2008
Schweitzer Labor Day report focuses on growth
AP-September 2, 2008
Gov Brian Schweitzer's 2008 Labor Day Report focused Tuesday on growth in Montana jobs, wages and the energy sector. Along with labor commissioner Keith Kelly, Schweitzer cited the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis data saying that Montana has one of the fastest growing economies in America over the last three years, ranking seventh overall and the third fastest over the last six months.
Mont. coal mine owners: production to increase by late 2009
AP – August 21, 2008
BILLINGS - The new owners of a coal mine near Roundup say they will dramatically step up production by the end of next year to an estimated 12.5 million tons annually. The Signal Peak mine - formerly known as Bull Mountain - was bought last month by two Ohio companies, Boich Companies and FirstEnergy Corp. They plan to invest from $400 million to $450 million in the project.
Schweitzer talks health issues in Missoula
KPAX-TV, August 20, 2008
Montana Governor Brian Schweitzer sat down with administrators at St. Patrick Hospital in Missoula on Wednesday to discuss more accessible and affordable health care.
Company plans ethanol research for Butte
AP – August 11, 2008
BUTTE — A California company is announcing plans for ethanol research in Butte. Representatives of AE Biofuels Inc. will be on hand with state and foreign dignitaries Monday to announce what the company says is the first integrated demonstration plant for cellulose and starch ethanol. That is ethanol made from nonfood products like wheat straw or grasses.
Tribe hopes to see benefits of coal plant for decades
Billings Gazette – August 9, 2008
CROW AGENCY - A coal-to-liquids plant won't operate here for at least eight years, but if it does, the income will benefit the Crow Reservation for generations to come. Crow Tribal Chairman Carl Venne said the development will help his people become self-sufficient.
Highway 2 widening clears environmental hurdle
Billings Gazette – August 9, 2008
HAVRE - The first project to widen U.S. Highway 2 in Montana to four lanes has passed one federal hurdle. An environmental-impact statement has found no significant impact of widening U.S. 2 from the North Dakota border to Culbertson - a 22-mile stretch of road, officials announced this week.
Governor asks Stimson to clean up Bonner site
Billings Gazette – August 6, 2008
HELENA - Gov. Brian Schweitzer said Tuesday that Stimson Lumber Co. needs to clean up contamination at the company's mill site in Bonner now that the mill is closed. The company countered that it has planned to clean up the location.
GOP pollster's advice: Don't attack Schweitzer
Billings Gazette – August 5, 2008
HELENA - A pollster advised the state Republican Party this summer not to attack Democratic Gov. Brian Schweitzer because of his popularity, but to offer positive policy alternatives. "Schweitzer has been effective at creating a majority centrist coalition, particularly with women and independents, and this is being driven by improving the state's economy," the Winston Group said in a June 19 memo to the Montana Republican Party.
Montana's bridges being fixed faster
AP – July 30, 2008
HELENA - Montana's most traveled bridges are being repaired faster than those around the country. An Associated Press review of repairs on each state's 20 most-traveled bridges with structural deficiencies found just 12 percent have been fixed since the bridge disaster last summer in Minneapolis.
Montana budget better than expected
Helena Independent Record - July 23, 2008
HELENA — Montana state government finances are doing better than projected — about $210 million better. Many states around the country are reporting fiscal trouble and show surpluses turning to deficits. Not in Montana, though.
Discussion, not division, becoming the norm
Missoulian - July 21, 2008
KALISPELL - Polite diplomacy appears to be trumping the historic conversation of conflict between Canadian officials intent on mining energy resources and downstream residents worried the development could taint Montana waterways.
Giant Shelby-area wind farm gears up
Great Falls Tribune – July 18, 2008
Spain-based NaturEner, a renewable-energy company that recently entered the North American market, officially broke ground Thursday on the first phase of a 210-megawatt wind farm on the hills between Cut Bank and Shelby.
Buyers to boost Bull Mountain output
Billings Gazette – July 18, 2008
Two Ohio companies plan to sink $450 million into a central Montana coal project, in a bid to dramatically increase production from an underground mine that has struggled for years.
Pipeline to ship oil, add jobs in Montana
Missoulian – July 17, 2008
HELENA - A Canadian energy giant announced Wednesday it will build a nearly 300-mile stretch of oil pipeline across eastern Montana as part of a system to ship crude oil from Canada and other points to the Midwest and Texas.
TransCanada announces new pipeline in Montana
Missoulian – July 16, 2008
HELENA - Gov. Brian Schweitzer and officials from TransCanada today announced that a new pipeline will be built in Montana bringing more than $1 billion of new energy infrastructure to the state.
Governor tours fishing site in Paradise
Clark Fork Valley Press – July 16, 2008
Gov. Brian Schweitzer met with local Sanders County officials last Wednesday to tour the new Paradise Fishing Access site located near the bridge that passes over the Clark Fork River in Paradise.
Green energy experts tout role of state in goals
Great Falls Tribune – July 9, 2008
Green energy experts and advocates from across the country who espouse a national policy of supplying 25 percent of the nation's energy needs via renewable energy by 2025 were told Tuesday how Montana is contributing to the effort.
Governor asks groups to conserve
Billings Gazette – July 9, 2008
HELENA - Gov. Brian Schweitzer is asking state boards and commissions to save energy by reducing travel. The governor says the boards can meet more often by teleconference or Web conferencing. He says this will reduce fuel use and travel expenses.
Gazette Opinion: Ranch a good investment for outdoors access
Billings Gazette – July 8, 2008
What a great acquisition. The Bozeman realty firm that listed the Circle R River Ranch for sale had an attractive pitch. It touted the property for its trophy mule deer, whitetail deer, antelope and occasional elk while offering excellent hunting for turkeys, upland birds and waterfowl. The ranch features about five miles of Yellowstone River frontage and includes river bottoms, sagebrush grasslands and ponderosa pine forests that provide great habitat for many wildlife species.
Meeting puts state's renewable energy projects in spotlight
Great Falls Tribune – July 2, 2008
The National Steering Committee of the 25x'25 Alliance, which promotes renewable energy development across the country, will meet next week in Great Falls. Gov. Brian Schweitzer, one of the first governors to endorse the 25x'25 Alliance's initiative, is scheduled to be the keynote speaker.
Brian Schweitzer: Economic growth provides money for education
Billings Gazette – June 28, 2008
Education is for life. As a first-generation college graduate, I know education can change one's life. I am grateful my parents, neither of whom graduated from high school, sent all six of their children to college. Now more than ever, parents want education to prepare their children for this dynamic 21st century.
Gov. helps dedicate autism treatment house
Associated Press – June 27, 2008
BOZEMAN (AP) — Gov. Brian Schweitzer, who has an autistic son, helped dedicate a treatment house for severely autistic children in Gallatin County.
Government efficiency: State buys electric truck
Helena Independent Record - June 25, 2008
With his dog riding shotgun, Gov. Brian Schweitzer on Tuesday took a spin in a new solar-powered truck the state bought for maintenance work around the Capitol Complex.
Schweitzer touts state’s energy potential
Flathead Daily Interlake - June 17, 2008
Mr. McGuire had one word for young Benjamin, aka Dustin Hoffman, in the 1967 movie “The Graduate.” “Plastics,” the well-to-do businessman advised the newly graduated boy on building his career. Plastics. Gov. Brian Schweitzer told a gathering of electric power cooperative and business leaders in Kalispell Monday that the word today would be “storage.”
Schweitzer tells Congress war costs are 'tip of an iceberg'
Great Falls Tribune - June 12, 2008
The Iraq war is stretching Montana emotionally and financially, Gov. Brian Schweitzer told a congressional committee Thursday.
NRA endorses Schweitzer
Helena Independent Record – May 27, 2008
The National Rifle Association Political Victory Fund on Tuesday endorsed Democratic Gov. Brian Schweitzer’s re-election, citing his strong support of the rights of gun owners, hunters and sportsmen.
Governor Takes on Energy Crisis
National Public Radio – May 22, 2008
Montana Gov. Brian Schweitzer, a Democrat, is making the energy crisis a top priority in his state. He explains how he plans to mitigate rising gas prices and his focus on green policies. He also discusses his objection to lobbyists and his unusual decision to select a Republican lieutenant governor.
Schweitzer touts General Electric project
Billings Gazette – May 22, 2008
General Electric Commercial Finance has hired about 20 employees and expects to have up to 80 on board when its new Billings operations center is completed later this year, a company official said Wednesday.
1 graduates at Opheim High
The Associated Press – May 18, 2008
Jeff Greenwood is in a class by himself - literally. The Opheim High School senior was the only student to graduate from the school Friday night. But the small event drew a big name. Gov. Brian Schweitzer gave the commencement address.
Rating on state bonds raised
Billings Gazette – May 7, 2008
HELENA - The state of Montana has received its third bond rating upgrade since last year, which means Montana will pay lower interest rates to borrow money when it issues bonds in the future.
Montana ahead of curve at treating returning soldiers
Great Falls Tribune Editorial – April 29, 2008
Thanks to some major studies and congressional legislation, the high incidence of post-traumatic stress disorder among military personnel returning from Iraq and Afghanistan finally is getting serious attention nationwide.
$37 million Mike Horse settlement reached
Missoulian – April 26, 2008
It was a good day for fish. The spirit of the late author and fly-fishing practitioner Norman Maclean was invoked Friday along the banks of the Blackfoot River as state and federal officials announced a $37 million settlement to remove the Mike Horse Dam and mining wastes from the river's headwaters.
Tribal round table
Associated Press: April 22, 2008
Gov. Brian Schweitzer says American Indian reservations can lure businesses and economic development by promoting their pool of available workers.
Yellowstone bison deal opens new access to land
Helena IR: April 18, 2008
Montana and federal officials announced a deal Thursday to let some bison migrate through a private ranch bordering Yellowstone National Park.
Gazette Opinion: Montana's world markets growing
Billings Gazette: April 10, 2008
As Gov. Brian Schweitzer said last week: "Over the past five years,
Montana has had the second-highest annual growth rate in export value
in the nation.
Governor comes to Chester to look at Bio-Diesel facilit
Liberty County Times: April 16, 2008
The Earl Fisher Biofuels plant and the county received a quick visit from Governor Brian Schweitzer on Thursday as he was out discussing local issues with local people.
Governor visits Superfund site
Daily Interlake: April 11, 2008
Gov. Brian Schweitzer had good advice for his dog at the Superfund site behind Office Max during a visit to Kalispell on Friday.
Schweitzer says governors will lead the way on 'clean and green' technology
Missoulian: March 30, 2008
Gov. Brian Schweitzer says a meeting he had over the weekend with a dozen Democratic governors allowed them to refine their objectives for clean coal technology.
Water starts flowing again at Milltown Dam
March 28, 2008
A shout of "let her run!" from Montana Governor Brian Schweitzer marked the day as for the first time in over a century water has started to flowing freely at the Milltown Dam.
Montana wins REAL ID standoff
March 23, 2008
The federal government won't penalize Montana for refusing to comply
with the REAL ID Act, state officials said Friday - and Montanans can
use their driver's licenses for identification when they board
commercial airplanes.
Gazette Opinion: Montana leads nation in cutting inmate population
Billings Gazette: March 9, 2008
A new report on all 50 states cites Montana as one of a few bucking a national trend for growing inmate populations - another encouraging sign that Montana's efforts to emphasize community corrections are paying off.
Economist says proposed wind mill plant a boon for Butte
Associated Press: March 7, 2008
HELENA — An economist says the wind turbine manufacturing plant planned for Butte would immediately be among the state’s largest manufacturing facilities and would have a significant impact on the local economy.
Montana Governor on 'Real ID' Act
NPR: March 7, 2008
Montana is one of several states that have balked at a federal law requiring states to issue tamper-proof identification cards to residents. Gov. Brian Schweitzer discusses his state's opposition.
German Company to Build Montana Plant
Forbes, NY - Mar 4, 2008
Brian Schweitzer announced Tuesday. Fuhrlander AG of Waigandshain, Germany, says it hopes to start building the $25 million plant in the fall and finish by ...
Montana’s Last Stand Against REAL ID
USA Daily - Feb 10, 2008
Governor Brian Schweitzer is the “left’s answer to Ron Paul,” according to one Arizona blogger. Really? It’s hard to visualize the Last Best State’s .�
Gov. Schweitzer, Panelists Urge Aggressive Action on Climate Change
New West, MT - Feb 1, 2008
Brian Schweitzer called for swift and decisive action by individuals,
industry and government to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in a speech
at the University of Montana Thursday night.
Schweitzer Specifies 2010 Plan
KULR-TV, MT - Jan 30, 2008
Governor Brian Schweitzer is reiterating his 2010 reduced greenhouse gas emissions plan. And he's counting on state agency directors to enforce part the measure.
Montana resists Real ID
Missoula Independent, MT - Jan 23, 2008
Gov. Brian Schweitzer sent a letter this week to Colorado Gov. Bill
Ritter seeking continued solidarity against what he calls “a major
threat to privacy, constitutional rights, and the pocketbooks of
ordinary Montanans.”
Schweitzer Celebrates Diversity
KULR-TV, MT - Jan 21, 2008
Governor Brian Schweitzer is encouraging Montanans to take time to celebrate the state's diversity Monday.
Schweitzer Urges State Agencies 'Reduce Energy Use'
KULR-TV, MT - Jan 21, 2008
Last month Governor Brian Schweitzer released his plan to reduce the state's energy consumption by 20% by the year 2010.
Montana resists Real ID
Missoula Independent, MT - Jan 23, 2008
Brian Schweitzer sent a letter this week to Colorado Gov. Bill Ritter seeking continued solidarity against what he calls “a major threat to privacy, constitutional rights, and the pocketbooks of ordinary Montanans.
