Election 2008
Schweitzer Wants Democratic Primary to Continue
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HELENA – Gov. Brian Schweitzer says he would like to see the race between Hillary Rodham Clinton and Barack Obama continue to Montana's June 3 primary, the last contest in the nation.
Clinton has been under increased pressure in recent days to bow out and hand the Democratic presidential nomination to Obama. Although the race is close, Obama has a clear edge in pledged delegates and appears to hold the momentum among the key superdelegates who can vote for whomever they like at the Democratic national convention in August.
Official: No ‘Significant’ Changes
Conservation Group Probes Avalanche Prevention Plan
A Burlington Northern Santa Fe engine pulls cars from the Glacier National Park area under the North Fork Road overpass in Columbia Falls. - Lido Vizzutti/Flathead Beacon
A conservation group has filed a request for documents relating to the release of an upcoming decision by Glacier National Park regarding avalanche control on the railroad tracks that skirt the park’s southern border, out of concern that Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railway executives may have influenced the decision after the public comment period had closed.
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Plum Creek Talks
Missoula Commissioners Press for Info Related to Plum Creek Talks
HELENA – Missoula County commissioners concerned about potential development of private timberlands sent Agriculture Undersecretary Mark Rey a letter Wednesday, telling him he needs to be forthcoming with information.
The commissioners say they want documents related to talks between Rey, who oversees the U.S. Forest Service, and Plum Creek Timber Co., which owns vast timberlands in Montana and has been selling some of those holdings for development.
Facebook Safeguards
McGrath: Facebook, States Agree on New Safeguards
HELENA – Officials from several states say Facebook has agreed to implement more than 40 safeguards to protect younger users.
Montana Attorney General Mike McGrath says the changes are designed to thwart sexual predators, fraud and online bullies at the popular online hangout.
Loans Safe This Year
Future of Student Loan Program Funding Disputed
Changing federal regulations and a collapse in the bond market have caused many national associations to pull out of college loan programs, limiting resources for students. The national woes have trickled down to Montana, where the state’s nonprofit lender cut staff and loan benefits in recent months, but is assuring borrowers that funding is secure for at least the next academic year.
[read more]Clean Coal
Energy Dept. Unveils Retooled Plans for Clean Coal Plants
ST. LOUIS – The Energy Department unveiled its blueprint Wednesday for spending up to $1.3 billion on multiple clean-coal power plants that would capture carbon emissions and permanently store them underground.
The announcement, launching two weeks of public comment over the revised plan for the project known as FutureGen, came despite pledges by U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin to scuttle the effort. The Democrat stands convinced a town in his home state of Illinois deserved the project — all of it.
Farm Bill
Farm Bill Negotiators Say They Have Agreement
WASHINGTON – Negotiators on a five-year, $300 billion farm bill say they have reached a tentative agreement on the legislation and it will be considered by the House and Senate next week.
But the Bush administration has objected to the bill, and the White House says it seems unlikely that Congress will pass farm legislation the president can sign. President Bush has said the bill is "bloated" with farmer subsidies in a time of record crop prices and is too expensive.
Energy Plan
Senate Democrats Seek to Tax Oil Companies
WASHINGTON – Senate Democrats on Wednesday called for a windfall profits tax on oil companies and a rollback of $17 billion in oil industry tax breaks as part of an energy package. The proposal also would impose federal penalties on energy price gouging and calls for stopping oil deliveries into the government's emergency reserve.
Senate Republicans strongly oppose any additional oil industry taxes, which are widely viewed as having little chance of being enacted. Even then, they would almost certainly prompt a veto by President Bush.
