Corey Stapleton to Formally Announce Gubernatorial Running Mate Wednesday At Capital Building Press Conference

February 6, 2012

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

 

Stapleton Will Also Conduct Statewide Tele-Townhall Conference Tuesday Evening at Montana GOP Headquarters

 

Helena, Mont—Republican candidate for Governor, Corey Stapleton, will formally announce his lieutenant governor running mate at a press conference on Wednesday, February 8, at 10:00 AM (MST) in the Montana state capitol rotunda, third floor.

 

MONTANA’S MILLIONAIRE CONGRESSMAN DENNIS REHBERG HIDES LOBBYIST MONEY IN FINANCIAL REPORT

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
February 6, 2012
Contact: Matt Canter, (202) 485-3129

MONTANA’S MILLIONAIRE CONGRESSMAN DENNIS REHBERG HIDES LOBBYIST MONEY IN FINANCIAL REPORT

AP Investigation Reveals Rehberg Failed To Disclose Lobbyist Contributions In His FEC Report

Montana’s millionaire Congressman Dennis Rehberg is once again in hot water for serving himself, not Montanans, by hiding tens of thousands of dollars he has raised from lobbyists. Rehberg is required by law to fully disclose campaign contributions and provide specific information on the employer and occupation of every contributor who donates above $200. Over the course of the first nine months of 2011, Rehberg hid the fact that three dozen lobbyists had contributed to his campaign.

“In the five decades he’s held political office, Montana’s millionaire Congressman Dennis Rehberg has been in the pocket of special interests in Washington DC,” said Matt Canter, spokesman for the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee. “Rehberg has consistently been caught red-handed playing by his own set of rules, using his position to advance his own political interests. It’s little wonder that Rehberg has voted against requiring more disclosure and transparency from campaign donors and shady outside groups.”

Rehberg’s long political career record is riddled with similar occasions where Rehberg used his authority to look out for himself and his own interests instead of what’s best for Montana.

Rehberg has supported allowing shady outside groups to spend millions on political attacks without any transparency, consistently voting against requiring these groups to disclose their donors. Rehberg even supports allowing multi-national corporations to spend millions swaying elections and propping up their special interest agenda. Now, D.C. special interests and Karl Rove are teaming up to boost Rehberg’s struggling campaign by spending thousands on false television advertisements targeting Senator Jon Tester.

AP: Rehberg Failed to Report the Occupation of Nearly Three Dozen Lobbyists, as Required, Giving $20,000 on His FEC Reports. As reported in the AP, “Rehberg has been taking donations from some lobbyists without disclosing their place of employment.” The story continued, “…an Associated Press analysis of campaign finance disclosure reports through October turned up nearly three dozen lobbyists, who donated a total of about $20,000 to Rehberg’s campaign, with their employment left blank on disclosure forms.” [AP, 2/05/12]

REHBERG OPPOSES REGULATING NOW-UNLIMITED CORPORATE INFLUENCE IN ELECTIONS

Rehberg Sided With Special Interests Over Transparency in Campaign Finance Reform; Opposed DISCLOSE Act. In 2010, Rehberg voted against campaign finance reforms that required transparency and disclosure in campaign spending.  The bill would tighten disclosure rules on campaign advertising by corporations, unions and other independent groups and would prohibit corporations that are foreign-controlled or have received government assistance from making expenditures in political campaigns.  Democrats argued that the bill would dull the effect of the Supreme Court’s ruling in Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission, which determined that corporations have the same free-speech rights as individuals and can spend corporate funds to sway elections.“This legislation restores transparency and accountability and ensures that Americans know when Wall Street and health insurers are the ones behind political advertising,” said House Speaker Nancy Pelosi.  The legislation would free organizations with 500,000 or more members, have existed for at least 10 years, and meet other criteria from having to identify their top donors. Those groups would still be required to abide by most of the bill’s new regulations, but not the disclaimer requirement that requires a “stand by your ad” provision. The bill passed, 219-206. [CQ Today, 6/24/10; HR 5175, Vote 391, 6/24/10]

Rehberg Supports a Corporation’s Right to Influence Elections. According to KTVQ, Rehberg supports a corporation’s right to free political speech. “About the time we start limiting people’s opportunity to have access to free speech I think you are going to continue to run into the same problem that we’ve had and the Supreme Court is going to say no,” Rehberg said. [KTVQ, 1/31/12]

Rehberg Opposes Efforts to Regulate Corporate Political Spending. In February 2012, Rehberg said he doesn’t support amendment proposals that would allow Congress to regulate campaign spending by corporations and labor unions. “In a healthy democracy, the more voices the better,” Rehberg said. “Good ideas tend to rise to the top. Efforts to simply silence those we don’t agree with is a dangerous approach. A better solution is more sunlight so political speech is transparent and we know who’s saying what. I don’t think we should deny people their Constitutional right to free speech just because they’re a part of a corporation instead of a different form of organization, like a non-profit, a campaign or a union.” [Hungry Horse News, 2/01/12]
CITIZENS UNITED VOICES STRONG SUPPORT FOR REHBERG

Citizens United Endorsed Rehberg. In September 2011, the Citizens United Victory Fund PAC endorsed Rehberg and maxed out in donations to him. The organization said in a statement, “Congressman Rehberg will vote for conservative values in the United States Senate and will work to reverse President Obama’s failed liberal agenda in partnership with a new President in 2013.” [Facebook, 9/21/11]

Citizens United Contributed $10,000 to Rehberg. Citizens United is the group who sued to give corporations the right to free political speech, contributed $10,000 to Rehberg’s campaign. [KTVQ, 1/31/12]

THESE GROUPS TRIED TO RUN AN AD IN MONTANA SO FALSE, CABLE COMPANY REFUSED TO AIR IT

Karl Rove Helped Start the Crossroads Group After Supreme Court Ruled Corporations Could Spend Unlimited Amounts of

Money Advocating Defeat of Political Candidates. As reported by Bloomberg News, ?Republican strategist Karl Rove helped start the Crossroads groups last year after the Supreme Court ruled, in Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission, that corporations and  labor unions can spend unlimited amounts of money advocating the election or defeat of political candidates. [Bloomberg News, 6/24/2011]

NBC News: Crossroads “Fueled By Tens of Millions From Wall Street.” According to NBC News, Crossroads as ?fueled by tens of  millions of dollars in contributions from Wall Street hedge fund moguls and other wealthy donors. [NBC News, 11/04/10

Crossroads GPS Cable Channel Removed Anti-Tester Ad Due To “Making Claims That the Network Deemed False.” In November 2011, the anti-Tester Crossroads GPS ad was “yanked from rotation on a Montana cable show because it made claims that the network deemed false.” Cablevision’s “Optimum cable service dropped the ad, the AP reported.” [The Huffington Post, 11/11/11]
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Paid for by the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee, dscc.org,
and not authorized by any candidate or candidate’s committee.

MVD Relocates and Streamlines Disabled Placard Processing

NEWS RELEASE

ATTORNEY GENERAL STEVE BULLOCK

STATE OF MONTANA

 

FOR RELEASE: February 6, 2012

CONTACT: Judy Beck, 444-5774 or John Doran, 444-9869

 

MVD Relocates and Streamlines Disabled Placard Processing

 

HELENA – Motor Vehicle Division Administrator Brenda Nordlund announced Monday that applications for disabled parking permits and license plates are now being processed at Motor Vehicle Division headquarters in Helena. Previously, processing was done in Deer Lodge at the MVD’s Title and Registration Bureau. The work is now handled by the MVD’s Records and Driver Control Bureau.

 

“Relocating the disabled placard processing to Helena from Deer Lodge allowed us to improve customer service by streamlining approval and issuance procedures. The transition is already producing a quicker turnaround,” Nordlund said. “Customers in need of accessible parking are receiving their permit materials faster.”

 

Last year, the MVD issued over 20,000 disabled placards. Staff processes and issues more than 100 per business day.

 

The eligibility criteria and application process have not changed. Individuals wanting to apply for a disabled parking permit or license plate need to obtain medical certification from a physician, chiropractor, or advanced practice registered nurse. Agencies or businesses that provide transportation as a service for people with disabilities may also still apply for special parking permits. The Disability Permit/License Plate Application, Form MV5, was recently revised and is available on the Motor Vehicle Division’s website, doj.mt.gov/driving/forms. Applicants and medical practitioners are encouraged to use this updated version.

 

The procedure for reporting misuse of disabled parking permits also has not changed. People should report suspected disabled parking violations to their local law enforcement.

 

 

John Doran

Public Information Officer

Department of Justice

Office: (406) 444-9869

Cell: (406) 422-6894

jdoran@mt.gov

Tester: Komen’s reversal ‘the right decision’ for Montana women

 

(GREAT FALLS, Mont.) – Senator Jon Tester today released the following statement after the Susan G. Komen for the Cure Foundation announced that it will reverse course and continue to provide funding for Planned Parenthood breast cancer screenings.  The announcement comes after Tester and 25 other senators on Thursday asked the Komen Foundation to “put women’s health care before partisan politics.”

 

“Women in Montana deserve access to affordable health services like breast cancer screenings.  The Komen Foundation made a responsible decision to keep funding preventative, life-saving care for women.”  

 

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Contact:          Andrea Helling or Dan Malessa – (202) 228-0371

 

Rehberg Draws on Personal Ranching Experience, Vows to Protect Family Farms from Bad Department of Labor Rule in Small Business Committee Hearing Announces Prohibition to Rule in FY13 Labor, Health & Human Services and Education Appropriations Bill

February 02, 2012 CONTACT: Jed Link, 202-225-3211

Rehberg Draws on Personal Ranching Experience, Vows to Protect Family Farms from Bad Department of Labor Rule in Small Business Committee Hearing Announces Prohibition to Rule in FY13 Labor, Health & Human Services and Education Appropriations Bill WASHINGTON, D.C. – Montana’s Congressman, Denny Rehberg, today questioned Nancy Leppink, the Deputy Administrator of the Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division, about a proposed rule widely believed to represent a major regulatory threat to the future of the family farm.  Drawing on his personal experience as a rancher, Rehberg expressed his opposition to the measure, and promised to include language in the Appropriations legislation he’s responsible for crafting to prevent the implementation of any so-called “Youth Ag Rule” in its current form. “I just don’t think the bureaucrats at the Department of Labor get it,” said Rehberg.  “I agree with Ms. Leppink when she said that one child being injured or killed is one child too many.  Only in Washington D.C. would anyone assume that a faceless bureaucrat is better equipped to look out for a child’s best interest than a parent.  Instead of a top-down government-knows-best set of rules, let’s get the federal government on the side of our struggling family farms.” Despite not being on the Small Business Committee, Rehberg’s leadership on this issue led Chairman Scott Tipton (CO-03) to ask him to join the hearing.  It was held by the Small Business Subcommittee on Agriculture, Energy and Trade and was entitled, “The Future of the Family Farm: The Effect of Proposed DOL Regulations on Small Business Producers.” During his testimony, Rehberg drew on his personal experience as a fifth generation Montana rancher, including hiring youngsters to help him herd his goats.  He also promised to fight to block any funding for the enforcement of the rule in its current form. Among the problematic provisions proposed by the Department of Labor under the Obama Administration: No one under the age of 16 would be allowed to work with animals when pain is being inflicted, such as branding, castrating, vaccinating, etc. No one under the age of 16 would be allowed to work on a ladder or a scaffold over 6 feet high (current restriction is 20 feet). No one under the age of 16 would be allowed to work in a pen with an uncastrated male bovine, porcine, or equine animal over 6 months old. Currently, hired workers under the age of 16 are not allowed to operate combines, corn pickers, etc.  The proposal would prohibit those under 16 from using all power driven machines to do ag work, including anything operated by “wind, electricity, fossil fuels, batteries, animals, or water. No one under 18 would be allowed to work in stockyards, grain elevators, feedlots, livestock exchanges, and auctions. Rehberg officially submitted a comment against the proposed rule on December 1 last year, andon December 16 crafted and sent a bipartisan letter with 153 fellow members, including 23 Democrats, expressing opposition to the proposal.   # # #

FOR IMMEDIATE R…

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

FEBRUARY 2, 2012

  

 

Tester hails STOCK Act passage 

Senator calls vote ‘a triumph of Montana values’

 

(U.S. SENATE) – Senator Jon Tester today released the following statement after the Stop Trading on Congressional Knowledge Act passed the Senate by a vote of  96 to 3.  The STOCK Act bans members of Congress and their employees from using knowledge gained from their Congressional work for personal financial benefit:

 

“Today’s vote is a triumph of Montana values.  No one who works in Congress should be using privileged information to make themselves richer.  Montanans should hold their representatives in Congress to the highest standard, and it’s my honor and responsibility to support more accountability and transparency in Congress.”

 

Tester introduced an early version of the STOCK Act after media reports raised the possibility of members of Congress using knowledge gained from their work to make business transactions. 

 

Tester specifically amended today’s bill to require financial disclosures filed by Members of Congress be made available online—adding to his efforts to increase transparency. 

 

The bill also included a bipartisan amendment that Tester supported to prohibit bonuses to Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac executives while the housing agencies remain in conservatorship.  Tester this week sponsored legislation that would return the compensation of senior executives at Fannie and Freddie and put the salaries of those agencies’ employees in line with other federal employees.

 

Tester, a steadfast advocate for more accountability in Congress, is also sponsoring a Constitutional amendment to overturn the U.S. Supreme Court’s controversial Citizens United decision that allows corporations to spend unlimited money on political campaigns with no transparency.

 

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Contact:          Andrea Helling or Dan Malessa – (202) 228-0371

 

FOR IMMEDIATE R…

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

FEBRUARY 3, 2012

 

Baucus, Tester stand with Great Falls to announce new MANG mission

Senators and community leaders unite behind Montana’s Airmen

 

(BILLINGS, Mont.) – Senators Max Baucus and Jon Tester today stood with Great Falls community leaders to announce a new flying mission for the Montana Air National Guard.

 

Baucus and Tester announced that after years of high-level meetings with Air Force leadership, they secured a C-130H mission for MANG, ensuring that Great Falls will retain a manned flying mission.  The Senators’ success comes as Pentagon budget cuts will result in significant losses of aircraft and jobs at some other Air Guard units across the country.

 

“I want to thank both Senator Baucus and Senator Tester for their outstanding work to bring the C-130 mission here,” said Steve Malicott, president of the Great Falls Chamber of Commerce.  “It was a daunting mission and we had multiple, multiple challenges, but they really led the way for us.”

 

“This has been an amazing effort on everyone’s part.  I would just like to reemphasize how much we appreciate the efforts of Senator Baucus and Senator Tester,” added David Weissman, chairman of the Central Montana Defense Alliance.  “What we’ve done with them could not have been done without them.  They’ve been a valuable and vital partner in the work of the Central Montana Defense Alliance here in Great Falls and in Washington, D.C.” 

 

“On behalf of the Airport Authority, I want to thank both Senator Baucus and Senator Tester,” said John Faulkner, director of Great Falls International Airport.  “They worked tirelessly for this mission for Montana.  It will keep the jobs in our community and we love having a busy place of work up here on Gore Hill.  We’re very thankful that those Guard jobs will still be next door.”

 

Great Falls Mayor Michael Winters also joined today’s news conference, where Tester called the new mission ‘good news for the City of Great Falls and for the state of Montana.’

 

The C-130H is a highly valued mission that requires significant operations and maintenance personnel.  Additional details, including exact manpower numbers and the dates the aircraft will arrive, will be available after the President’s budget is released later this month.

 

The Senators will continue to work closely with MANG and the Great Falls community leaders until the C-130Hs land in Montana.

 

Baucus and Tester have made it their mission to keep a manned flying mission for Great Falls that plays a critical role in defending the country.  Tester recently told the Director of the Air National Guard, Lt. General Harry Wyatt, that MANG’s new mission must retain its outstanding airmen and make good use of the vast airspace over Montana.  Baucus secured Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta’s support for MANG before Panetta was confirmed.

 

Last week, the Pentagon announced $259 billion in cuts, including an entire training squadron of F-15s, five squadrons of A-10 aircraft, and one Guard squadron of F-16s that will be retired.  The moves will reduce the number of flying missions for the Air National Guard and reduce the number of Air Guardsmen nationally by 5,100. 

 

The C-130H is a four-engine transport aircraft that can fly up to 2,360 miles without refueling.  It can transport more than 90 passengers and 45,000 pounds of cargo.  It is also frequently used to fight wildfires and conduct search and rescue operations.

 

Below is a timeline of Baucus’ and Tester’s work in securing MANG’s new mission:

FEBRUARY 3, 2012

 

Tester and Baucus announced that the Montana Air National Guard would receive a manned flying mission – the C-130H cargo aircraft.

 

JANUARY 26, 2012

 

Tester spoke with the Director of the Air National Guard, General Harry Wyatt, and reiterated his efforts to make sure the Montana Air National Guard has a future manned flying mission.

 

NOVEMBER 15-16, 2011

 

Tester and Baucus hosted the Central Montana Defense Alliance in Washington for a meeting with U.S. Air Force leadership.

         

JULY 27, 2011

 

Tester met with U.S. Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta to discuss the F-15s and urged that any replacement mission be a manned flying mission with the goal of maintaining personnel levels.

 

JUNE 28, 2011

 

Tester and Baucus wrote a letter to General Norton Schwartz, Chief of Staff for the U.S. Air Force, and General Craig McKinley, Chief of the National Guard Bureau, to express concern that the C-27J proposal would be inadequate to maintain defense and homeland security efforts.

 

JUNE 15, 2011

 

Baucus met with U.S. Secretary of Defense nominee Leon Panetta to discuss the importance of MANG to Great Falls and to Montana.

 

MAY 24, 2011

 

Tester and Baucus hosted the Central Montana Defense Alliance in Washington for a meeting with Air Force leadership.

 

MARCH 16, 2011

 

Tester and Baucus sent a letter to U.S. Air Force Secretary Michael Donley in support of selecting MANG for the Target Production Group mission.

 

FEBRUARY 4, 2011

 

Tester met with Erin Conaton, Undersecretary of the U.S. Air Force to discuss future missions for MANG.

 

FEBRUARY 4, 2011

 

Tester was appointed to the Appropriations Committee’s Subcommittee on Military Construction, which determines funding for military construction projects around the country and around the world.

 

NOVEMBER 30, 2010

 

Tester and Baucus hosted the Central Montana Defense Alliance in Washington for a meeting with the Director of the Air National Guard, General Harry Wyatt, and meetings with the Undersecretary of the Air Force for Installations, Ms. Kathleen Ferguson.

 

NOVEMBER 29, 2010

 

Tester, Baucus and Montana Governor Brian Schweitzer sent a letter to U.S. Air Force Secretary Michael Donley pressing for a new mission beyond the C-27J mission.

 

OCTOBER 8, 2010

 

Tester met with MANG leaders in Great Falls to discuss future mission opportunities.

 

JULY 29, 2010

 

Tester said he would “keep fighting for our Airmen, for Great Falls, and for the continued success of MANG” after the U.S. Air Force announced that Montana Air National Guard in Great Falls was a finalist for the C-27J Spartan aircraft operations.

 

APRIL 27, 2010

 

Tester and Baucus sent a letter to U.S. Air Force Secretary Michael Donley reiterating their opposition to the decision to move the F-15 mission away from MANG and calling for a strong replacement mission.

 

APRIL 15, 2010

 

Tester and Baucus met with U.S. Air Force Secretary Donley to express opposition to plans to move F-15 mission away from MANG and if the F-15 mission is to leave Montana, it must be replaced by a manned flying mission with the goal of maintaining personnel levels.

 

MARCH 10, 2010

 

Tester and Baucus met with Erin Conaton, then nominee for Undersecretary of the Air Force to express opposition to plans to move F-15 mission away from MANG and to urge again that if the F-15 mission is to leave Montana, it must be replaced by a manned flying mission with the goal of maintaining personnel levels.

 

FEBRUARY 26, 2010

 

Tester and Baucus sent a letter to U.S. Air Force Secretary Michael Donley stating that the 120th Fighter Wing had successfully converted to an F-15 mission well ahead of schedule and requesting a meeting to discuss the future of MANG.

 

FEBRUARY 24, 2010

 

Tester met with Erin Conaton, nominee to serve as Undersecretary of the U.S. Air Force to discuss cost estimates of moving F-15 mission away from MANG and to urge that if the F-15 mission is to leave Montana, it must be replaced by a manned flying mission with the goal of maintaining personnel levels.

 

FEBRUARY 11, 2010

 

Tester discussed the F-15 plan and the future of MANG with General Craig McKinley, Chief of the National Guard Bureau. He urged that if the F-15 mission is to leave Montana, it must be replaced by a manned flying mission with the goal of maintaining personnel levels.

 

OCTOBER 23, 2009

 

Tester and Baucus wrote to the U.S. Air Force and Air National Guard to highlight the BRAC language that directed the creation of the F-15 mission in Great Falls and to encourage consideration of future missions for the Montana Air National Guard.

 

MARCH 26, 2009

 

Baucus called Air Force Secretary Michael Donley to express opposition to plans to move F-15 mission away from MANG.

 

FEBRUARY 26, 2009

 

Tester and Baucus arranged meetings between leaders of the Great Falls community and Air Force Global Strike Commander Brigadier General James Kowalksi; Major General Alston; Deputy Assistant Secretary for Air Force Installations Kathleen Ferguson to discuss the future of MANG.

 

OCTOBER 16, 2008

 

Tester and Baucus called U.S. Air Force Secretary Nominee Michael Donley to express opposition to plans to move F-15 mission away from MANG. Donley committed to retaining F-15 mission at MANG for two years.

 

AUGUST 22, 2008

 

U.S. Air Force Secretary Nominee Michael Donley toured the Montana Air National Guard at Tester and Baucus’ invitation.

 

AUGUST 15, 2008

 

Tester and Baucus announced upcoming U.S. Air Force Secretary Nominee visit to Great Falls.

 

AUGUST 6, 2008

 

U.S. Air Force Secretary Nominee Michael Donley thanked Tester and Baucus for meeting to discuss the future of the Air Force presence in Montana. Secretary Donley said the Air Force would not reduce the F-15C inventory in the short-term as originally planned.

 

JULY 31, 2008

Tester and Baucus met with U.S. Air Force Secretary Nominee Michael Donley to argue against the Air Force’s plan to remove the F-15s from the Great Falls Air Guard Station. Tester and Baucus also invited the official to visit MANG.

 

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Kate Downen 406-224-5056/Kathy Weber 406-329-7980/Jennifer Donohue 202-224-2651 (Baucus)

or

Andrea Helling/Dan Malessa – (202) 228-0371 (Tester)