Montana on Wednesday May 07, 2008

Archive of Montana on Wednesday May 07, 2008

Roy Brown criticizes Schweitzer spending requests for 2009
By Charles S. Johnson, Helena Independent Record
Roy Brown, a Republican running for governor, criticized Democratic Gov. Brian Schweitzer Tuesday over state agencies requesting $413 million in new spending over the next two years and seeking 245 new employees.
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Republicans running for AG outline their plans
By Jennifer McKee, Billings Gazette
Lee Bruner and Tim Fox have almost nothing bad to say about each other. The two Republican lawyers are in a gentlemanly showdown to be the GOP's attorney general candidate in November.
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Helena lawmaker files complaint of misrepresentation
By Larry Kline, Helena Independent Record
A Helena Republican legislator has filed a political practices complaint against his primary-election challenger, claiming he misrepresented Ward?s 2007 Legislature voting record.
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Rating on state bonds raised
By Staff Reports, Billings Gazette
The state of Montana has received its third bond rating upgrade since last year, which means Montana will pay lower interest rates to borrow money when it issues bonds in the future.
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PSC delays decision on lawsuit
By News Services, Billings Gazette
The Public Service Commission will continue to evaluate the possibility of suing Northwestern Energy over its plans to sell a coal-fired electric generation plant.
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Gravel operators get permits
By News Services, Billings Gazette
Three companies that want to establish gravel pits near Belgrade received state permits Tuesday after a court battle.
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Snowmelt scarcity forces cut in flows
By Mark Henckel, Billings Gazette
Because snow is sticking tight to the high country of the Bighorn River Basin, flows through Yellowtail Dam were cut Tuesday by the Montana office of the Bureau of Reclamation.
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3 states head to court to keep control over wolves
By Matthew Brown, The Associated Press, The Boston Globe (registration)
HELENA, Mont. - Three states are defending their ability to sustain a gray wolf population in the Northern Rockies, asking to be heard in a federal lawsuit that seeks to return the wolves to the endangered species list.
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Wyo wants part in wolf suit
By Staff and Wire Reports, Casper Star-Tribune
For years, Wyoming and the federal government battled against each other in court over wolf management. Now, they're fighting on the same side. The Cowboy State has joined Idaho and Montana in asking to intervene in federal court against a lawsuit seeking to return wolves in the Northern Rockies to the endangered species list.
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Mont. releases swans raised in Wyo
By The Associated Press, Casper Star-Tribune
OVANDO, Mont. -- Ten trumpeter swans were released this week near Ovando in a continuing effort to re-establish a migrating population in the Blackfoot River Valley.
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Public to comment on prairie dogs
By News Services, Billings Gazette
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has begun accepting public comment on whether the white-tailed prairie dog, a squirrel-like rodent found in four states, should be protected under the Endangered Species Act.
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Wal-Mart selects 20 capitols, including Pa.'s, for energy audits
By The Associated Press, Pittsburgh Tribune-Review
OVERLAND PARK, Kan. -- Wal-Mart Stores Inc. has announced partnerships with Pennsylvania, 18 other states and Puerto Rico to help them save on energy and electricity costs at their capitols.
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Silver Alert helps rescue lost seniors
By Christine Vestal, Stateline.org Staff Writer
When an elderly person with dementia is lost, seven states can trigger a Silver Alert to let the community know. Proposals in Congress would expand the successful missing persons program to all 50 states.
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Will states fix 2012 primary process?
By Pamela M. Prah, Stateline.org Staff Writer

While voters in Indiana and North Carolina go to the polls today (May 6) to help Democrats pick Hillary Clinton or Barack Obama as their nominee and Republicans rally behind John McCain, party insiders and state election officials are in informal talks to improve the presidential nominating contests for 2012 and beyond.
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Oh say, is that banner made in the U.S.A.?
By Kim Mendelsohn, Special to Stateline.org
Lawmakers in 10 states have taken steps to require that American flags bought with state funds be manufactured in this country. While not all the legislation has passed, one state’s new law even bans the sale of foreign-made American flags in that state.
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Fairness of death-penalty panels questioned
By John Gramlich, Stateline.org Staff Writer
Death-penalty supporters are raising questions about the fairness of state commissions charged with studying how capital punishment is carried out in Maryland and Tennessee, claiming the panels will issue reports that ignore their views.
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WORTH NOTING: Voters' guide promotes phone sex
By Pauline Vu, Stateline.org Staff Writer
An Oregon voters’ guide lists a very wrong number. California’s governor insults rural legislators. And Pennsylvania considers selling wine in vending machines. In case you missed those stories this week, “Worth Noting” fills you in.
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Parents turn to states for autism help
By Daniel C. Vock, Stateline.org Staff Writer
(UPDATED 4 p.m. EDT, Thursday May 1) One of the toughest problems facing autism patients, their families and policymakers is paying for treatment. Families are increasingly relying on states to help them cope with the financial, medical and educational needs.

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Seeds of social issues dot 2008 elections
By Louis Jacobson, Stateline.org Columnist

With a sagging economy and a divisive war occupying Americans’ minds, will social issues be overshadowed in state elections in 2008?
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Legislators prod Congress on Medicaid, Real ID
By Pamela M. Prah, Stateline.org Staff Writer
As some states tumble into what they fear is a recession, state lawmakers from across the country are pushing Congress for relief from impending federal rules that would force states to pick up more Medicaid costs and spend billions to make drivers’ licenses more secure.
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With justices' OK, voter ID moves ahead
By Daniel C. Vock and John Gramlich, Stateline.org Staff Writers
A decision Monday (April 28) by the U.S. Supreme Court to let Indiana demand photo identification from voters paves the way for other states to do the same during November’s presidential election, experts say.
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More states offer choice in long-term care
By Christine Vestal, Stateline.org Staff Writer
More states are poised to offer a successful alternative to traditional Medicaid plans that allows elders and the disabled to avoid moving to a nursing facility by hiring friends, neighbors or family members to look after them in their own homes.
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Credit crunch hits states' college loans
By Pauline Vu, Stateline.org Staff Writer

(Updated 11:55 a.m. EDT, April 23, 2008)

The credit crisis has led some state lending agencies to suspend their federal and private student loan programs, forcing thousands of students to search elsewhere for money to pay for college.

Partisan mix in R.I., Conn. poses challenges
By Louis Jacobson, Stateline.org Columnist

The blue states of Connecticut and Rhode Island have had a long tradition of electing Republican governors. But in both states, the combination has led at times to difficult — even chaotic — policymaking.
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Will Democrats grow legislative edge in '08?
By Louis Jacobson, Stateline.org Columnist

For the past several election cycles, the Democrats have been on a roll in legislative elections. This year, the party is well-positioned to hold its majority of chambers — but greatly expanding Democratic control may not be in the cards.

'Purple' states turn a little more 'blue'
By Louis Jacobson, Stateline.org Columnist

The national polls point to a tight presidential race in November. But Democrats have a bit more to cheer about than Republicans do, regardless of who wins the Democratic primary, according to the latest state-by-state electoral-vote projections by “Out There.”
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Governors pitch ambitious programs
By Pamela M. Prah, Stateline.org Staff Writer

Billion-dollar deficits in California, New York and Arizona haven’t stopped governors there and elsewhere from proposing big-ticket items for 2008. Stateline.org looks at proposals from governors’ 2008 "state of the state" speeches and provides an exclusive summary of all the addresses so far.

AG contests attract serious attention
By Louis Jacobson, Stateline.org Columnist

Once, races for state attorney general were quiet affairs. No longer. Attorneys general can wield enormous power in such areas as consumer protection and criminal prosecutions – and can use the job to vault into higher office. Here's how this year's 10 state races for attorney general are shaping up.
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Iraq casts shadow on 2008 state races
By Louis Jacobson, Stateline.org Columnist

Not a single governor or state legislator wields authority over the conduct of the Iraq War, yet a broad range of party strategists and political analysts agree that state races in 2008 will be shaped, mostly indirectly, by public attitudes towards that conflict. Unless there’s a sea change in public opinion, that’s bad news for Republicans.
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WORTH NOTING: Illinois gov runs up travel tab
By Christine Vestal, Stateline.org Staff Writer
Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich’s commuting costs start to add up. South Dakota Gov. Mike Rounds settles a dispute with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service over a cranky game warden. California corrections officials install “flushometers” to control wasteful toilet flushing in prisons. In case you missed any of those stories this week, "Worth Noting" fills you in.
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