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Montana Politics

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State Dept. Plans Single Public Meeting On Updated Keystone Pipeline Draft

By Olivia Reingold • Oct 25, 2019

 

The U.S. State Department will host the only public meeting over its recently updated draft environmental statement for the Keystone XL pipeline Tuesday in Billings

This is the public’s first and only chance to meet with government officials in an open house to talk about the updated draft environmental statement for the controversial pipeline. A federal judge said late last year that the original draft needed further review of potential environmental impacts.

Gov. Bullock Endorses Lt. Gov. Cooney In Gubernatorial Race

By • Oct 25, 2019
Montana Gov. Steve Bullock and Lt. Gov. Mike Cooney talk with reporters in the State Capitol about state budget cuts, July 25, 2018.
Corin Cates-Carney / Montana Public Radio

Gov. Steve Bullock is taking sides in the Democratic party’s 2020 primary race for governor. In a press conference Friday Bullock endorsed his current lieutenant governor for the job.

Sen. Daines Backs Resolution Condemning Impeachment Inquiry

By Associated Press • Oct 25, 2019

Montana U.S. Sen. Steve Daines announced Thursday that he’s signed onto a Senate Resolution condemning the House impeachment inquiry into President Donald Trump.

In a video posted to Twitter, Daines, a Republican running for reelection in 2020, said House Democrats are throwing out 100 years of precedent.

Mountain States Poll Shows Majority Of Montanans, Wyomingites Oppose Impeachment Inquiry

By • Oct 25, 2019

Montana State University Billings released the 32nd edition of its political poll Wednesday. The poll shows a majority of Montanans and Wyomingites support President Donald Trump and disapprove of Congress.

Survey Gauges Waste, Fraud In Montana Government

By • Oct 24, 2019
Montana Legislative Audit Division fraud reporting resources.

A survey released this month says one in five state employees in Montana are aware of unintentional, thoughtless or careless expenses squandering government resources.

The state Legislative Audit Division says 19 percent of state workers that responded to their survey said they had first-hand knowledge of waste of state government resources in the agencies they work for.

Montana Ag Producers Want More Action On Canadian Feral Pigs

By • Oct 23, 2019
Feral pigs stock photo.
iStock

Feral swine threatening to cross the northern border from Saskatchewan and Alberta could cause millions of dollars of crop damage and decimate ecosystems in Montana. State and U.S. agencies say they’re ready if that happens, but farmers and ranchers want more.

Producers want the government to pressure Canadian officials to step up their management of the wild pigs before they move south.

Daines: Syria Troop Withdrawal 'Detrimental To Our National Security'

By • Oct 23, 2019
Montana Sen.Steve Daines at a Senate Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry Committee meeting in April 2018.
Courtesy Sen. Steve Daines

President Donald Trump’s decision to withdraw U.S. troops from Syria has earned condemnation from Montana’s entire congressional delegation.

Montana Democratic Party Executive Director Steps Down

By • Oct 21, 2019
Monica Lindeen.
Courtesy Monica Lindeen

The Montana Democratic Party will soon start searching for a new executive director. Monica Lindeen will step down from her post as executive director of the Montana Democratic Party by year’s end.

Judge Grants Injunction On Governor's Vape Ban

By • Oct 18, 2019
A vape device with flavor refills.
iStock

Montana Gov. Steve Bullock’s order to temporarily halt the sale of flavored e-cigarettes will not go into effect next week after all. On Friday, a state district judge blocked the administration’s move until a hearing later this month.

Montana vape shop retailers last week vowed to challenge Bullock’s order to temporarily halt the sale of flavored e-cigs. They made good on that promise in a Thursday court filing, and State District Judge Jennifer Lint of Hamilton has backed them up, at least for now.

Cooney Challenges Opponents To Campaign Spending Limits

By • Oct 17, 2019
Montana Lieutenant Gov. and gubernatorial candidate Mike Cooney.
Montana Governor's Office

Montana Lt. Gov. Mike Cooney is asking his opponents in the Democratic primary race for governor to sign a pledge to limit outside spending and self-funding in their campaigns. The pledge was called a media stunt by one opponent.

Cooney this week offered the pledge to donate to charity half of the value of any independent expenditures made by outside organizations, individuals, or corporations that benefit his campaign.

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