Tue, 30 Mar 2010 01:16:02 -0800WeeblyFri, 26 Feb 2010 05:18:47 -0800http://www.montanaprogressive.com/2/post/2010/02/gop-target-central-montana.html
From the Associated Press

RNC Chairman Michael Steele to Headline Montana GOP Winter Convention

HELENA – Montana Republicans are meeting in Great Falls for a winter convention this weekend as the GOP prepares for this year's election battles.

Republican National Committee chairman Michael Steele is scheduled to speak Saturday.

Republicans and Montana Democrats alike are eyeing key legislative seats that will determine who controls the Legislature. The Montana Legislature has been very evenly divided in recent years, which has led to acrimonious battles and split control.

U.S. Rep. Denny Rehberg is also up for election, and is scheduled to be the keynote speaker at the convention.

The convention also features several strategy session for candidates and party volunteers.]]>Tue, 19 Jan 2010 08:07:21 -0800http://www.montanaprogressive.com/2/post/2010/01/first-post.html 

from: http://missoulian.com/news/state-and-regional/article_2233b1ac-0183-11df-977d-001cc4c03286.html?print=1

By MIKE DENNISON Missoulian State Bureau | Posted: Friday, January 15, 2010 3:15 am

HELENA - Montana Republicans, with 62 legislative candidates filing on the first day of the election season, launched their bid Thursday to take control of the entire Legislature, blasting Democrats as purveyors of higher taxes, bigger government and environmental "obstructionism."

"Now, more than ever, Montana needs leaders who understand that more government doesn't mean more prosperity," said Sen. Jeff Essmann, R-Billings. "Montana needs leaders who know that higher taxes don't lead to more jobs ... and who understand that environmental obstructionism doesn't put food on the table for struggling families. ...

"Republicans are here today to do our part to put Montana back to work."

Republicans already own a 27-23 majority in the state Senate, while the House is tied 50-50 between the two parties. Twenty-five seats are up for election in the Senate; all 100 House seats are up as well.

Essmann, who chairs the Montana Republican Legislative Campaign Committee, promised an aggressive campaign from Republicans as they try to gain seats in both houses.

More than 50 Republican candidates joined Essmann and other GOP leaders for a news conference in the Capitol Rotunda on Thursday afternoon.

Republicans who filed to run for the Legislature on Thursday were part of a record-setting day, as 106 people filed, more than on any other opening for candidate filing, said Secretary of State Linda McCulloch.

Democrats also had 33 legislative candidates pay their $15 filing fee Thursday, but held no news conference or campaign kickoff event.

The party issued a statement from Chairman Jim Elliott, who said Democrats are "a tight-fisted bunch, and we will be treating taxpayers' money just like they treat their own, by being frugal and by putting money in the bank for emergencies."

Party spokeswoman Kate Downen said Democrats would have a news conference on their legislative campaign toward the end of the filing season in March.

Republicans strongly criticized Democrats on Thursday on many fronts, accusing them of greatly increasing state government spending, blocking coal development in eastern Montana and filling government jobs with well-connected Democratic legislators.

Rep. Tom McGillvray, R-Billings, indicated the party will have proposals that prevent state lawmakers from getting special treatment for state jobs.

"What have Democrats done?" he asked. "They have shrugged their shoulders and said this is ‘business as usual.' "

Senate Majority Leader Jim Peterson, R-Buffalo, ripped into the Democratic-controlled Land Board, saying it "turned its back on responsible natural resource development" last month by voting to set overly high lease prices for state coal in eastern Montana's Otter Creek Valley.

"We're committed to developing our energy resources and putting Montanans back to work," he said.

Sen. Ryan Zinke, R-Whitefish, also said that as state government revenue falls because of the faltering economy, Republicans are the ones who will look first for ways to cut government spending.

"The choice is going to be clear: Either you cut spending or you raise taxes," he said. "Raising taxes is not the answer."

Gov. Brian Schweitzer, a Democrat, has not proposed any tax increases to help balance the state budget next year, if it slips into the red.

 

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