Rep. Rehberg & Brad Johnson Won't Say Where They Stand on Romney's Plan to Privatize Social Security

Montana Democrats today called on the state's Republican leaders to say whether or not they support privatizing Social Security as presidential candidate Mitt Romney does. Romney addressed Republican faithful in Helena at Rehberg and Johnson's invitation this morning. He declared his support for the Bush-Cheney proposal to privatize Social Security and cut benefits for seniors two weeks ago. Secretary of State Brad Johnson has been named Romney's campaign chair in Montana.

"Congressman Rehberg and Brad Johnson need to come clean with the people of Montana and tell us whether they support Romney's plan to privatize Social Security. Both of them frankly have been ducking and weaving on this important issue for a long time," said Dennis McDonald, Chair of the Montana Democratic Party. "With Mitt Romney in town today, it's a great time for Rep. Rehberg and Mr. Johnson to tell Montana exactly where they stand...more"

GOP Fails to Come Up with a Candidate to Oppose Schweitzer

The Associated Press reported today that Gov. Brian Schweitzer does not seem worried about a Republican challenge in 2008, and that his accomplishments speak for themselves.

"So far, no Republicans have announced they will be running for the office in 2008 — although speculation surrounds a long list of potential candidates.

Schweitzer, who has started raising money for his re-election battle, touted the state’s lowest unemployment rate in the country, an increase in high-paying jobs, and increased oil production as indicators he is doing a good job in the face of speculation about GOP challengers...more"

Baucus, Tester support fuel-efficiency standards: good news for Montana and a country too dependent on foreign oil

The Associated Press reported today that Montana Sens. Max Baucus and Jon Tester supported a Senate effort to mandate new automobile fuel economy standards Thursday.

The Senate voted, without a roll call vote, to increase automobile fuel economy standards to 35 miles per gallon, the first significant boost demanded of automakers in nearly 20 years...more.

GOP Divided Between Extremists and Moderates

It was reported in the Great Falls Tribune today that the Montana GOP are desparately trying to put the best spin on the non-stop internal Republican bloodletting and “fratricide” between extremists and moderate Republicans, and recent losses in former Republican strongholds like Ravalli County.

"They're whistling past their own graveyard," responded Jim Farrell, executive director of the state Democratic Party. "Those elections in Ravalli County are a harbinger of the 2008 elections, and it shows that the temper of the voters is moving away from Republicans."

Angry extremist Republican leadership ousted their majority leader, Rep. Mike Lange (R-Billings), for at one point touting a compromise with Democratic Gov. Brian Schweitzer, at the end of the special session.

"They humiliated him and publicly tanned him," Farrell said. "The Republican Party in Montana has probably never been more divided than it is today. ... The moderates in the Republican Party have been pushed out by this Taliban of extremists like Scott Sales, John Sinrud (the Appropriations Committee chairman from Bozeman) and Bob Lake."

GOP executive director Chris Wilcox even tried to say "We are a big tent."

His comment came a couple of days after the news that Wilcox rejected an attempt by Lt. Gov. John Bohlinger — a longtime Republican legislator who ran on the Democratic ticket with Schweitzer — to attend the convention, leading Bohlinger to deride the party as "a pup tent...more"

Montana Democratic Party • PO Box 802 • Helena, Montana 59624
Phone 406-442-9520 • Fax 406-442-9534 • www.MontanaDemocrats.org
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