Category: Government

  • Horseracers Present Plan for Metra

    A proposal for a multi-use grandstand facility that would also accommodate horseracing in the same location as the recently removed grandstand was presented to county commissioners on Tuesday by Beth Koch, President of the Billings Turf Club. Kock said that her organization was presenting the plan as an option for the Metra Park Master Plan…

  • Could Have Been Worse, 2021 Looks Promising

    Could Have Been Worse, 2021 Looks Promising

    As bad as it was, the experience of other states shows that it could have been much worse for Montana. While the economic restraints that were imposed because of COVID-19 has had a profound impact on the economies of Montana and the nation, “the surprise is that Montana’s job setback, while severe, has been milder…

  • Around the State, COVID Impact Much the Same

    The economic impact of government imposed regulations due to the COVID-19 virus was much the same in every corner of the state of Montana. There was far greater differences in economic activity between different areas of the state before COVID, than what appeared after. All of the 2020 declines across the state were historically large,…

  • Family Fights on After 30 Years in Bureaucratic Purgatory

    Family Fights on After 30 Years in Bureaucratic Purgatory

    How long should an American have to wait for the wheels of justice to turn – 5 years? 20 years? 30 years? – for the federal government to definitively rule on a routine mining patent request that could make or break the success of a family-owned business?   And what recourse does that business owner have if the…

  • Boots on the Hill – Ag Scrutinizes Bills

    By Nicole Rolf and Rachel Cone, Montana Farm Bureau With more than 3,000 bill draft requests filed, just a few over 300 have been introduced in the 2021 Montana Legislature so far. This means much of our time now is spent analyzing, researching, and talking to sponsors and agencies here in Helena to better understand…

  • Unmatched Resolve: Reflections on a 56-County Road Trip

    By Brent Donnelly As director for the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) Montana District, I have the unique opportunity to work with entrepreneurs and small business owners across Montana to help provide capital and connections that support growth for our state’s businesses. This year has kept my team busy as we’ve worked with local lenders…

  • Second Round Open of Paycheck Protection Program

    The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA), in consultation with the Treasury Department, has  re-opened the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) for new borrowers and certain existing PPP borrowers. To promote access to capital in underserved communities, only community financial institutions could initially make PPP Loans starting on January 11.  The PPP is now open to all…

  • Red Tape Under Attack

    Signing his first executive order, Governor Greg Gianforte established the Red Tape Relief Task Force.  Governor Gianforte, who campaigned on the promise of conducting a top-to-bottom regulatory review of all state agencies, will rely on the task force to identify excessive, outdated, and unnecessary regulations. Lieutenant Governor Kristen Juras will lead the task force. Montana…

  • New State Budget Proposed by Governor

    Last week, Governor Greg Gianforte released his proposed budget for state government for the 2023 biennium. The plan would fulfill many of the policy priorities he outlined in his “Montana Comeback Plan” with the priorities of getting the economy going again, safely opening businesses, and getting Montanans back to work. The budget provides $50 million…

  • Government Funded Broadband?

    By Johnny Kampis, The Center Square President-elect Joe Biden’s broadband plan indicates he will push for more government-owned (taxpayer-funded) internet networks, which would be bad news for taxpayers. [The issue will be taken up by the Montana State Legislature.] Biden’s agenda, released on his website during his presidential campaign, talks in detail about his broadband goals. That…