News you can use
News you can use
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HELENA (AP) — Gov. Steve Bullock has named Board of Regents chairwoman Angela McLean as lieutenant governor. McLean will replace John Walsh, whom the Democratic governor appointed last week as interim U.S. senator. Bullock's office announced McLean's appointment Monday. She is a native of Twin Bridges and a schoolteacher in Anaconda. Bullock says McLean will help ensure the state's schools and colleges are giving students the tools they need to build a bright future for the state. McLean was appointed to the Montana Board o...
HELENA (AP) — Former Lt. Gov. John Bohlinger says he will probably drop out of U.S. Senate race after his Democratic opponent was appointed to replace Sen. Max Baucus. Bohlinger said Friday he saw the handwriting on the wall when Gov. Steve Bullock picked Lt. Gov. John Walsh to fill Baucus' term. Bohlinger says he used to run track, and he knows he can't win the 100-yard dash when his opponent has a 40-yard head start. He says Walsh will get that head-start by being the incumbent. Walsh, Bohlinger and political newcomer D...
In a long-suspected move, Montana’s Democratic governor this morning appointed his lieutenant governor to fill a vacant Senate seat. “I introduce to you Sen. John Walsh,” Gov. Steve Bullock announced in a press conference shortly after 10 this morning. Bullock, after listing Walsh’s accomplishments including as a 33-year veteran of the Montana National Guard, appointed him to fill the seat vacated by 35-year U.S. Sen. Max Baucus, who was confirmed Thursday as ambassador to China. Baucus, a Democrat, stunned the politic...
Senate approves Max Baucus as China ambassador ALAN FRAM, Associated Press WASHINGTON (AP) — The Senate easily confirmed longtime Sen. Max Baucus on Thursday to become ambassador to China, handing the job to a lawmaker well-versed in U.S. trade policy but with little expertise about military and other issues that have caused tensions in recent years with Beijing. Senators gave final approval to the nomination of the moderate Baucus, D-Mont., by a 96-0 margin. Baucus, trim and youthful looking for his 72 years, accepted c...
WASHINGTON (AP) — The Senate Foreign Relations committee has easily approved President Barack Obama's nomination of veteran Sen. Max Baucus to become ambassador to China. Baucus is a Montana Democrat and chairman of the Senate Finance Committee, which oversees trade issues. The 72-year-old was first elected to the Senate in 1978. Baucus has said he wants to help build a better economic relationship with China. The U.S. trade deficit with China is far bigger than it is with any other country, and China is the largest f...
WASHINGTON — President Barack Obama's choice to become U.S. ambassador to China embraced several criticisms of that country Tuesday, agreeing that China wants to dominate Asia and is a regular violator of human rights. Speaking at his Senate confirmation hearing, Sen. Max Baucus said he wants to help the U.S. build a more equitable economic relationship with China while encouraging the Asian giant to act responsibly as it emerges as a global power. "I have become a firm believer that a strong geopolitical relationship can b...
MISSOULA (AP) - Former Lt. Gov. John Bohlinger says he may end his campaign for the Democratic nomination for U.S. Senate if current Lt. Gov. John Walsh is appointed to serve the rest of Max Baucus' term. If Baucus resigns from the Senate to become the next U.S. ambassador to China, it will be up to Gov. Steve Bullock to pick an interim replacement until January 2015. Walsh has asked Bullock to appoint him, but the Democratic governor has kept quiet on a possible selection....
HELENA (AP) — If Gov. Steve Bullock is any closer to deciding who to appoint to the U.S. Senate if Max Baucus is confirmed as the next ambassador to China, he isn't saying. Bullock told reporters Thursday the possibility of Baucus vacating the seat is still hypothetical and he will not discuss his intentions until there is an opening. President Barack Obama formally nominated Baucus for the ambassadorship Tuesday, and the Montana Democrat must be confirmed by the Senate. Montana law gives the governor the power to appoint a...
HELENA (AP) — Senatorial candidate John Walsh misused his position as Montana's adjutant general by soliciting National Guard troops to become members of a private association for which he was seeking a leadership role, a 2010 investigation by the U.S. Army's inspector general concluded. The Aug. 25, 2010 report said Walsh, now the state's lieutenant governor, improperly used his government position for private gain, improperly endorsed a non-federal entity and improperly used government resources. He was not disciplined f...
HELENA - U.S. Sen. Max Baucus' surprise announcement that he will not seek a seventh term in 2014 was Montana's top news story of 2013, according to The Associated Press' annual poll of state editors. This year's list includes maneuvering ahead of the 2014 elections, the pushback against anonymous campaign funding and the headaches surrounding the nation's health care overhaul. It highlights crime-fighting efforts in Indian Country and in the oil patch, along with notable...
HELENA (AP) — Gov. Steve Bullock joined other Montana political leaders Friday in lauding Max Baucus' 35-year career in the U.S. Senate, but the Democratic governor deflected questions on a possible replacement if Baucus is confirmed as the next ambassador to China. Bullock Chief of Staff Kevin O'Brien acknowledged the governor will likely have to appoint a replacement for Baucus, but he shed little light about whom Bullock was considering. "Today is about Max, his commitment to public service and the state of Montana. It a...
U. S. Sen. Max Baucus will step down from his seat to become ambassador to China. Baucus’ long and distinguished career in the Senate will serve him well in China. He will face some diplomatic challenges in China, which faces some prickly problems with the United States. Baucus is especially suited to deal with these problems, and President Barack Obama made a wise choice in tapping Baucus for the post. Baucus is chairman of the powerful Senate Finance Committee, and in that role has been especially helpful to Montana in g...
Montanans may have a new U.S. senator even earlier than expected. Democratic sources say President Barack Obama may select U.S. Sen. Max Baucus, D-Mont., to take the place of U.S. Ambassador to China Gary Locke. Locke announced last month he was stepping down, The Associated Press reports. Baucus spokesperson Kathy Weber said this morning that she cannot confirm that Obama is considering Baucus, who announced in March he would not run for a seventh term in the Senate, for the...
WASHINGTON (AP) — President Barack Obama intends to nominate Sen. Max Baucus, D-Mont., as ambassador to China, Democratic officials said Wednesday, turning to a lawmaker well-versed in trade issues to fill one of the nation's most important diplomatic posts. If confirmed by the Senate, Baucus would replace Ambassador Gary Locke, who announced last month he was stepping down. There was no immediate comment from the White House on the disclosure, which was made by officials who spoke on condition of anonymity because they were...
BILLINGS (AP) — The U.S. Senate confirmed two nominees for federal judgeships in Montana, including the first woman in the state to hold such a post. The Senate voted late Thursday to confirm Montana Supreme Court Justice Brian Morris as a U.S. District Court judge for Great Falls, while state District Court Judge Susan Watters was confirmed as a federal judge in Billings, The Billings Gazette (http://bit.ly/1h6CFEl) reported. Sens. Max Baucus and Jon Tester praised the integrity, leadership and judgment of Watters and M...
HELENA . (AP) — U.S. Sen. Max Baucus is forging ahead with his aggressive plan to rewrite the nation's tax code in the next year, confident he can find common ground amid the intense partisanship stalling budget debates in Washington, D.C. Last week, the Democrat unveiled two big portions of his proposal dealing with offshore taxation of corporations and revised rules for some tax accounting. In the coming months, he expects to release proposals for taxes on individuals and exemptions. Baucus pushed the plan forward d...
HELENA - Former Republican Lt. Gov. John Bohlinger said Wednesday his decision to run for the U.S. Senate in 2014 as a Democrat was sealed by last month's federal government shutdown and Congress' inability to work together. Bohlinger, 77, made the surprise announcement Tuesday at a Lewis and Clark County Democratic Central Committee party dinner. He confirmed his decision to The Associated Press Wednesday morning at his Helena home. He had been considering a run for months,...
BOZEMAN - U.S. Rep. Steve Daines announced Wednesday that he will run for Senate in 2014, giving Montana Republicans a candidate they believe has a strong chance at winning the state's first open Senate seat in decades. Daines released a video announcing his candidacy shortly before launching his campaign in Bozeman by criticizing the Senate for supporting President Barack Obama and his signature health-care law. "Obamacare is a failing law that Montanans don't want and the...
Montanans will benefit from the implementation of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act — commonly called Obamacare — which takes full effect next year. That’s the view of Sen. Jon Tester, D-Mont. However, he added, he is “frustrated” by the problems in rolling out the online insurance exchange, which started the same day as the federal shutdown, Oct. 1, and that he believes the Montana Legislature made a mistake in not setting up a state-run exchange and in not expanding Medicaid coverage. “Folks out there are going...
HELENA — Congressional candidate Ryan Zinke says he has distanced himself from the political action committee he helped launch now that he is running for office. Special Operations for America has stockpiled more than $200,000 for the 2014 election cycle, thanks in part to the fundraising it paid Zinke to do. Zinke said he doesn't know if any of that money will be spent assisting his own election effort, or criticizing potential opponents. "I don't know, because I don't coordinate with them," Zinke said. Zinke, a former s...
Sen. Jon Tester, D-Mont., said Thursday that he believes Congress will be able to keep the government running and again raise the nation’s debt ceiling when the deadlines set last month come up in January and February. “I think it will,” he said, adding, “I’m optimistic most of the time, anyway. “It wasn’t particularly successful,” Tester added about the shutdown, saying that it has created a backlash for most members of Congress. “It was more painful for some of the obstructionists,” he added. A contentious showdow...
The hours at the crossing into Canada north of Havre switch back to the 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. winter schedule Friday. What will happen in 2104 — again — is uncertain. U.S. Customs and Border Protection and the Canada Border Services Agency this year stretched the summer hours at the Port of Wild Horse to a few extra months, again, though only after uncertainty whether that would be done again. Havre Mayor Tim Solomon, co-chair of the Wild Horse Border Committee, said this morning that the committee will again try to get an ext...
HELENA (AP) — Montana's entire congressional delegation may have taken a hit in their approval ratings because of the 16-day federal government shutdown, the director of a new Montana State University-Billings poll said Friday. The poll, conducted during the shutdown earlier this month, asked state residents their views on several national and state issues and to assess the performance of their elected leaders. Most respondents said they opposed President Barack Obama's health care overhaul, but even more people, r...
BILLINGS (AP) — A Montana State University Billings poll found that nearly 57 percent of Montanans oppose the Affordable Care Act, but 69 percent opposed shutting down the government as a way to defund it. MSU Billings students interviewed 410 Montanans by telephone between Oct. 7-10, calling both land lines and cellphones. It has a margin of error of 5 percentage points. Sixty-nine percent of those polled disapproved of President Barack Obama's performance, while 29 percent approved. Fifty-three percent approve of Gov. S...
HELENA (AP) — U.S. Rep. Steve Daines said his vote to raise the debt ceiling was about ending the government shutdown, and says he still hopes to repeal the health care overhaul. The Montana lawmaker joined some other Republicans and all Democrats in voting for the deal on Wednesday. The measure funds the government through early next year. The potential U.S. Senate candidate told Montana Public Radio on Thursday that the vote shows he can split with the Republican majority. Daines, who originally said the opposition to r...
