A forum on Montana & Flathead Valley politics.
Montana Congressman Denny Rehberg has cosponsored a bill intended to make it clear that U.S. citizens cannot be detained “without due process.”
The National Defense Authorization Act was passed by Congress and signed by President Barack Obama, with reservations, last month. Critics contend that language in the bill is unconstitutional. From the National Journal:
The issue came to the forefront at the Republican presidential debate in Myrtle Beach, S.C., earlier this week. When asked, frontrunner Mitt Romney said he would have signed the legislation. And, as the Wall Street Journal reported, he was booed for this response:
Presidential candidates Rick Santorum and Ron Paul disagreed.
HR 3676, which was introduced by Jeffrey Landry, R.-La, and has bipartisan support, aims to clarify NDAA. In his statement, Rehberg calls the resolution a redundant but important measure:
The National Defense Authorization Act was passed by Congress and signed by President Barack Obama, with reservations, last month. Critics contend that language in the bill is unconstitutional. From the National Journal:
Groups have decried the bill’s language that would allow indefinite detention for suspected terrorists without a trial – including Americans arrested in the United States. Supporters of the detainee provisions argue that the bill merely codifies existing law as it applies to Americans and legal resident aliens, as they retain the right to challenge their detention in court.
The issue came to the forefront at the Republican presidential debate in Myrtle Beach, S.C., earlier this week. When asked, frontrunner Mitt Romney said he would have signed the legislation. And, as the Wall Street Journal reported, he was booed for this response:
I do believe that it is appropriate to have in our nation the capacity to detain people who are threats to this country, who are members of al Qaeda.
Presidential candidates Rick Santorum and Ron Paul disagreed.
HR 3676, which was introduced by Jeffrey Landry, R.-La, and has bipartisan support, aims to clarify NDAA. In his statement, Rehberg calls the resolution a redundant but important measure:
“The United States Constitution ensures that citizens cannot be detained without due process, and as the highest law in the land, that right cannot and will not be tossed aside by any legislation passed by Congress. The Supreme Court has already ruled that habeas corpus cannot be denied for citizens. Current policy does not challenge this and the National Defense Authorization Act explicitly states that it does not change current policy. So while I’m confident that our Constitutional rights are quite safe, I’ve cosponsored this legislation to make Congressional intent even more clear than it already is.”
Comments (0) TotalNot even two weeks after the state's latest campaign finance report revealed that Drew Turiano had loaned his own gubernatorial campaign a hefty $23,000, the Republican has announced that he is no longer seeking the governor's office and is instead running for secretary of state.
That brings the Republican gubernatorial field down to eight, or four times as large as the Democratic field of two. It will be interesting to see if any other candidates who are lagging in campaign finances decide to drop out of the race in the coming weeks. Even with one less candidate, eight is still a pretty crowded field.
In a Lee Newspapers story, Turiano, a real estate investor from Helena, outlined some of his key issues in seeking the secretary of state position, "including the need for Montana to be more sovereign over state resources and provide a better business climate for the state."
That brings the Republican gubernatorial field down to eight, or four times as large as the Democratic field of two. It will be interesting to see if any other candidates who are lagging in campaign finances decide to drop out of the race in the coming weeks. Even with one less candidate, eight is still a pretty crowded field.
In a Lee Newspapers story, Turiano, a real estate investor from Helena, outlined some of his key issues in seeking the secretary of state position, "including the need for Montana to be more sovereign over state resources and provide a better business climate for the state."
"I will also advance the pro-life, anti-illegal immigration and nullification causes," Turiano said, referring to the legal theory that states can nullify federal laws that they believe are unconstitutional.
Comments (0) TotalMontana Attorney General Steve Bullock was on MSNBC's "The Ed Show" Thursday night to talk about the state Supreme Court's recent ruling restoring Montana's ban on corporate political spending and the possibilities for the case at the U.S. Supreme Court level.
The show's host, Ed Schultz, says: "This is something that's really going to catch the attention of the American people because of so much money that is just pouring into these campaigns."
Below is a video clip.
The show's host, Ed Schultz, says: "This is something that's really going to catch the attention of the American people because of so much money that is just pouring into these campaigns."
Below is a video clip.
Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy
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| Bozeman Sen. Larry Jent |
While the Republican side of the Montana gubernatorial race has seen plenty of interaction between its nine candidates, the two-person Democratic race has been mostly silent, with heavy favorite Attorney General Steve Bullock generally portrayed as the presumptive nominee in news reports and polls showing him with a big lead.
But it appears the other Democrat in the race, Bozeman state Sen. Larry Jent, may be ready to try to increase his public exposure. According to a story by longtime Montana political reporter Charles Johnson, Jent wrote to President Barack Obama on Monday, "urging the president to instruct Secretary of State Hillary Clinton to approve" the Keystone XL pipeline project and then challenged Bullock the next day to lend his backing as well. Johnson's story notes that Bullock already expressed his support three months ago in a letter to Clinton.
Citing a news release, the story also states that Jent "called on Bullock to outline some specific positions on energy-related issues."
Bullock's campaign spokesperson, Kevin O'Brien, responded by saying Bullock "believes that Montana can create jobs and grow our rural economies through responsible development of our vast energy resources, including coal, wind, oil and gas, hydropower, biofuels and geothermal." O'Brien said, because of those beliefs, Bullock is a "supporter of Otter Creek" but "believes that Montana shouldn't give away our resources" and should have waited for a better price.
This isn't a dramatic exchange, but it's at least noteworthy in a primary race that has been so quiet and where Bullock, as of Dec. 31, leads Jent in fundraising with $231,819 in cash in the bank compared to $6,788.
But it appears the other Democrat in the race, Bozeman state Sen. Larry Jent, may be ready to try to increase his public exposure. According to a story by longtime Montana political reporter Charles Johnson, Jent wrote to President Barack Obama on Monday, "urging the president to instruct Secretary of State Hillary Clinton to approve" the Keystone XL pipeline project and then challenged Bullock the next day to lend his backing as well. Johnson's story notes that Bullock already expressed his support three months ago in a letter to Clinton.
Citing a news release, the story also states that Jent "called on Bullock to outline some specific positions on energy-related issues."
"Steve Bullock and I differ on the important issue of the role of coal in Montana's economic future," Jent said. "I support the development of the Otter Creek (coal) tracts; Steve voted against that while on the Land Board.
"I spoke for and voted for (the) Montana Alberta Tie Line (MATL) this past year in the Senate. Does anyone know where Steve stands on energy?"
Bullock's campaign spokesperson, Kevin O'Brien, responded by saying Bullock "believes that Montana can create jobs and grow our rural economies through responsible development of our vast energy resources, including coal, wind, oil and gas, hydropower, biofuels and geothermal." O'Brien said, because of those beliefs, Bullock is a "supporter of Otter Creek" but "believes that Montana shouldn't give away our resources" and should have waited for a better price.
"Had we waited, we could have received nearly $200 million for Montana taxpayers," Bullock's spokesman said.
This isn't a dramatic exchange, but it's at least noteworthy in a primary race that has been so quiet and where Bullock, as of Dec. 31, leads Jent in fundraising with $231,819 in cash in the bank compared to $6,788.
Comments (0) TotalMontana Sens. Jon Tester and Max Baucus praised Tuesday's announcement that renewable energy company NaturEner USA has secured financing to proceed with construction on a 189-megawatt wind farm in Toole and Glacier counties.
The Rim Rock wind farm, which will be NaturEner's third in Montana, will encompass more than 20,000 acres and generate enough energy to power more than 60,000 homes. NaturEner expects to begin operating commercially by the end of 2012.
The Great Falls Tribune reports that the company has secured a $320 million construction loan from Morgan Stanley and will receive a $285 million tax-equity capital contribution from San Diego Gas & Electric Company (SDG&E) once the project has reached commercial operation.
Here is the statement from Baucus:
Tester:
The Rim Rock wind farm, which will be NaturEner's third in Montana, will encompass more than 20,000 acres and generate enough energy to power more than 60,000 homes. NaturEner expects to begin operating commercially by the end of 2012.
The Great Falls Tribune reports that the company has secured a $320 million construction loan from Morgan Stanley and will receive a $285 million tax-equity capital contribution from San Diego Gas & Electric Company (SDG&E) once the project has reached commercial operation.
Here is the statement from Baucus:
“The Rim Rock Wind Farm is one more opportunity for Montana to be a leader in the energy future, and I am thrilled to see it moving forward. This is great news for Montana jobs and American energy security."
Tester:
“Bringing Rim Rock online will not only boost our country’s energy security, it will also create jobs and opportunities for Montanans. That’s a win-win in my book, and a victory that will strengthen the Treasure State’s energy infrastructure for years to come. I’m proud to support smart projects like Rim Rock that create jobs and look forward to backing similar efforts in the future.”
Comments (0) TotalOn Monday, a group of Montana farmers filed a class action lawsuit in U.S. District Court in Missoula against Jon Corzine, a former Democratic governor and U.S. senator from New Jersey, alleging Corzine and other executives from the collapsed commodity brokerage firm MF Global stole millions of dollars from their customers' accounts. Corzine was the CEO of MF Global.
Three Montana farmers have filed the litigation on behalf of 38,000 former MF Global customers, according to ABC News. In a Billings Gazette story, Marty Klinker, a Fairfield farmer and lead plaintiff, used an appropriately agricultural term in describing the allegedly fraudulent behavior by MF Global executives: betting the farm.
Three Montana farmers have filed the litigation on behalf of 38,000 former MF Global customers, according to ABC News. In a Billings Gazette story, Marty Klinker, a Fairfield farmer and lead plaintiff, used an appropriately agricultural term in describing the allegedly fraudulent behavior by MF Global executives: betting the farm.
"They bet the farm on European sovereign debt," Klinker said in the Gazette. "I just didn’t realize it was my farm they were betting.”
Comments (0) TotalMontana Secretary of State Linda McCulloch launched a website Friday that encourages citizens to report potential election law violations. Called the Fair Elections Center, McCulloch says on the site's homepage that "every Montanan has a right to an elections process that is open, honest, fair, and accurate."
Visit the Fair Elections Center at www.montanafairelections.com.
"Citizens and voters play a critical role in maintaining a fair election process for all Montanans, and that’s why I have created the Fair Elections Center," McCulloch says.
Visit the Fair Elections Center at www.montanafairelections.com.
Comments (0) TotalA lot has been written in the past week on the Montana Supreme Court's decision to restore the state's century-old ban on corporate political spending, with articles showing up in the Wall Street Journal, Los Angeles Times and many other publications. It appears the case may be heading to the U.S. Supreme Court, as the lead plaintiff has announced intentions to appeal.
While I would suggest reading any number of the articles and blog posts from around the country, David Sirota’s one-on-one interview with Montana Attorney General Steve Bullock is worth checking out at Salon. After all, Bullock personally defended the corporate spending ban in Montana Supreme Court and will defend the ban at the nation’s highest court, if it agrees to take the case. And he's running for governor.
Below is an excerpt from the interview and click here for a link to the full interview at Salon.
While I would suggest reading any number of the articles and blog posts from around the country, David Sirota’s one-on-one interview with Montana Attorney General Steve Bullock is worth checking out at Salon. After all, Bullock personally defended the corporate spending ban in Montana Supreme Court and will defend the ban at the nation’s highest court, if it agrees to take the case. And he's running for governor.
Below is an excerpt from the interview and click here for a link to the full interview at Salon.
"For me the calculus was relatively simple. The voters entrusted me with an incredible job as Attorney General and for a hundred years we’ve had a ban aptly named The Corrupt Practices Act that has served Montana well. And as a result, people participate, everybody has a seat at the table. So for me the calculus was: I owe it to a century of Montanans going forward to do all I can to defend this irrespective of what might happen in my next campaign."
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Gabby Johnson said: "New poll out today: A roaring 10 percent of the American people think Congress is doing a good job. Denny Rehberg picked a bad time…
waterman said: "It might mean that some just do not like successful people or accomplishments."
RIGHTOFCENTER said: "Yea, just look at what Unions have done in this Country. They have just about bankrupted local and State governments all across this great country. …
ponymt said: "I’m not sure why it cut my statement short but the following is the complete sentence.. Additionally, consider how “responsible” society has…
RIGHTOFCENTER said: "I have to agree with Craig moore, I too was a big supporter of Gallagher, but I would have been a big supporter of anyone…
Yudamni said: "I would not trust Tester. He is supposed to represent Montana. When over 60% of us were against Obama Care he still voted for it! …
waterman said: "It might mean that some just do not like successful people or accomplishments."
Gabby Johnson said: "New poll out today: A roaring 10 percent of the American people think Congress is doing a good job. Denny Rehberg picked a bad time…
JB said: "Oh, joy…more taxpayer dollars being spent for a worthless circle jerk, to benefit a minority of folks that don’t believe in God."
ponymt said: "I’m not sure why it cut my statement short but the following is the complete sentence.. Additionally, consider how “responsible” society has…