Lamnidae

The Blurred Line Between Politics and Governing

Lamnidae — Tue, 08 Jul 2008 20:18:11 +0000

Rep. Henry Waxman today hinted at legislation aimed at outlawing Karl Rove-type advisers in future administrations. The Hill quoted Rep. Waxman as saying, “Why should we be using taxpayer dollars to have a person solely in charge of politics in the White House? Can you imagine the reaction if each member of Congress had a campaign person paid for with taxpayer dollars?”

Wonder if hearing that sent a shiver down Erik Iverson’s spine? Sheesh, first it was his wife’s INSA gig, and now the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee is talking like this? How’s a guy supposed to skim a little taxpayer money these days?

Sen. Baucus Leading Fight For Seniors, Disabled

Lamnidae — Tue, 08 Jul 2008 17:48:29 +0000

Sen. Baucus’ steadfast fight to reverse the 10.6 percent cut to the federal Medicaid reimbursement rate is exactly the reason why he’s currently the 10th longest serving member of the Senate. In an aging state like Montana, where health care shortages can sometimes be the rule rather than the exception, we simply can’t afford to put more primary care physicians out of business with this reimbursement cut.

It would seem that an issue like this (particularly in an election year) would be a no-brainer for both parties… This however, has not been the case as the legislation funds the doctor’s fees with cuts to Medicare Advantage–a program that essentially allows private insurers to skim a cut of the taxpayer money that passes between Medicaid recipient and health care provider. One can only hope that voters will take note of the fact that the GOP is working to send grandma to the grave in the name of corporate profits.

Many practices already limit the number of Medicaid patients they’ll receive due to the low reimbursement rate they receive compared to traditional customers. This rate change will only serve to make health care access more difficult for those who need it most. Another nasty side effect would be a likely cut to reimbursement rates that private insurers give physicians, as they use Medicaid as a benchmark.

61 Percent of Montanans To Iverson: Montana’s On The Move

Lamnidae — Tue, 08 Jul 2008 16:53:44 +0000

A few weeks ago at the GOP state convention, Erik Iverson offered his sage prognostication:

“You heard it here first. Roy Brown is going to beat Brian Schweitzer in November.”

I wish he have wagered some of that hard earned taxpayer money on the prediction, because recent polls aren’t looking so good for Roy Brown. A Rasmussen Reports poll conducted last week shows Gov. Brian Schweitzer leading challenger Roy Brown 61 percent to 32 percent. Perhaps more damaging are the numbers found in the poll internals: Gov. Schweitzer taking 25 percent of the Republican vote in the state, and a 41 percent disapproval rating for Roy Brown. Looks like Gov. Schweitzer need only keep working hard, raise a little money, and finish strong so he can hand the Montana GOP their asses in a tidy package in November.

MSGA: No Split State. Buyers: We Agree With The Gov

Lamnidae — Wed, 02 Jul 2008 04:20:54 +0000

Just yesterday, MT Stockgrowers Association president Steve Roth penned a guest editorial at New West entitled “Split-State Status Wrong For Montana’s Cattle Industry.” Then today, the Gazette reports that some of Montana’s biggest beef customers are essentially implementing the policy on their own.

Roth says, “Sacrificing some for the short-term gain of others only serves to weaken these goals and the industry’s foundation.” I’d be willing to be there are more than a few ranchers out there who are sick and tired of the MSGA digging their heels in their quest for the Holy Grail: the supposedly feasible eradication of brucellosis from the Greater Yellowstone Area. Roth calls split state status a “quick fix,” but I’ve got to wonder how long some of the struggling ranchers in Montana can wait for a fix that many say isn’t scientifically possible. I guess it’s a good thing for them that some calmer heads prevail in Nebraska and elsewhere.

Quote of the Year

Lamnidae — Wed, 02 Jul 2008 04:00:56 +0000

Sen. Russ Feingold (D-Wis) on FISA:

“I teased some of my colleagues…I said, we can celebrate the constitution on July 4th, and when we come back maybe you’ll decide not to tear it up…”

One Big Dysfunctional Family

Lamnidae — Mon, 30 Jun 2008 22:40:27 +0000

It’s good to see a bit of veneer rubbing off of Erik Iverson’s big, happy convention.

Finally, if Iverson truly wanted “diversity” and understanding, why did he physically segregate us from them, both on the microphone and on the ballot? What can we say? Who feels like giving their time and money to these people now?

Not that Conrad Burns bad mouthing McCain to the Idaho GOP a week before being slated to represent the nominee in Missoula, GOP Senate candidate Bob Kelleher relegated to sideshow status, Brad Molnar attacking the platform, and a host of shady attack groups going after GOP officials wasn’t already chipping away at the state party’s false luster… It’s just that nobody was admitting to it.

It all makes me wonder when the party is going to live up to Iverson’s promise to “do it with a sense of decency, a sense of openness and civility that has been missing in Helena the last three and one-half years.”

Legislative Bungler Also Fails At Air Travel

Lamnidae — Fri, 27 Jun 2008 20:58:48 +0000

Apparently yesterday’s Heller v. DC ruling convinced Sen. Joe Balyeat that all gun laws were moot given that he tried to bring one in a soft-sided case packed in a cooler. In addition to the illegally packed gun and the classy luggage choice (step aside Vuitton, hello Coleman), Balyeat was also asked to relinquish a tube of shoe-repair glue. Apparently the “no solvents” signs they have everywhere only apply to the rest of us. No wonder he write such great legislation.

18 Debates… Why Not 174?

Lamnidae — Wed, 25 Jun 2008 17:45:04 +0000

Roy Brown’s call for 18 debates between himself and Gov. Schweitzer yesterday is likely the most ridiculous pander of the campaign cycle. Brown may not have a lot of responsibilities, but I don’t think a whole lot of Montanans want their governor spending the next 5 1/2 months traveling to debate after debate.

I dunno how he came up with the 18 number. If he using newspapers as a qualifier, why not ask for debates hosted by the 100 plus members of the MT Newspaper Association. Brown’s flack Tyler Matthews mentioned high schools… But there are 174 of those in the state. Does Brown really feel like doing 174 debates? This kind of rural pander treats Montanans as if we’re a bunch of Luddites living in the 19th century. As if the minute the Montana Economic Developers Association is finished in Billings, horseman will ride to Kalispell with news of Gov. Schweitzer’s great one-liners, and the telegraph operators will furious tap messages to their counterparts in the hinterland (Bozeman).

I’m sure the fine citizens of Bozeman, Great Falls, Kalispell, Helena, Havre, Hardin, Miles City, Dillon, Glasgow, Sidney, Lewistown, Livingston and Polson will be very relieved that Roy Brown is saving them the trouble of having to turn on their television, hop on the Internet, or unfold one of those ghastly newspapers. I’d feel patronized by Mr. Brown if I were living in one of those cities.

What Does the State GOP Have to Hide?

Lamnidae — Tue, 24 Jun 2008 05:19:27 +0000

Apparently Macaca, Michael Lange, and other death by videotape moments had the Montana GOP too nervous to honor Montana’s open meetings law last weekend. As many have said, the convention had a quorum of the party’s legislators in the room, and they were discussing public policy. In my non-legal educated opinion, that sounds pretty close to what Judge Honzel was describing when he ruled on party caucuses in 1995 and 1998.

Perhaps they’ve become so extreme, that they’re afraid of Montanans seeing them for what they truly are? I can’t see why they’d otherwise not welcome the opportunity to have MT Dem staffers waste their time at what had to have been a painfully tedious event. These guys have no basis to defend their closed doors–despite the UM College Republican website claiming a desire to create an “open atmosphere for discussion.” (Btw, why aren’t you guys and gals in Iraq?) Instead, they resort to mocking a verbal gaffe by a staffer and false histrionics about “clean politicking.” I think I speak for most of us when I say save the theatrics and explain to Montanans what is is that you don’t want us to see.

Rehberg Wasting Our Money Again

Lamnidae — Fri, 20 Jun 2008 16:13:06 +0000

Denny doesn’t get much done in Washington, but he sure likes spending our money on his reelection efforts.

For a guy who regularly campaigns on his fiscally conservative nature, undermining your talk by rubber stamping your way to record deficits is one thing–but abusing taxpayer funded resources provided to Congress is something entirely different. It exposes him for the charlatan that he is and makes it clear he doesn’t respect us as constituents.