Headline: Roy Brown Makes Some Moldy Hay

Mike Dennison has a Lee State Bureau Story out examining the Governor's record when it comes to oil production in our State. First, to be fair, this story is pretty darn limited in scope and only deals oil production and not the broader topic of energy.

Roy Brown would have you believe that the Governor is deadset on shutting down Montana's oil industry. This claim is made not withstanding the fact that Montana has more than doubled oil production in the past four years. Mr. Brown also goes on record supporting a complete repeal of the business equipment tax. This tax is used to tax the real property of some the state's largest corporations. For example, the refineries in Billings are taxed with the business equipment tax.

This is problematic in more than one way--and Brown knows it. First business equipment tax elimanation isn't a tax cut they are a tax shift. Eliminating the business equipment tax will change the composition of Montana's property tax base--meaning that a greater percentage of the tax burden will fall to homeowners. The Governor makes this accurate point in the article.

The second problem with Brown's scheme is that eliminating the business would result in a state taxation system that is fundamentally inequitable. Should Exxon-Mobil pay zero taxes on a refinery while BNSF continues to pay taxes on its business equipment, which are rail tracks?

In 2005 the Governor eliminated the business equipment tax for thousands of small businesses by raising the amount exemptioned from taxation to $50,000.

Two other points that should be considered when it comes to energy--not only in Montana--but this country:

1) Let's look at the production of renewable energy in this state under the Governor. His economic development office secured a multi-million dollar federal grant to develop the bio fuels industry in Montana (WIRED). Wind production went from accounting for zero percent of Montana's energy portfolio to around ten percent. As a life-long oil man Roy Brown has steadfastly OPPOSED renewable. This needs to part of any fair look at the record.

2) Roy Brown, John McCain, and the Grand Oil Party are in the midst of perpetuating one of the greatest lies that will be spun during this election cycle: We can drill our way out of high energy prices. The simple laws of dwindling global supply and increasing global demand are driving energy prices, and we cant drill our why out it. We need to look at the record profits of big oil at a time record prices. We need to look at the role energy speculation is playing in the recent run on energy prices. And we need to look at the role of conservation. I wonder what Big Oil Roy Brown would say about those proposals...

Bush Corruption of Justice Department Reaches Montana

It is well documented fact that over the previous eight yeats the Bush Administration has made a serious effort to undermine the independence of the US Justice Department to create a subsidiary of the Republican Party.

Now we learn that Montana's own Bill Mercer is a willing participant in these schemes to make the Justice Department subservient to the political whims of the Republican Party. In retrospect it makes sense. Mr. Mercer's meteoric raise through Justice Department in such an atmosphere would require drinking the kool-aid.

Mr. Mercer should resign. But he won't. The best we can hope for is that he doesn't return to our Montana. Maybe he can go work for Gage.

One in Four Montana Republicans Approves of Schweitzer

These numbers are enough to make Jag proud and Roy Brown go fishing.

Bush & Company Harm Rural America

After years of hard work the US Congress passes a pretty darn good farm bill. The producers I have talked with told me it one of the best farms for Montana in a long time. This is because Montana is well positioned with a powerful senior Senator who now has a real partner with Jon Tester.

And what does Bush do: He vetos the bill. It is time to move on.

As Montana voters we need to do our part: Let's send Dennis Rehberg packing. May he join Mike Lange, Roy Brown, John Sinrud, and Roger Koopman in the strap heap of history.

This will send a strong message to the Montana GOP that their vision--the vision of the president that they still adore is not the vision of Montana families.

I also think it more than a random chance that Rehberg's website is powder blue and has great pictures of protected areas. He is running scared.

I will blog it again: The race to watch this year is Hunt and Rehberg. The GOP is hurting. Bad.

Welcome Back

As you may have noticed posting on peaks has been slow in the past two weeks. Traveling to Sequoia National Park is something I recommend to all. Seeing the size of these trees, which happen to be named after institutions such as The Senate, The Congress, and the President is pretty awe inspiring. Aside from the god awful air pollution emulating from the Central Valley it is great place. It actually reminded of Montana. West Yellowstone, with more tree variety and more impressive peaks.

Essentially, I have been so out of the loop I only know two key things: First and foremost we have a great farm bill that has Montana's stamp all over it.

Let's be clear: Max Baucus is a force to be reckoned with and voting for GOP nominee in the November election would be clearly irrational.

Max and his staff are also super creative. I am still not 110 percent clear exactly how the tax credit revenue bonds for Plum Creek lands will work, but I will post it when I figure it out. Sounds like a great deal for Montana. When a GOP Congressman from the South complains, it is probably good for us.

Second: The GOP is in deep dog doo-doo. For a while all the pundits declared that a drawn out Democratic Primary would spell doom. Not so.

Democrat Travis Childers thrashing on and over Republican Greg Davis in the Mississippi special Congressional election (a seat that Bush carried by 20 points in 2004) the prospects for the GOP are bleak indeed. Democrats are fired up.

As I type right now from a coffee shop from Livingston three people are having a conversation about the presidential election ten feet from me. They haven't voted in the past two election. They like Obama's energy. They think this is a super important election.

It is not a good time to be a young GOP staffer, activist, or member of the vast right-wing conspiracy.

Hackabee in Montana--Weird & Weirder

Well, its interesting to see former Arkansas Governor Huckabee in Montana on the stump for Roy Brown. Mike's an interesting guy--to say the least.

First there is his troubled ethical track record as the Governor of Arkansas. I found Mr. Huckabee's attempt to keep $70,000 in furniture donated to the governor's mansion as tacky and out of character for a former pastor.

Then there was the time when Governor Huckabee did some heavy political leaning on the Chief of the Arkansas State Police to ensure that his son was not charged for animal cruelty after he killed a dog.

To me this type of stuff is just weird, and frankly, scary.

But none of this tabloid fodder is the most interesting thing about his support for Roy Brown: after comparing Mr. Huckabee's fiscal record as governor of Arkansas and Roy Brown's platform in his campaign for governor, I don't see how they are remotely congruent.

Roy Brown appears to be running because he is upset over how Governor Schweitzer has managed state finances. In particular, Roy seems to have a really hard time with the $100 million dollar tax rebate that went to Montana homeowners. He even went as far to call the Governor's property tax rebate "a little gimmick"

As the top elected official in good ol' Arkansas Mike supported a tax rebate plan that was strikingly similar to Governor Schweitzer's plan. Huckabee went so far as to call a one-time rebate the second most important thing to do in Arkansas.

This endorsement has everything to politics (hence Hackabee) and nothing to do with two people who share a common philosophy. The hypocrisy on Roy's part is pretty evident.

GOP Legislator: Human Health Concerns of No Concern

Once again the Montana GOP--led by Senator Keith Bales--shows just how out of touch and out of sync they are with Montanans when it comes to protecting the public health.

Joe Russell, Chairman of the Board of Environmental Review, responds:

"This is just another one of those shots that just tries to take away a rule-making authority from an appointed board...You know how busy the district courts are around Montana? That's crazy..."

FYI- Chairman Russell is the County Health Officer in Flathead County. His job is pretty straight forward: protect public health.

Mr. Bales on the other hand, well, let's just say he has own reasons for advancing this extremist agenda.