Flathead Valley Politics: Kalispell, Montana News

The North Shore Ranch (east of Somers) was first proposed in 2006, at the height of the boom: 375 homes on 367 acres east of Somers. As expected, the “sprawl” crowd stiffly opposed North Shore. It was denied, rightly so, for some technical shortcomings.

In the spring of 2008, after redoing their homework, North Shore’s proponents tried again. I’d suggest you follow along with the associated meeting minutes, available on Flathead County’s Web site. Frankly, they did a righteous job on the second try. Reduced to 290 homes, with the addition of numerous findings of fact, North Shore passed the Planning Board 5-1.

WASHINGTON – Companies that hire unemployed workers will get a temporary payroll tax holiday under a bill that easily won final congressional approval Wednesday.

The bipartisan 68-29 vote in the Senate sends the legislation to the White House, where President Barack Obama has promised to sign it into law.

It will be the first of several election-year jobs bills promised by Democrats to be enacted into law, though there's plenty of skepticism that the measure will do much to actually create jobs. Optimistic estimates predict the tax break could generate perhaps 250,000 jobs through the end of the year, but that would be just a tiny fraction of the 8.4 million jobs lost since the start of the recession.

HELENA – The secretary of state says more election judges are needed to help deal with an anticipated shortage for the fall elections.

Linda McCulloch, who runs the state elections, said many counties are in dire need of election judges.

WASHINGTON – With time and tempers short, everyone's playing hardball in the drive to pass — or stop — President Barack Obama's massive health care legislation by the weekend.

Business groups are spending $1 million a day to depict the bill as a job killer in television ads in the home districts of 26 wavering House Democrats. A new ad barrage from supporters of the legislation went up Tuesday in 11 districts, some overlapping. And unions are threatening some of those lawmakers to come through for Obama — or pay the price in the fall elections.

BILLINGS – The leader of the Crow Tribe said Monday the southeastern Montana tribe is considering buying or leasing a long-vacant jail just outside the reservation.

The proposal to take over Hardin's Two Rivers Detention Center remains in the planning stages, but Crow Chairman Cedric Black said talks are under way between the tribe and city representatives.

One potential use for the dormant, 464-bed facility would be to remake it into a drug and alcohol treatment center. Black Eagle said that was just one of several options on the table.

BILLINGS – A top aide to Rep. Denny Rehberg pleaded not guilty Monday to poaching charges in Madison County — allegations the aide says appear to be motivated by a political campaign against his boss.

Randy Vogel was appointed state director for the Republican congressman on March 1. The next day, he was cited for illegally killing a young bull elk on a private ranch in November and obstructing a subsequent investigation.

HELENA – Democrats and Republicans, each eyeing control of the Legislature, were both optimistic as candidate filing drew to a close Monday.

The major parties are putting a lot of focus into control of the Legislature this election cycle, which has been split with razor-thin margins in recent years. Democrats are pitching a message of job creation, while Republicans are honing fiscal conservative credentials with a renewed call for budget cutting.

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BILLINGS – Montana's governor on Monday asked Interior Secretary Ken Salazar to prevent future drilling outside Glacier National Park by canceling oil and gas leases on more than 200,000 acres.

Those leases were among more 700 Forest Service parcels sold by the government in the 1980s. They are now held by ConocoPhillips and other companies.