Gun-toting governor steals tea party thunder

HELENA (AP) — Montana's jeans-wearing, gun-toting Democratic governor is stealing the thunder from a tea party-fueled Republican resurgence — and tweaking the new GOP Legislature in the process — with a unique plan from a Democrat to cut business taxes during a flagging economy.

Brian Schweitzer, an expert at reading the shifting political winds, surprised many political observers when he promised businesses millions in tax cuts as part of his budget proposal earlier this month.

The Democrat said a tax cut for companies would mean more jobs for Montanans — all at a time when some st...