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For those interested in Montana’s Governors Race, the following are excerpts from the candidates that are running for Governor in the 2012 November Elections.  As Governor Brian Schweitzer is termed out, Montana will have a new Governor come 2013.  Who will it be?  Here’s a chance for you to get to know the candidates a bit.    

Steve Bullock: Democrat

Montana is at a crossroads. The leaders we elect and the decisions we make today will define the Montana that we live in now and the Montana we pass on to our kids and grandkids – that’s why I’m running for Governor. 

With leadership, and a vision for the future, we can help Made-in-Montana businesses continue to grow and attract more companies to invest in our state.  We can create good paying jobs in (more…)

Happy New Year Everyone.
Here is some information to help put into perspective what the latest revenue estimate really means. When we left the session the budget was structurally balanced but became unbalanced with the Governor’s vetoes, placing the burden of this deficit onto the next legislature. The attached information explains why the higher than expected revenue estimate does not necessarily mean there will be a large, available, surplus.

The budget passed by the 2009 legislature also became structurally

(more…)

Montana’s two college football teams, Bobcats and Griz, have advanced in the NCAA 2011 playoffs this weekend against University of New Hampshire and Central Arkansas.  The State of Montana will be in the spotlight again as when the Billings Big Sky Little League team advanced in the Little League World Series . 

Montana State Bobcats: 

 The Montana State Bobcats had a near repeat of a 1976 game (more…)

Update:  Today (Jan 27, 2012), the electronic book 77 Days in September by Ray Gorham has now passed 5,000 copies sold.  It’s only available on amazon and keeps breaking records.  It’s not even in hardcopy yet.  The interesting part is that a publisher has not even pounced on the book yet.  People and readers just keep buying it and then refer others.  Let’s see how many books are sold by the end of the year.  Good luck Ray. (Oh, we just uploaded the new cover released today on the 5000 book milestone (below).)   

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So here’s my yearly book review. I felt it fitting for this website as its from a Montana author Ray Gorham who wrote 77 days in September.  The book has been published about 5 months now and I was informed that over 1500 books so far have already been sold.  It’s only available on Kindle at this time but a great read   

 It took me awhile to find the logic of 77 Days in September title.  I really enjoyed the book as I was able to relate to the characters, ideas and situations the author portrayed. It sure made interesting conversation at the possibility of an EMP detonating above the United States and if I’d be ready.  I enjoy books and movies that have a mission in mind based on good uplifting principles.  I saw symbolism that opened my eyes from a perspective of a Christian and the battles one has internally between good and evil.  I got some good ideas from the characters in the book that were prepared and how their preparation was beneficial for others. I got a real sense of how grateful I am to live in Montana, out in the (more…)

 For those interested in the Average Annual Real Wages Per Job, MSU has an interesting graph that you might want to take a look at comparing Montana to the rest of the United States. Here’s the link for the whole report but the graph was a little telling.  The Document has 3 volumes that give an overview of the past decade of Montana, it’s resources, wages and how the State ranks compared to the United States in general. 

Volume 1:

Volume I presents and analyzes economic data by county for Montana including income and poverty data from the (more…)

Last Tuesday September 27, I attended a public meeting at the Dawson Community College. The Department of the State is conducting meetings over a six state area to gather public comment about the proposed Keystone XL pipeline. The project as proposed , will be 1700 miles long and run from Canada to the Gulf Coast. It is estimated to cost $7 billion dollars. Included in the construction will be an “On-Ramp” in Baker, Montana which will allow up to (more…)

September Interim Meeting Update- By Representative Matt Rosedale

 After the regular session of the 62^nd Legislature concluded, I was selected to serve on the Education and Local Government Interim Committee. As I had stated at the time, after each meeting I would be giving a report on the business that had been conducted.

     With the housing demand in (more…)

Mitt Romney today, in one of his major speeches yet, unveiled his ideas that will spur jobs and the economic growth of America.  In his speeh, Mitt Romney framed his economic plan Tuesday as a job creator for middle-class America while charging that President Obama, days before he is to outline his own plan, “doesn’t have a clue what to do.”

Speaking at a trucking company in North Las Vegas, Nev., Romney said Obama is “not a bad guy,” but pitching stale ideas that have failed to turn around the struggling economy.

“President Obama’s strategy is a pay-phone strategy and we’re in a smartphone world,” Romney said. “What he’s doing is taking quarters and stuffing them into the pay phone … [and he] can’t figure out why it’s not working. It’s not connected anymore, Mr. President!”

Romney’s prescription for the country’s ailing economy includes (more…)