Montana Gov. Brian Schweitzer has been at once panned and praised for his handling of the state’s dwindling budget reserves through creativity, cuts and the occasional lecture. In true Schweitzer form, the governor’s latest proposal is asking his constituents: Do you have any ideas? Last week, the governor unveiled the “Montana Accountability Partnership Contest,” complete […]

As a former state senator and state chairman of the Republican Party, I believe Republicans should never be willing to abandon our core principles and historical foundation just for the sheer purpose of winning elections. Further, I believe a large majority of Americans value our traditional foundations, constructed by brilliant statesman like Thomas Jefferson. But […]

We want to say thank you to Rep. Denny Rehberg for coming to Libby for a listening session concerning Sen. Jon Tester’s Forest Jobs and Recreation Act. We are pleased to hear that he and Tester will be meeting soon to discuss this important grid-lock breaking piece of legislation. To quote Rehberg: “Doing nothing is […]

Another crushing blow was dealt Montana’s economy and 417 hard-working families when Smurfit-Stone Container announced closure of the Frenchtown pulp mill. There have been numerous news stories written about the reasons and the financial impacts on the community, so all of that does not need to be regurgitated. However, one conspicuously absent issue about this […]

For the last several weeks, I’ve been pretty hard on a few industries here in the Flathead, as well as on those who’ve lead them (or used to) and perhaps even those who might have milked them for a bit too long. There’s nothing wrong with milking the cow till she’s dry as long as […]

Last month, bankrupt Smurfit-Stone announced it was done in Montana. However, a more-important news item passed with little notice the next day. On Dec. 15, Weyerhaeuser’s board of directors “determined that conversion to a real estate investment trust (REIT) would best support the company’s strategic direction.” CFO.com reports the conversion should occur by Dec. 31, […]

Remnants of the Bush Administration threaten to leave the security of Montana airports in danger, as well as good Montana jobs. A little-known provision established in the Aviation and Transportation Security Act of 2001 (ATSA) called Screening Partnership Program (SPP) allows airports to “opt-out” of using federal Transportation Security Officers (TSOs) and replace those positions […]

When U.S. Census forms begin landing in our mailboxes in March, many Montanans will refuse to fill them out. And most of those who defy federal law will be hurting their own cause. There are those on the far right (in the minority) – from Minnesota Rep. Michelle Bachmann to the bloggers at Infowars.com – […]

As a former state senator and state chairman of the Republican Party, I believe Republicans should never be willing to abandon our core principles and historical foundation just for the sheer purpose of winning elections. Further, I believe a large majority of Americans value our traditional foundations, constructed by brilliant statesman like Thomas Jefferson. But […]

Emboldened by their lock on Congress and the White House, Democrats are pursuing an ambitious agenda that is making Republicans crave a resurgence. Many party faithful want to retrench to basic principles (complete with 10-point “purity tests”), purge the traitors, and await “our turn” in the next election. While voters may punish Democratic overreaching, by […]

When I saw the news about Smurfit a few weeks ago, I knew it was going to be ugly, painful and in the long run, maybe a good thing. Give me some time on the good part. There really is potential for a shiny side to all of this. Just not tomorrow or next week. […]

When I try to convince Republicans that global warming is a very real threat to the future of mankind they go ballistic with the notion that it is a Democratic hoax being perpetuated on the world. After all, Rush Limbaugh and their local newspaper told them so. When I point out that, if they are […]

Montana made national headlines in the days leading to 2009’s exit. First, there was the controversy, or non-controversy (depending on your point of view), surrounding our senior Sen. Max Baucus’ floor speech defending the Democrats’ health care plan. Then there were the Bozeman tennis courts. These stories aren’t at all related, but they each show […]

A high number of people in the Flathead Valley are protesting their property taxes. I think this tells the government locally that they better start trimming their budgets very quickly because it sounds like a tax shortfall is just around the corner. Local businesses have cut back for over a year while government and school […]

Is the Federal Reserve too secretive? This issue has waxed and waned. It’s reappearing again in Congress because the Fed failed to prevent the financial crisis and the “great recession,” prompting calls for major change at the world’s most powerful central bank. The change with the most backing is a proposal by Rep. Ron Paul […]