facilities. “The government has a duty to protect the privacy, Read More…
Helena – Two Democrat lawmakers are proposing legislation to enact a limited sales tax in Montana. Both bills would allow local residents to vote whether or not to pass the tax in their communities. Representative David Fern (D-Whitefish) introduced House Bill 577 which was heard in the House Taxation committee this week and awaits further Read More…
A Flathead Valley musician took to the stage on Monday evening in downtown Whitefish for a new reason — campaigning for Montana’s seat in the U.S. House of Representatives. About 120 people gathered at Casey’s Pub and Grill for a campaign kick-off event for Rob Quist, a Creston-area musician and the Democratic nominee for the Read More…
Supporters of a bill aimed at reducing property taxes in Montana say the agricultural industry needs help because of dropping commodity prices. House Bill 558 would reduce the amount of property taxes agricultural landowners and commercial properties pay in the state. Agricultural landowners would see a tax reduction of .15 percent, and commercial landowners, .11 Read More…
A bill introduced at the Legislature calls for legalizing the game of blackjack, or twenty-one, in Montana, and dividing the tax proceeds among pension, educational, social services and tribal scholarship programs. Rep. Wylie Galt, R-Martinsdale, is sponsoring House Bill 578, which would allow up to three live blackjack games in a bar or casino and Read More…
A bill limiting the length of contracts for small, renewable power projects would undercut a $100 million-plus proposed solar-power project near Billings, an attorney for the developer says. “We are at the point right now where my clients are coming into this state and saying, `We want to do business here’ – and Senate Bill Read More…
Establishing public charter schools and an increase in the fuel tax took up much of the discussion during a town hall meeting featuring State Sen. Steve Hinebauch, R-Wibaux, and Rep. Scott Staffanson, R-Sidney, in Sidney on Saturday night. The meeting took place during the midway point of the Montana legislative session. Sidney Superintendent of Schools Read More…
WikiLeaks will give technology companies access to information it has about the CIA’s hacking tools, WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange said Thursday. Assange said the organization will give details to let technology companies “develop fixes” before the information is published more widely. “We have decided to work with them,” Assange said during an online press conference Read More…
Instead of CPAC, it’ll be the Ideas Conference. Instead of taking place at National Harbor, it’ll be in the main room at the St. Regis Hotel, a few blocks from the White House. Instead of featuring President Donald Trump, it’ll be the first real cattle call of the Democrats nosing around 2020 presidential runs. And Read More…
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell said Thursday that his message to Republicans skeptical of the legislation introduced by House leadership to repeal and replace Obamacare is that “we need to deliver” because “we’re in the outcome business now.” Unlike his party’s efforts under the administration of former President Barack Obama, McConnell (R-Ky.) said GOP lawmakers Read More…
About a dozen Flathead residents opposed to a controversial water-bottling plant proposed in Creston testified in the Montana State Capitol Wednesday afternoon, lending their support to legislation that would subject the facility to an additional environmental review before it can be approved. Sen. Bob Keenan, R-Bigfork, is sponsoring Senate Bill 215, which would add water-packaging Read More…
Montana’s campaign regulator has reached a settlement with two elite universities whose professors caught grief for experimenting with Montana voters in 2014. In it Stanford and Dartmouth universities agreed to pay the state a combined $13,599. The cash and a previous apology from the universities’ presidents — mailed to all Montana voters at a cost Read More…
Helena – Democratic Congressional candidate Rob Quist’s campaign says it will only take political action committee (PAC) money from unions and liberal special interest groups. In a statement released to the media on Wednesday, the banjo player and singer turned politician said he will not accept any PAC money from committees associated with corporations. Campaign Read More…
Helena – Governor Steve Bullock vetoed House Bill 202 which would have provided new protections for state employee whistleblowers. The bill sponsored by Representative Kirk Wagoner passed both the House and Senate with bipartisan support. It would add new protections for public employees who report “matters of public concern” to the legislature. In a press Read More…
Helena – On Monday night, Bozeman businessman Greg Gianforte easily secured the Republican nomination for the special election to replace Congressman Ryan Zinke. Gianforte was selected in the first round of voting securing 150.5 votes, 123 votes were needed to win the nomination. Greg Gianforte beat out six other Republican candidates, Rep. Carl Glimm, Sen. Read More…
Helena – At their special convention on Sunday, March 5, Democrats nominated banjo player and singer Rob Quist to run under their party’s banner to fill Montana’s congressional seat that was vacated by Ryan Zinke, who was sworn in as Interior Secretary last week. Rob Quist currently resides in the Flathead Valley and was nominated Read More…
Gov. Steve Bullock says he believes the Montana Board of Regents would have to at least consider closing a state campus to make up for the $23.3 million budget cut proposed in the current Legislature. Bullock made the comment Wednesday while meeting with the Chronicle’s editorial board. The Democratic governor came to advocate Read More…
Here’s a look at the people hoping to replace Ryan Zinke as Montana’s congressional representative. There are eight Democrats hoping for their party’s nomination. Amanda Curtis is a member of Montana House of Representative… She sponsored the “hire Montana first act”. When not in session Curtis works as a high school math teacher… She serves 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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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