Montana Congressional Delegation Statements About DOMA, Prop 8

Jun26 by D Gregory Smith

In stark contrast, here are the statements issued by Montana’s Congressional delegation in light of the historic DOMA and Prop 8 rulings today:

Gay Rights in America (Photo credit: Poldavo (Alex))

Daines “I am disappointed by the Supreme Court’s ruling today. Marriage, as the union of one man and one woman, matters for our children, and I remain a strong believer in defending the family.

While I do not agree with the Court’s ruling concerning the application of federal benefits, I am encouraged that the Court did not rule against states’ rights, ensuring that the voice of the people, not a ruling from a court, is the driving force behind marriage laws in Montana and the other states.”

Tester: “The Supreme Court today made the right decision. The federal government has no place telling Americans who they can love and who they can marry.”

Tester affirmed his support for same-sex marriage earlier this year, saying “how Montanans define a family should be their business and their business alone.”

Baucus: “Today is a proud day in American history when we can say to all Montanans, Americans and their children: your love and your family are just as good as everyone else’s under the law. For too long, same-sex couples and their children have been denied more than 1,000 federal rights and obligations that married couples enjoy. That was wrong. In the United States of America, no one should be treated as a second class citizen simply because of who they choose to love.

I believe each of us has a moral obligation to leave this place in better shape than we found it, and today’s decision puts our country on the right side of history. Now it’s time to pass the Employment Non-Discrimination Act and guarantee all Montanans the same opportunity to succeed in the workplace.”

What Do the DOMA and Prop 8 Decisions Mean for Gay Marriage in Pennsylvania? (princelaw.com)

Big Sky, Big Money

Oct30 by D Gregory Smith

Tonight at 8:30 pm on Montana PBS:

In a special investigation in collaboration with Marketplace, FRONTLINE travels to the remote epicenter of the campaign finance debate for a tale of money, politics, and intrigue. How has the Supreme Court’s Citizens United decision changed campaigns in America? Ask Montana, which has tried to challenge the ruling in court, is investigating alleged campaign abuses, and is playing host to a bitter race that could decide control of the U.S. Senate.

FRONTLINE correspondent and Marketplace host Kai Ryssdal reports.

Hopefully, some light will be shed on the mysterious meth house documents…

Trailer is here.

Watch Big Sky, Big Money, an investigation with Marketplace on PBS. See more from FRONTLINE.

Should Campaign Donors Be Disclosed? (pbs.org)
Nonprofit that sued to extend Citizens United ruling to states may have misled IRS (rawstory.com)
Did the Dark Money Group that Spurred a Landmark Ruling Mislead the IRS? (propublica.org)
Documents Found in Meth House Bare Inner Workings of Dark Money Group (crooksandliars.com)
Mysterious Docs Found in Meth House Reveal Inner Workings of Dark Money Group (pbs.org)

…And Rehberg Still Wants To Defund Americorps

Aug23 by D Gregory Smith

Rep Rehberg wants to deny over 1400 students and volunteers who want to give service to America the chance to make Montana a better place. He doesn’t think it works.

Well, I know the Congressman has been baffled by facts before, but here are a few (with pictures) to help clear things up.

Look what Americorps has done in Montana:

(click the pic for a way to make a difference )

Montana Republicans Stand By Their Man Akin (cowgirl)
Rehberg Leads Efforts To Defend Cylon, er, Corporate ‘Personhood’ (dgsmith.org)
Women Protest Montana Rep. Denny Rehberg Over Proposed Planned Parenthood Cuts (thinkprogress.org)
Rehberg’s opposition to Title X funding speaks clearly (billingsgazette.com)

NYT sums up Montana Politics

Aug19 by D Gregory Smith

…and does a pretty good job:

But the biggest question is whether anger — at Washington, at the parties, at the economy — can be in fact transmuted to hope for a better way, or whether anger just makes for more anger in a rolling cascade.

“United we stand, divided we fall — and we’re falling,” said DeAnne Asher, 64, who was chatting with friends on a recent morning in Lincoln, in the state’s wooded western half. Ms. Asher, who said she mostly voted Republican, does not plan to support Mr. Tester, but does not see voting for Mr. Rehberg either at this point. The entire system, she said, is broken.

“I’m fed up,” she said.

Full story here.