Rehberg Supports National Identification Card Opposed by Montanans

 

Governor Brian Schweitzer and Senators Tester and Baucus know exactly where they stand on the introduction of a national identification card – THEY STRONGLY OPPOSE IT.  But does Congressman Dennis Rehberg? 

 

As a favor to Bush & Cheney, Rehberg has supported and voted in favor for the measure that is a cornerstone of the establishment of a police state, the so-called “Real ID” legislation.  Gov. Schweitzer today signed Montana House Bill 287 - supported unanimously by the Legislature - into law forbidding implementation of the measure in our state.  Rehberg is way out of step with freedom-minded Montanans on this one. You won't believe what he said: click here.

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Republicans Block Billions for Clean and Green Energy Development Incentives in Montana

 

Republicans in the Montana Senate are trying to torpedo legislation that would help with the greenhouse gas effect and global warming, help Montana play a big part in achieving energy independence, and create economic growth and thousands of jobs in the areas of the state that need it most.  Why?  Because Exxon, Mobil and Conoco told them to do it.

 

Every Republican Senator voted against S.B. 562, the “Clean & Green” Energy Development bill championed by Gov. Schweitzer —including GOP Senators in some of the areas that would see the most benefit from the provision, especially Jim Peterson R-Buffalo, Donald Steinbeisser R-Sidney, and Jerry Black, R-Shelby.  Their constituents should send them all packing for this.

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Gov. Schweitzer’s Tax Cuts Make Important Progress

 

The Montana Senate took an important step forward this week on Governor Schweitzer’s permanent property tax cuts for Montanans – tax cuts paid for by out-of-state residents ducking their taxes.

Senators amended HB 833 to provide a balance of long-term tax cuts and long term revenue measures recommended by the Governor.  The amendments provide fiscal discipline and stability. $400 tax cuts for Montana resident home-owners and reductions for small businesses are paid for by telling non-residents and-out-of-state corporations to pay taxes they owe on Montana income. More

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The HMOs command, Sinrud obeys

 

Insure Montana is a joint initiative of Governor Brian Schweitzer and State Auditor John Morrison that helps small businesses that were previously unable to afford health insurance for their employees. This initiative began in 2005 and is extremely popular with Montana small businesses. So we were confused when Republicans in the Montana House of Representatives voted to block sole proprietors and businesses with up to 15 employees from participating in the program.  What gives here?

SB 140, Sponsored by Democratic Senator Dan Weinberg was defeated in the House Appropriations committee, chaired by Republican John Sinrud of Belgrade. This isn’t the first time Sinrud has acted against Montanans need for affordable health care. Now, he’s refusing support for adding more kids to the Children’s Health Insurance Program and has promised no action on the measure in the immediate future.

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Democrats Protect Your Voting Rights

 

Nearly 7,500 Montanans registered and voted during Montana’s late registration period in 2006 – a total of 3,947 of those people registered on Election Day. Montana should be PROUD of the fact that so many thousands of residents who might not otherwise have voted participated in the election.

But all this voter participation must have made Republicans like Secretary of State Brad Johnson worried. He championed the failed measure that sought to eliminate Montanans’ right to register and vote all the way through Election Day.

Fortunately, Democratic leaders in a Senate Committee killed Johnson’s horrible bill last week. On a party line vote, all seven Democrats voted to preserve our voting rights and all five Republicans voted to make it harder for Montanans to vote. This is a victory for us all. After all, democracy only works if people are allowed to vote.

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Republicans Again Block One Stream Access Bill:  Schweitzer fights for Stream Access in Another

It is not uncommon for floaters and fishermen to sometimes encounter fences, including barbed wire, strung across streams. Montana’s Stream Access is enshrined in our state constitution. It apparently provides recreationists not only with the ability to use Montana’s rivers and streams but with greater security in the safety of their fishing and floating. The truth is, a law is needed today to make that right a reality.

 

 

But Republicans in the House of Representatives again refused to even debate a bill that maintains access to rivers and streams while still allowing ranchers to build fences to keep livestock in.  The bill, Senate Bill 78, is a win for anglers and recreationists and a win for ranchers across Montana. So who are these Republicans working for?

 

 

With this key stream access bill stalled, Gov. Brian Schweitzer used an amendatory veto last Wednesday to add some access provisions into an obscure bridge bill.

 

“What this does is it is a common-sense roadmap for county commissioners to recognize and respect stream access in Montana,’’ the Democratic governor said in an interview. More.