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Montana ranks high in nationwide licensing study, but could improve

By PHIL DRAKE | Montana Watchdog Montana ranks 49th for its “burdensome” licensing laws for a select group of occupations, according to a first-ever report recently released by a Virginia-based public interest law firm. But that’s a good thing, at least according to the Institute for Justice. According to a spokesman for the organization, it’s the kind of ranking where first is ...

Tester beats Rehberg in latest Senate race finance reports

Posted on May 29, 2012

By DUSTIN HURST | Watchdog.org HELENA – Democratic U.S. Sen. Jon Tester continues his cash haul ahead of November’s tough election battle with Republican challenger U.S. House Rep. Denny Rehberg. According to Federal Election reports, Tester raised a $781,465 between April 1 and May 16, the latest disclosure period. Tester’s campaign to retain his Senate seat has a [...]Read More>>

Lawsuit challenges Nebraska’s new pipeline law for Keystone XL

Posted on May 24, 2012

By DEENA WINTER | Nebraska Watchdog Three Nebraska landowners – headed up by Randy (of “Stand with Randy” fame) Thompson — filed a lawsuit Wednesday challenging the constitutionality of Nebraska’s new oil pipeline siting law. The lawsuit was filed with the Nebraska Supreme Court and district court. TransCanada’s second attempt at getting permits for a pipeline across [...]Read More>>

‘Frozen’ Homeland Security funds now not ‘frozen,’ state officials told

Posted on May 23, 2012

By PHIL DRAKE | Montana Watchdog HELENA – A March 20 e-mail to emergency coordinators throughout the state saying that nearly $5.7 million in Homeland Security Funds were “frozen” prompted an explanation Wednesday to two state representatives, saying the funds are not being held back and the author was trying to explain to the providers that [...]Read More>>

Missouri River talk ‘plows same ground,’ Montana officials say

Posted on May 23, 2012

By PHIL DRAKE | Montana Watchdog HELENA – Governors and other officials from Missouri River states met Wednesday to discuss too much water, not enough water and plans on how to keep the waterway under control. And North Dakota made a pitch to the Army Corps of Engineers for what Montana officials said was use of more surplus [...]Read More>>

Lawmakers put bill proposals for 2013 session into the hopper

Posted on May 21, 2012

By PHIL DRAKE | Montana Watchdog HELENA – Want to know what’s on the minds of some state legislators? People on the e-mail list of Eric Feaver, president of the MEA-MFT, a state public employee union, got a sampling last weekend as he posted this list of dozens of bill draft requests now at the Legislative Services Division [...]Read More>>

Commentary: New rules for pension bookkeeping could backfire

Posted on June 1, 2012

COMMENTARY By FRANK KEEGAN | State Budget Solutions Politicians are forcing public pensions to take more risks with taxpayer money and public workers’ retirements. Recent accounting reforms actually will make the crisis worse, according to a study just released by three economists. They call for “drastic reform.” Congress actually has the power to impose something drastic now. According [...]Read More>>

July 14 citizen journalist, blogger event promises to put byte in life

Posted on May 28, 2012

HELENA – The Franklin Center for Government & Public Integrity, along with Montana Watchdog, invites all bloggers and the general public to a “citizen watchdog” event July 14 that focuses on online news and open government. The Franklin Center will provide a full day of in-depth training to equip bloggers and citizens with the tools and [...]Read More>>

Great Falls Tribune story features Montana Watchdog, other new media

Posted on May 28, 2012

HELENA – Montana Watchdog was featured in a May 27 story in the Great Falls Tribune as one of the “nontraditional” media outlets that have popped up to fill a void left by shrinking newsrooms. The Tribune’s Capital Bureau Chief John S. Adams interviewed Watchdog Publisher Carl Graham and me — Editor Phil Drake. Also quoted are [...]Read More>>

Commentary: Dig deep into Appendix D to unravel public pension mess

Posted on May 25, 2012

COMMENTARY By FRANK KEEGAN | State Budget Solution This all boils down to who gets to pick taxpayers’ pockets first, public pensioners or municipal bond investors? More people are waking up to the hard reality that when it comes to state and local government, somebody has to lose money over the next few decades. The National Association of [...]Read More>>

New publication focuses on politics, government and rights in state