big sky democrats

Historic Tax Cuts for Montanans

Thanks to House and Senate Democrats and Gov. Schweitzer, over $340 million in tax cuts have been provided to Montanans over the next 4 fiscal years.

Visit WeGaveItBack.com for all the details.

'Square Deal' trumps 'Handshake'

From the Great Falls Tribune:

But one of the first things that strikes you as you
look at the big picture is that the governor's Square Deal with Montana
fared better than the Republicans' Handshake with Montana.

More...  

Sirota Rebuts Dennison's Session Column.  A must read. 

Beware of High Broderism Outbreaks In Your State (via DavidSirota.com)

Legislation sponsored by Senator Max Baucus that will protect Montana’s wild Rocky Mountain Front from oil and gas development – forever – has just passed Congress. The threat from energy development has been removed – for good!

Senator Baucus’ legislation will prevent all future oil and gas leases on public lands on “the Front.” The ban on new leases will also allow a coalition of non-profit groups to purchase existing leases and permanently retire them, without fear the federal government could reissue the leases in the future.

If you haven't voted yet get thee to the polls. If you have voted, get your friends to the polls.  We need everyone to get out to vote. If you have questions about where you vote you can visit Jon Tester's website.  Here's details from Tester's website on voting and volunteering on Election Day. 

 Remember your vote counts, stand up and be counted today!

Looks like Conrad Burns and his beltway boys lived on free sushi provided by convicted lobbyist Jack Abramoff at his restaurant in DC. In exchange Abramoff had "explicit control over Mr. Burns." Hear all the gory, sushi-related details over at MSNBC.

There’s Sen. Burns in front of a banner that read, “Making the Web a Safer Place for Children” (above).   Sen. Conrad Burns sponsored the Senate version of sexual predator Rep. Mark Foley’s (R-Fl) House bill that ironically took aim at sexual predators online.  Was this an attempt to whitewash Foley’s behaviour?  Burns and Foley’s bill passed several months after Republican leaders were made aware of Foley’s preying on young pages in the House of Representatives. 

"This is an argument between the Montana Republican Party and the Nazis" said Jessica Rhoades spokeswoman for the Montana Democratic Party.

See the Helena IR.

It reminds me of the line in Mel Brook's movie The Producers: "Don't be stupid, be a smarty. Come and join the Nazi party."

Schweitzer: Backcountry has enough roads
By SUSAN GALLAGHER - Associated Press Writer - 11/02/05
HELENA — Gov. Brian Schweitzer maintains Montana’s federal backcountry does not need more roads and says any county commissions that find otherwise should give him their road proposals by Jan. 1.

Schweitzer also has told commissioners he wants to meet with them at the Capitol on Nov. 28 for roadless discussions that, for many, will be a follow up to county visits he made in recent months. More...

Cries for ‘leadership' are disingenuous - Sunday, October 23, 2005

SUMMARY: Governor's critics want compliance, campaign fodder, not leadership.

Gov. Brian Schweitzer is under fire from Educrats and Republicans to “show leadership” in coming up with a new system for funding public schools.

What the Republicans want, of course, is for the Democratic Golden Boy to say or do something they can whack him for - anything. They're looking for something to oppose, not to support. Nobody should believe Republicans are milling around, waiting for the Democrats' Red State Wonder to tell them how high to jump.