Posts Tagged ‘Montana’

From BillingsGazette:

In the wake of Nov. 2’s electoral wipeout for Montana Democrats, one has to wonder: Could Democrats be on their way to becoming a permanent minority at the Montana Legislature?

Veteran Democrats in the Treasure State say no, and that this month’s heavy losses were the result of a “perfect storm” of bad political circumstances that doomed Democratic candidates from Pablo to Plentywood.

Two of the state’s top political scientists also say they’re not convinced Montana Republicans have delivered a knockout blow, and that Democrats could very well stage a comeback in legislative races in the near future, if political and economic winds shift.

New legislative districts also will be drawn for the 2014 elections and could help change the parties’ political fortunes.

Yet the current districts are seen as marginally favorable to Democrats — and Democrats have won an outright majority in either the House or Senate only once since 2004.

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From Missoulian:

Former state Sen. Ken Miller, a Laurel businessman and Republican who ran unsuccessfully for Montana governor in 2004, on Monday formally kicked off his campaign for governor in 2012.

Miller, 53, said he’s starting early because of his experience in 2004, knowing how much preparation and work are needed to run a successful statewide campaign.

“I understand how large this state is and how much must be accomplished with fundraising and grassroots development,” he said. “We want to get an early start on the fundraising so we can be a strong candidate all the way through.”

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From BillingsGazette.com:

Even without a presidential race to lure voters, the stakes couldn’t be higher this election season for Democrats and Republicans fighting to control an often narrowly divided state Legislature.

Montana’s House of Representatives was evenly split in 2009. Two years earlier, the chamber was divided with 50 Republicans, 49 Democrats and one Constitution Party member. Likewise, during the last few sessions, control of the state Senate has come down to a couple of seats.

And this year’s primary elections, particularly for Republicans, are thick with candidates. Republicans have 31 contested primary races for the House and Senate, including 10 with at least three candidates. And, 10 of those multicandidate races are along the Yellowstone River corridor from Livingston to Miles City.

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From the Montana Republican Legislative Campaign Committee:

Republican leaders have sent a letter to the Governor’s Budget Director and Legislative Fiscal Division asking that they conduct an in-depth analysis of impacts the new federal health care reform legislation will have on Montana. The letter was signed by Senate President Bob Story, Senate Majority Leader Jim Peterson, and House Republican Leader Scott Sales.

In the letter the Republicans noted that, early estimates indicate that as many as 100,000 Montanans could be added to the Medicaid program. They asked Budget Director David Ewer and LFD what the long-term and the short-term cost to the state to deal with this increased caseload will be.

“Given the state’s current fiscal situation and the number of new mandates in the federal legislation we feel it is prudent to start figuring just how much this bill is going to cost Montana taxpayers,” said Senate Majority Leader Jim Peterson. “We’re already facing a huge budget deficit; we need to know how much bigger that hole is going to get because of this new legislation.”

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From St. Louis Beacon:

Hours before President Barack Obama was to appear at St. Charles High School, opponents of his health-care plan had already galvanized those who say the Show-Me State isn’t buying what the president will be selling.

About 2,000 people packed the grand ballroom at the St. Charles Convention Center to hear U.S. Rep. Todd Akin, R-Town and Country, and Lt. Gov. Peter Kinder lead a cadre of Republicans who condemned the Democratic-backed health-care bill now in Congress.

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