Category: Government
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Montana Ranks 5th in Taxes
The Tax Foundation recently released its 2025 State Competitiveness Index. This study revealed which states are taxpayer-friendly for both individuals and businesses. States are ranked based on income, sales, excise, property, capital gains, corporate, payroll, estate, and VAT consumption taxes. The Tax Foundation found that Wyoming is the most taxpayer-friendly state, Montana is 5th, Idaho is…
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Montana Infrastructure Ranks Poorly
A report compiled by the Montana Section of the American Society of Civil Engineers gave Montana relatively poor grades in the state of its infrastructure. They ranked Montana in 14 categories ranging from bridges and roads to schools to airports to wastewater systems. Montana received a C grade in 11 categories: aviation, bridges, dams, drinking…
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Methane Emissions Down 44%
Methane emissions from the largest oil- and natural gas-producing basins fell 44% between 2011 and 2013, according to newly published data from the Environmental Protection Agency. According to the EPA’s Greenhouse Gas Reporting Program, methane emissions dropped in seven oil- and natural gas-producing basins by up to 87% from 2019-2023. The drop occurred as U.S.…
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Mountain States Among Most 2nd Amendment Supportive
By Chris Woodward, The Center Square Mountain States are among the most gun-friendly states in 2024. Montana, Wyoming, Idaho, North and South Dakota all rank high in rankings from ammunition e-commerce and wholesaler company Ammo.com. Montana is fourth on this year’s ranking. Like other states in its region, Montana is a Constitutional Carry state with…
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Millennials, Better Financial Condition than Previous Generations
By Maggie Davis, Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis From coming of age in the wake of the Great Recession to bearing much of the brunt of today’s soaring home prices, many people seem to think millennials have it pretty bad. Contrary to that belief, the latest LendingTree study indicates millennials are in a better financial…
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Land Board Purchases Property
The Montana Land Board has conditionally purchased a 32,891-acre conservation easement to expand public access in northwest Montana. The easement is in the Salish and Cabinet mountains between Kalispell and Libby. This is the first phase of a potentially two-phased project totaling 85,792 acres of timberland and fish and wildlife habitat. The easement will protect…
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Gianforte Gets an “A” on Cato Report Card
Only six governors in the country earned a grade of “A” from the Cato Institute, and Montana’s Governor Greg Gianforte is one of them. Cato has released a report that grades governors on their fiscal policies from a limited government perspective. Governors receiving an A are those who have cut taxes and spending the most,…
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Feds Subsidize Battery Processing Manufacturing and Recycling
Last week the Biden –Harris administration announced over $3 billion in federal grants to subsidize domestic battery processing, manufacturing, and recycling projects. “These investments are also going to help end America’s reliance on critical materials from our economic competitors like China,” said Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm. Lael Brainard, director of the National Economic Council under…
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Farmers, Businesses Face Criminal Charges if Failing to Register
Even though they have not perpetrated any crime, thousands of farmers may face criminal charges if they fail to file information with the federal government. They may face steep fines and possible jail time for failing to file their businesses with the federal government. Jan. 1, 2025, is the deadline to file Beneficial Ownership Information…