Schweitzer: Montana can weather short US default

HELENA — Montana has enough cash in the bank to cushion a temporary delay in federal funding to the states if the debt-ceiling showdown in Congress continues into next week, Gov. Brian Schweitzer said Friday.

The Democratic governor announced Thursday that the state ended the fiscal year with a $340 million surplus, making Montana one of eight states not facing a shortfall.

That cash would allow the state to weather the storm for a month or possibly longer if the government defaults because of gridlock over raising the nation's debt ceiling, Schweitzer said.

"We'll be in trouble just like...