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MDP Executive Director on breaking news that Rehberg staffer is on leave after citation for poaching

Helena - The Montana Democratic Party released the following statement from MDP Executive Director David Benson regarding the breaking news that Rep. Denny Rehberg's State Director, Randy Vogel, is on leave from his position after being cited for illegally killing an elk and obstructing a police officer.

"Denny Rehberg should hold his staff to the same standards demanded of every Montana hunter.  Montanans have a right to know what Denny Rehberg knew about his staff poaching an elk and when he knew it.  Either he knowingly hired a poacher, or he hired someone who knowingly lied about it." 

Montana Democrats Meet Budget Challenge

Dems cite effective leadership from legislature and the Governor to keep state "in the black;" acknowledge work ahead to get economy back on track
 

(Helena) - Democratic legislative leaders today pointed to their and Governor Schweitzer's leadership in meeting the state budget challenge, also acknowledging the work ahead to face fiscal challenges in 2011.

"Democrats are skilled at working together to help the least advantaged get the services they rely on, help our children get the education they deserve, and protect our most vulnerable Montanans-- while still maintaining a balanced budget," said Carol Williams, Senate Democratic Leader.

Under Democratic leadership, Montana remains only one of two states that during the recession did not go into “the red” – or run a deficit budget.  But Dems acknowledged that there would be be belt-tightening, compromise, and sacrifices ahead to address the national recession, keep basic services funded, and create jobs.

"Democrats are ready to roll up our sleeves and get to work for the people of Montana," said House Speaker Pro Tem Franke Wilmer. "We demonstrated responsible management of the budget and will meet the challenges of 2011."

"Based on the data available during the session, we know we did good work to leave a solid balance in the checkbook, said Rep. Jon Sesso, Chairman of the House Appropriations Committee.  "Today, we face what could be the greatest decline in revenues in the history of the state, but with the Governor's plan and Democratic legislative leadership, we can stay in the black and set forth a plan for the lean years ahead. Democrats will get this done."

MEDIA ADVISORY: Democratic Leaders to Provide Recap of Week

Williams, Wilmer, Sesso Share Thoughts on State's Budget, Future:

(Helena) - Today at the State Capitol in Helena, Democratic legislative leaders will provide a recap of this week's meetings. Senate Minority Leader Carol Williams, Speaker Pro Tem Franke Wilmer and Rep. Jon Sesso, Chairman of the House Appropriations Committee will discuss the Montana state budget and their outlook on the rest of the year.

What: Press conference with Democratic legislative leaders Williams, Wilmer and Sesso
Where: The Fan Window, MT State Capitol
When: 12:30 PM, March 4, 2010

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT: Montana's Congressman Makes National Headlines...for His Hypocrisy

Denny Rehberg listed in Wall Street Journal as among those who asked for stimulus after voting against the recovery package

Dems Go After GOP Stimulus Requests
March 3, 2010
By Louise Radnofsky

The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee is stepping up its attacks on Republicans who asked for stimulus money for their districts after voting against the recovery package.

The DCCC wants Republican members of Congress to publish the requests they have made to federal agencies for stimulus funds. “Voters deserve to know whether their representative is doing the same thing in Washington that they are doing in their district,” the DCCC said in a news release that’s being sent to media outlets in 36 GOP-held districts across the country. The lawmakers, it says, should make public all of their requests for Recovery Act funds, “including letters and other correspondence.”

Lawmakers are already required to disclose their requests for earmarks for their districts on their Web sites, but they don’t routinely publish the many other letters they send each year to federal agencies, advocating for particular causes or constituents.

The Wall Street Journal and other papers have reported on Democrats’ efforts to paint Republicans as hypocrites for asking for stimulus dollars.

No House Republicans voted to pass the package, and it was opposed by all but three Senate Republicans. Many Republicans who requested stimulus funding say that since their constituents will now have to pay for it anyway, their districts might as well get a share.

Among the DCCC targets: House Minority Whip Eric Cantor and fellow Virginia Reps. Randy Forbes and Frank Wolf; Rep. Jim Gerlach of Pennsylvania; Reps. Scott Garrett and Leonard Lance of New Jersey; Rep. Judy Biggert of Illinois; Rep. Jean Schmidt of Ohio; Rep. Jo Ann Emerson of Missouri; Reps. Steve King and Tom Latham of Iowa; Rep. Joe Wilson of South Carolina; Rep. Joseph Cao of Louisiana; Reps. Brian Bilbray, Ken Calvert, David Dreier, Dan Lungren, Kevin McCarthy, Tom McClintock and Mary Bono Mack of California; Rep. Lee Terry of Nebraska: Rep. Michele Bachmann of Minnesota; Rep. Dean Heller of Nevada; Rep. Denny Rehberg of Montana, Dave Reichert of Washington and Don Young of Alaska.

MT Senate Minority Leader Carol Williams on the Findings of Today's American Recovery and Reinvestment Act Subcommittee Meeting

(Helena) - MT Senate Minority Leader Carol Williams' Statement on the Findings of Today's American Recovery and Reinvestment Act Subcommittee Meeting:

"The state has done a good job of getting Reinvestment Act dollars out the door.  Montana Department of Transportation has already obligated all there funding, and now it's largely in the hands of contractors to put this money to work to make our highways safer and more efficient. Springtime is almost here and it's time to put more Montanans to work.

"There is still more work to do. While our state has the seventh lowest employment in the nation, plenty of folks are struggling to put food on the table and make ends meet. It is vitally important that we as a state legislature ensure that regular folks benefit from these funds, and that Montana families get a break when they need it most."

Montana Dems Decry Republican Obstructionism on Jobs and Unemployment Benefits

Party of NO plays politics with Montana jobs & families  
 
Helena – Montana Democrats today decried Senate Republicans’ block on legislation that would have extended unemployment benefits and kept Montanans working on federal highway jobs.
 
The freeze on payments is the result of a decision last week by Republican Sen. Jim Bunning. Senate Republicans have expressed tacit approval for Bunnings’ political tactics, with Senator John Cornyn, Chairman of the National Republican Senatorial Committee, saying he “admire[d] the courage” of Bunnings’ obstructionism.
 
“It’s clear that Republicans are more interested in saying no to good ideas and Democratic legislation than making sure out-of-work Montanans can put bread on the table and working Montanans can keep their jobs,” said Jim Elliott, Chairman of the Montana Democratic Party. “If Republicans in Washington, D.C. want to play political games, they need to realize it has real consequences for Montana families at a time when folks are already stretched thin. It’s just inexcusable.”  
 
As result of Bunning’s political maneuvering, two thousand federal transportation workers were laid off without pay on Monday.
 
Federal reimbursements to states for highway programs, amounting to $190 million a day, were also halted. And millions of Americans hit hardest by the economic collapse found their safety net gone today. Montanans who have already been dealt a blow when they lost their jobs are being denied health care today.
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