#MTGov Daily Rundown: Another Bullock Economic Claim Proves False

Governor Bullock has been touting strong income growth for Montana. However, as has been the case with many numbers Bullock has been emphasizing, the numbers are old. Data for 2016 from the Bureau of Economic Analysis shows that Montana's income growth is lagging behind the national average. Under Bullock, Montana now ranks 33rd.

"This week, the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis published its second quarter 2016 Personal Income Growth figures for all fifty states. These preliminary numbers indicate that Montana’s personal income grew by about 0.9 percent… behind the national average of 1.1 percent. Montana Bureau of Business and Economic Research Director Patrick Barkey offers some insight into the numbers.

'Montana personal income is income from all sources not just earnings, “income from all sources received by Montana households,' said Barkey. “That number, just to give you an order of magnitude, is running at about a $44 billion total for 2016. It is a pretty good measure of the states health and prosperity.'" -KGVO, 9/29/2016


Barkey notes that growth is down significantly from last year.

“What they are saying essentially is that the state has a had a few rocky quarters."  -KGVO, 9/29/2016


Amazingly, Bullock called the report "good news."

"Montana Governor Steve Bullock commented on the new figures saying, “This is great news for Montana. Thanks to the resiliency of Montana’s diverse economy, wages are on the rise, which means more money in the pocketbooks of hard-working Montana families across the state.”


Governor Bullock continues to ignore recent data showing Montana's economic difficulties. Earlier this month, the governor's office touted numbers purporting to show that Montana is number 1 in the nation for growth in median household income. The problem? It's based on data from 2014-2015?

"Montana leads the nation in household income growth last year according to the new American Community Survey Statistics released today.  Montana’s median household income grew 6.8% between 2014 and 2015, the highest percentage increase of any other state. Montana also ranked 5^th for nominal median household income growth, with a near $3,200 annual increase. All ACS figures in the report are adjusted for inflation rates." -Office of the Governor, 9/15/2016

Earlier this month, Bullock made similar claims, touting the state's Labor Report, which he claims shows that the state's economy is in strong shape. However, there is a major issue with this line of argument; he's using 2015 data. There are other issues too:

--Plus, Montana had higher wage growth BEFORE Bullock took office than we had in 2015. (Montanans experienced fairly strong wage growth in 2012, with the average annual wage increasing 3.6% to $37,093) See: Montana Labor Report, 2012

The reality is that Bullock inherited a good situation, but, due to a failure of leadership Montana's economy and fiscal situation is declining.

FROM 2013 (The year Bullock took office): "State government’s general fund surplus for the fiscal year that ended June 30 was nearly 24 percent, or $102.4 million, more than estimated, a report from the Legislative Fiscal Division released Thursday showed.

These numbers are considered preliminary because they have not yet been audited by the state legislative auditor, state Legislative Fiscal Analyst Amy Carlson said in her report.

Legislators had estimated a general fund surplus – called an ending fund balance in government accounting lingo – of $434.9 million for the 2013 fiscal year that ended June 30. However, the actual surplus turned out to be $537.2 million." -Missoulian, 9/26/2016

And even despite these figures, Montana remains near the bottom of the nation in wages.

In the group’s most recent report on tax return data by state and county, Montana ranked 49th — just above Mississippi and right below New Mexico — for wages and salaries reported in tax returns, with Montanans earning an average of $33,180 annually.

That’s more than $10,000 below the national average and almost $27,000 below the state with the highest average income: Connecticut." -Bozeman Daily Chronicle, 4/12/2015

“When it comes to the reasons people live in Montana, wages are not at the top of the list. But you might be surprised to know that the state ranks dead last in median income for millennials.  Millennials are defined by the Pew Research Center as people born between 1981 and 1997. A new study featured in Business Insider found millennials in Montana earn a median annual income of $18,000, the lowest in country.” NBC Montana, 12/14/2015

Also, more recent data from the Bureau of Economic Analysis shows that state economy has actually shrunk for the last two consecutive quarters.

"The Montana economy has shrunk for the second straight quarter as oil and gas, timber, mining, agriculture and transportation all reported losses.

The Billings Gazette reports that according to a Bureau of Economic Analysis report issued this week, drops in industry pulled Montana’s gross domestic product into negative figures for the last three months of 2015 as well as the first quarter of 2016." -Associated Press via the Great Falls Tribune 7/31/2016

For many other Montana workers, there is a great deal of uncertainty as job losses mount in our natural resource industries.

• Under Governor Bullock, Montana has lost nearly 700 jobs in the timber industry in the last year alone– leaving the industry reeling.
• Weyerhaeuser has closed timber mills in Columbia Falls
• Colstrip Units 1 and 2 are now slated for shutdown by 2022
• Montana mines are laying off workers
• Dozens of Montana rail workers have been laid off or furloughed
• Overall Montana has experienced a net loss of 2700 logging and mining jobs during Bullock's tenure, from 9,700 in December of 2012 to 7,000 in June of 2016 according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Montana also faces steeply declining revenues and a depleted projected ending fund balance.

"That ending fund balance, which acts as a cushion against revenue shortfalls and unexpected spending over the state's two-year budget cycle, stood at $255 million at the beginning of July. Legislative fiscal analysts said the fund could drop below $120 million by mid-2017." -AP via the Billings Gazette, 9/7/2016

#MTGov Daily Rundown: Where does Bullock stand on the Missoula gun Ordinance?

Despite state law prohibiting local governments from instituting their own gun laws, the City of Missoula is going ahead with a plan to require full background checks on every gun sale within city limits. As critics have pointed out, the legality of such an ordinance is highly questionable.

"Opposing the ordinance included comments by a state representative of the National Rifle Association, Brian Judy, who said the ordinance violates state law.

'With regards to the legality, this ordinance we’ve already heard is in violation of state law,” Judy said. 'The attorney general has weighed in on this point. The city attorney and the sponsor are engaging in interpretive and linguistic gymnastics in an attempt to convince you that this proposal complies with state law.'" -KGVO, 9/26/2016

The Montana code states in 45-8-351:

(1) Except as provided in subsection (2), a county, city, town, consolidated local government, or other local government unit may not prohibit, register, tax, license, or regulate the purchase, sale or other transfer (including delay in purchase, sale, or other transfer), ownership, possession, transportation, use, or unconcealed carrying of any weapon, including a rifle, shotgun, handgun, or concealed handgun.

Last year, when the ordinance was first being proposed, Attorney General Tim Fox expressed his opinion that the law, as it was being proposed then, violated state law.

"Montana Republican Attorney General Tim Fox broke his silence today on a proposed Missoula city ordinance that would make every gun purchase within city limits subject to a federal background check. Fox stated his opinion that the ordinance would violate state law.

“Contrary to the opinion of the City Attorney, who I respect, I believe that Missoula’s proposed gun ordinance is prohibited by state law and likely violates our constitutional right to keep and bear arms,” Fox stated in a press release." -Media Trackers, 10/15/2015


The Missoulian editorial board was also critical of the initial proposal last fall, saying that the law was likely illegal, would be ineffective, and would only serve as a wedge issue to divide Missoulians.

"Missoula's City Council is on the wrong path with a proposed ordinance that would require background checks on all gun sales and transfers within city limits.

The intent, as stated in the draft ordinance, is to ensure that "felons, minors, and people adjudicated as mentally ill" - in other words, people who are not supposed to have guns - cannot get guns from sources other than federally licensed firearms dealers, who are already required to run background checks.

Unfortunately, this ordinance does not bring Missoula closer to that goal. Rather, it creates a wedge that only serves to drive Missoulians further apart on an issue which should unite us. After all, none of us wants anyone bent on violence to get hold of a gun." -Missoulian, 10/4/2015


While many are questioning the law, Governor Steve Bullock has, so far offered no stance on the issue. Where does the governor stand?

Governor Bullock has quietly amassed an anti-2nd Amendment track record. During his tenure, the governor has vetoed multiple bills that would have enhanced the right of Montanans to keep and bear arms.

"The Senate also passed a measure to prohibit local law enforcement from assisting in the enforcement of future federal gun laws. Both bills passed on party-line votes.

They face another vote Thursday before heading to Governor Bullock, who vetoed similar legislation in the 2013 session." -MTN News, 3/11/2015

"Democratic Gov. Steve Bullock on Friday vetoed a pair of Republican-sponsored gun rights bills, including one that would allow almost any adult to carry a concealed weapon in Montana without a permit." -Missoulian, 3/27/2015


One of those bills would have pushed back against President Obama's unconstitutional executive overreach on guns. Bullock vetoed the bill. However, AFTER Obama actually issued an executive order on guns, Bullock criticized the decision.

"Bullock also vetoed HB203, which would prohibit any state or local officials in Montana from enforcing any future federal restrictions on gun or weapon magazine ownership." -Missoulian 3/27/2015

"But this discussion is too important for the President to circumvent Congress with the stroke of a pen.” -Billings Gazette, 1/5/2016

Earlier this month, three pro-2nd Amendment groups touted their endorsement of Greg Gianforte in Helena and criticized Governor Bullock for his anti-2nd Amendment record.

"Gianforte and John Velleco, chief operating officer of the Gun Owners of America, also chastised Bullock for vetoing a pair of bills last year: One that would have allowed any legal gun owner in Montana to carry a concealed weapon without a state permit and another that would have barred state or local officials from enforcing any new federal firearms bans.

'(Gov. Bullock) just doesn’t seem to trust the people with their firearms,' Velleco said." -MTN News, 9/132016


Gianforte, meanwhile, is a staunch defender of the 2nd Amendment.

"'The 2^nd Amendment is very clear: It says our right to bear arms shall not be infringed,' he told reporters gathered at the Helena Trap Club. 'I will defend that constitutional right when I’m elected.'” -MTN News, 9/13/2016

#MTGov Daily Rundown: AG Inquiry of Bullock's Deleted Emails Requested

Chair of the State Senate Judiciary Committee, Scott Sales, is requesting that the Montana Attorney General's Office investigate why Gov. Bullock's emails from his 2099-2013 stint as Attorney General are missing. Sales calls the fact that the emails are gone "very troubling."

“Gov. Bullock failed in a very basic duty to preserve the public records entrusted to his care,” he stated later. -Great Falls Tribune, 9/26/2016

Sales notes that someone in Bullock's office, when he was attorney general, must have given the order to destroy the emails, which may violate state law. He also said the legislature may consider legislation to clarify that elected officials are prohibited from deleting emails.

"Sales asked that Fox determine who at Attorney General Steve Bullock’s office ordered the destruction of these email public records and did the State Records Committee ever give authorization to destroy all their email public records?

Sales said it may take legislative action to ensure that future governors do not do the same thing." -Great Falls Tribune, 9/28/2016


Last week, Montana State GOP Chairman Jeff Essmann also questioned the legality of Bullock destroying his emails, saying the emails are state property.

“As you know, your emails written as attorney general were state property, not personal property, as were the emails of your senior staff,” he wrote. -Great Falls Tribune 9/28/2016


Montanans were treated to the shocking news that all of the emails on state accounts from Governor Steve Bullock's 2009-2013 term as Attorney General have been destroyed. This is despite emails clearly being considered "public record" in state law and guidance from the Secretary of State's office that public officials turn over their emails to the state archives when they leave office.

“Note the email accounts for former Attorney General Steve Bullock and his appointed staff members no longer exist, so neither the accounts nor their archives are available to search,’ he wrote. Blixseth has asked state officials for a copy of the minutes of the meeting in which they followed proper protocols and requested destruction of emails." -Great Falls Tribune, 8/31/2016

"Andrew J. Huff, chief legal counsel for Bullock, said the governor’s office does not maintain public information archives from the attorney general’s office or other state agencies.

“With some limited exceptions, the governor’s office does not store public information that predates January 2013 when Governor Bullock came into office,” he wrote July 26." -Great Falls Tribune, 8/31/2016

“Do they exist, were they destroyed legally or illegally?” he [Blixseth] asked. “We find no record they were destroyed legally, so the assumption is they were destroyed illegally.” -Great Falls Tribune, 8/31/2016

"Blixseth cites email guidelines posted on the Secretary of State’s website that claim “When records are no longer needed, they may be disposed of in a legally prescribed fashion — but only after the State or Local Government Records Committees have approved their disposal.” -Great Falls Tribune, 8/31/2016

"He said research by him and his attorneys has shown the governor has not made a request to delete the information." -Great Falls Tribune, 8/31//2016

Bullock has been dealing with a "slow drip" of issues regarding how he is using both his state and private email since his 2nd lieutenant governor, Angela McLean, resigned her post unexpectedly last year.

"Montana Gov. Steve Bullock has used his private email account to communicate about a wide variety of official business from proposed legislation to his increasingly strained relationship with the former lieutenant governor, according to hundreds of pages of emails released Friday." -Great Falls Tribune, 5/6/2016

"The newly released records shed more light on the strained relationship between McLean, Bullock and his staff. McLean complains to Bullock about her treatment by his budget director, Dan Villa, whom she said told her 'either you are on the team or you are not.'

In May, the lieutenant governor wrote a letter to Bullock saying Chief of Staff Tracy Stone-Manning had confirmed that he was considering a different running mate for his 2016 re-election campaign. 'I guess I am learning ambition is a funny thing and realizing the full consequences of standing up for what you believe it right,' McLean wrote." -Great Falls Tribune, 5/6/2016

"Hundreds of pages of documents, which were released Friday, show the democratic governor used his private account for official communications regarding his proposed state budget... legislation... and even lighting the state capitol at night. bullock previously told the associated press that he uses private email to communicate about political or election issues, but that government affairs are sometimes in those communications." -KFBB, 5/6/2016

The emails from the governor's private account were released after emails from official state accounts showed an increasingly strained relationship between Bullock and then-Lt. Gov. Angela McLean.

"Gov. Steve Bullock and his administration had a strained relationship with Lt. Gov. Angela McLean and had considered replacing her on the 2016 ticket since early this year, according to internal emails and top Bullock staffers.

Emails obtained late this week by MTN News also showed that McLean had become largely isolated on the job by early October, when she was locked out of her official Twitter account, excluded from office meetings, and stripped of her initiatives." -MTN News, 12/11/2015

#MTGov Daily Rundown: Legislator Takes Bullock Admin to Task Over Marketing Contract

Rep. Ken Holmlund has joined a growing chorus of elected officials and newspaper editorial boards questioning Bullock's commerce department for awarding a state contract to a Wisconsin firm under questionable circumstances, costing Montana jobs.
.

"One such event is the Montana Department of Commerce granting a Montana tourism contract to a Wisconsin firm with little or no experience in destination or tourism marketing, even though several Montana firms applied for the contract and had the necessary credentials to do the job. This contract is for $7 to $9 million in Montana tax dollars a year.

Let’s look at the known facts. A deadline had been set for applications and was known by all parties for months. A few hours before the deadline it was extended to allow for all parties to have time to submit the application.

The extension alone is not terribly troubling until you realize that the Jennifer Pelej, the Department of Commerce Bureau Chief, who is heavily involved with awarding this contract, just happens to have a cousin who is a VP account supervisor with the Wisconsin firm Hoffman York. Suddenly the plot thickens, but it gets worse." -Rep. Ken Holmlund, Billings Gazette, 9/10/2016

Holmlund then asked the important question of why a lack of oversight exists at the Montana Department of Commerce.

"I am sure there is more to be revealed about this contract but at best it stinks of blatant cronyism when an out-of-state company gets a contract this large even though they have no experience in the field. Why weren’t Gov. Steve Bullock and Commerce Director Meg O’Leary paying closer attention to this process? Were they complicit in allowing this to happen? I believe honest answers to the citizens of Montana are required from our leaders. No more cronyism and favoritism with our tax dollars." -Rep. Ken Holmlund, Billings Gazette, 9/10/2016

Another Montana newspaper is taking the Bullock Administration's Department of Commerce to task over the questionable circumstances surrounding the awarding of the state marketing contract to an out-of-state firm.

"The awarding of a $7 million contract to an out-of-state firm to promote Montana tourism may be technically justified. But the complexity and seemingly arbitrary nature of the bid-awarding process was less than satisfying.

All else being equal — or even close to equal — the bidding process should favor a Montana company for the award of a state contract of this size.

The Bozeman ad agency MercuryCSC has held the contract with the state tourism office for the last 10 years but chose not to bid to renew the contract — apparently because of some friction between the company and state officials." -Bozeman Daily Chronicle, 9/4/2016


The Chronicle editorial board notes the questionable circumstances being the extension of the deadline, and the fact that a senior state tourism official has a cousin who works as an executive for the out of state firm that received the contract.

"And with little explanation, the process was stretched out when a deadline was extended for part of the bid submission process. Add to that the fact that a senior state tourism official has a cousin who is a vice-president in the Wisconsin firm that won the contract and it all gets even murkier, though other state officials saw no conflict in the relationship." -Bozeman Daily Chronicle, 9/4/2016

"But when the process of evaluating bids becomes as complex and cloudy as this one was, its effectiveness has to be questioned." -Bozeman Daily Chronicle, 9/4/2016


Many across Montana were surprised by last month's news that the Bullock Administration's Department of Commerce was awarding it's $7 million tourism marketing contract to a firm in Wisconsin, Hoffman York. Several Montana companies were competing for the contract. The contract was previously held by Bozeman-based Mercury CSC, leading to new questions about the evaluation process.

"The department awarded the contract to Milwaukee agency Hoffman York at the beginning of August using a point system it says is objective to evaluate bidders. But several agencies involved in and familiar with the bidding argue that the process is far from scientific and that the state demonstrated strange behavior bordering on favoritism. "-Bozeman Daily Chronicle, 8/22/2016

Interestingly, Jennifer Pelej, bureau chief for the tourism office's marketing department, disclosed a month into the process that she has a cousin who works as an executive for Hoffman York. Pelej also used to work for the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources.

 "More than a month into the selection process, Pelej also disclosed that her cousin, Jaime Hutchings, works for Hoffman as a VP account supervisor." -Bozeman Daily Chronicle, 8/21/2016

 Pelej is also a former employee of the anti-coal National Wildlife Federation.


  
For some reason, the rules were changed at the last minute, and scores changed dramatically. Critics of the contract award have also noticed that, somehow, an out-of-state company scored much higher on "understanding the Montana brand than the Montana based companies.

"Questions arose early on when officials unexpectedly extended the deadline for the agencies to submit their first response — a 100-plus page document that applicants had weeks to prepare — five hours before it was due. When asked by an applicant about the reason for the extension, Procurement Unit Supervisor Tia Snyder wrote that the state wanted “to give all Offeror’s (sic) a chance to better prepare their response to this solicitation.” -Bozeman Daily Chronicle 8/21/2016


The Great Falls Tribune editorial board has also questioned the contract.

  "We think Montanans should be able to feel confident that this new contract was awarded solely on the basis of merit, but the subjective ranking system doesn’t instill that confidence, especially with a relative working at the contract winner. Professional services are not subject to competitive bidding laws in Montana, but that doesn’t mean state government should give away the dairy farm as if it’s a bowl of cottage cheese." -Great Falls Tribune, 8/26/2016


This isn't the first time that Bullock Administration officials have been questioned about possible conflicts of interest in the awarding of state contracts. Earlier this year, news broke that a Bullock Administration official had direct ties to a Butte based non-profit from which the state leased a facility in Galen to house some of the patients from the closing Montana Developmental Center in Boulder.

“There was no competitive bidding process to award the Galen lease. In fact, officials said Wednesday they didn’t even look at potential alternatives to the $1.2 million annual agreement.
That's how the state’s newest landlord became Community Counseling and Correctional Services -- a Butte-based nonprofit that employs Brandie Villa, a top company accountant and the wife of Governor’s Office Budget Director Dan Villa.

The move has left some wondering how a building owned by Brandie Villa’s bosses -- one that might have sat vacant and heavy on CCCS’ books, in the absence of a state-backed lease -- suddenly became Montana’s first and only choice to house a mental health facility.” -Helena Independent Record, 4/8/2016

#MTGov Daily Rundown: Legislator Takes Bullock Admin to Task Over Marketing Contract

Rep. Ken Holmlund has joined a growing chorus of elected officials and newspaper editorial boards questioning Bullock's commerce department for awarding a state contract to a Wisconsin firm under questionable circumstances, costing Montana jobs.
.

"One such event is the Montana Department of Commerce granting a Montana tourism contract to a Wisconsin firm with little or no experience in destination or tourism marketing, even though several Montana firms applied for the contract and had the necessary credentials to do the job. This contract is for $7 to $9 million in Montana tax dollars a year.

Let’s look at the known facts. A deadline had been set for applications and was known by all parties for months. A few hours before the deadline it was extended to allow for all parties to have time to submit the application.

The extension alone is not terribly troubling until you realize that the Jennifer Pelej, the Department of Commerce Bureau Chief, who is heavily involved with awarding this contract, just happens to have a cousin who is a VP account supervisor with the Wisconsin firm Hoffman York. Suddenly the plot thickens, but it gets worse." -Rep. Ken Holmlund, Billings Gazette, 9/10/2016

Holmlund then asked the important question of why a lack of oversight exists at the Montana Department of Commerce.

"I am sure there is more to be revealed about this contract but at best it stinks of blatant cronyism when an out-of-state company gets a contract this large even though they have no experience in the field. Why weren’t Gov. Steve Bullock and Commerce Director Meg O’Leary paying closer attention to this process? Were they complicit in allowing this to happen? I believe honest answers to the citizens of Montana are required from our leaders. No more cronyism and favoritism with our tax dollars." -Rep. Ken Holmlund, Billings Gazette, 9/10/2016

Another Montana newspaper is taking the Bullock Administration's Department of Commerce to task over the questionable circumstances surrounding the awarding of the state marketing contract to an out-of-state firm.

"The awarding of a $7 million contract to an out-of-state firm to promote Montana tourism may be technically justified. But the complexity and seemingly arbitrary nature of the bid-awarding process was less than satisfying.

All else being equal — or even close to equal — the bidding process should favor a Montana company for the award of a state contract of this size.

The Bozeman ad agency MercuryCSC has held the contract with the state tourism office for the last 10 years but chose not to bid to renew the contract — apparently because of some friction between the company and state officials." -Bozeman Daily Chronicle, 9/4/2016


The Chronicle editorial board notes the questionable circumstances being the extension of the deadline, and the fact that a senior state tourism official has a cousin who works as an executive for the out of state firm that received the contract.

"And with little explanation, the process was stretched out when a deadline was extended for part of the bid submission process. Add to that the fact that a senior state tourism official has a cousin who is a vice-president in the Wisconsin firm that won the contract and it all gets even murkier, though other state officials saw no conflict in the relationship." -Bozeman Daily Chronicle, 9/4/2016

"But when the process of evaluating bids becomes as complex and cloudy as this one was, its effectiveness has to be questioned." -Bozeman Daily Chronicle, 9/4/2016


Many across Montana were surprised by last month's news that the Bullock Administration's Department of Commerce was awarding it's $7 million tourism marketing contract to a firm in Wisconsin, Hoffman York. Several Montana companies were competing for the contract. The contract was previously held by Bozeman-based Mercury CSC, leading to new questions about the evaluation process.

"The department awarded the contract to Milwaukee agency Hoffman York at the beginning of August using a point system it says is objective to evaluate bidders. But several agencies involved in and familiar with the bidding argue that the process is far from scientific and that the state demonstrated strange behavior bordering on favoritism. "-Bozeman Daily Chronicle, 8/22/2016

Interestingly, Jennifer Pelej, bureau chief for the tourism office's marketing department, disclosed a month into the process that she has a cousin who works as an executive for Hoffman York. Pelej also used to work for the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources.

 "More than a month into the selection process, Pelej also disclosed that her cousin, Jaime Hutchings, works for Hoffman as a VP account supervisor." -Bozeman Daily Chronicle, 8/21/2016

 Pelej is also a former employee of the anti-coal National Wildlife Federation.


  
For some reason, the rules were changed at the last minute, and scores changed dramatically. Critics of the contract award have also noticed that, somehow, an out-of-state company scored much higher on "understanding the Montana brand than the Montana based companies.

"Questions arose early on when officials unexpectedly extended the deadline for the agencies to submit their first response — a 100-plus page document that applicants had weeks to prepare — five hours before it was due. When asked by an applicant about the reason for the extension, Procurement Unit Supervisor Tia Snyder wrote that the state wanted “to give all Offeror’s (sic) a chance to better prepare their response to this solicitation.” -Bozeman Daily Chronicle 8/21/2016


The Great Falls Tribune editorial board has also questioned the contract.

  "We think Montanans should be able to feel confident that this new contract was awarded solely on the basis of merit, but the subjective ranking system doesn’t instill that confidence, especially with a relative working at the contract winner. Professional services are not subject to competitive bidding laws in Montana, but that doesn’t mean state government should give away the dairy farm as if it’s a bowl of cottage cheese." -Great Falls Tribune, 8/26/2016


This isn't the first time that Bullock Administration officials have been questioned about possible conflicts of interest in the awarding of state contracts. Earlier this year, news broke that a Bullock Administration official had direct ties to a Butte based non-profit from which the state leased a facility in Galen to house some of the patients from the closing Montana Developmental Center in Boulder.

“There was no competitive bidding process to award the Galen lease. In fact, officials said Wednesday they didn’t even look at potential alternatives to the $1.2 million annual agreement.
That's how the state’s newest landlord became Community Counseling and Correctional Services -- a Butte-based nonprofit that employs Brandie Villa, a top company accountant and the wife of Governor’s Office Budget Director Dan Villa.

The move has left some wondering how a building owned by Brandie Villa’s bosses -- one that might have sat vacant and heavy on CCCS’ books, in the absence of a state-backed lease -- suddenly became Montana’s first and only choice to house a mental health facility.” -Helena Independent Record, 4/8/2016

#MTGov Daily Rundown (Special Debate Edition): Bullock and Clinton are Two of a Kind

As Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton take to the debate stage tonight, it's important to remember just how similar Bullock and Clinton are.

2nd Amendment:

Hillary Clinton is one of the most anti-2nd Amendment politicians to ever run for or hold public office. She has a long history of fighting against the right to keep and bear arms and the National Rife Association has consistently given her a "F" grade. While Governor Bullock claims to support the 2nd Amendment, his endorsement of Hillary Clinton should be enough to call that into question.

Hillary Clinton has refused to state that the 2nd Amendment is an individual right. -ABC, 6/5/2016

She has stated her support for an assault weapons ban, a ban on high-capacity magazines, and stated that lawful gun owners "hold a viewpoint that terrorizes the majority of people." -CNN, 6/18/2014)

She has praised large scale gun confiscation schemes that have occurred in nations such as Australia and the United Kingdom. -Huffington Post, 10/16/2015

She has called for Americans to be stripped of their 2nd Amendment rights without due process based on their name appearing on the highly mistake prone No Fly List.  -CNN, 12/5/2016

In addition to his endorsement of Hillary Clinton, Governor Bullock quietly amassed his own anti-2nd Amendment track record. During his tenure, the governor has vetoed multiple bills that would have enhanced the right of Montanans to keep and bear arms.

"The Senate also passed a measure to prohibit local law enforcement from assisting in the enforcement of future federal gun laws. Both bills passed on party-line votes.

They face another vote Thursday before heading to Governor Bullock, who vetoed similar legislation in the 2013 session." -MTN News, 3/11/2015

"Democratic Gov. Steve Bullock on Friday vetoed a pair of Republican-sponsored gun rights bills, including one that would allow almost any adult to carry a concealed weapon in Montana without a permit." -Missoulian, 3/27/2015

One of those bills would have pushed back against President Obama's unconstitutional executive overreach on guns. Bullock vetoed the bill. However, AFTER Obama actually issued an executive order on guns, Bullock criticized the decision.

"Bullock also vetoed HB203, which would prohibit any state or local officials in Montana from enforcing any future federal restrictions on gun or weapon magazine ownership." -Missoulian 3/27/2015

"But this discussion is too important for the President to circumvent Congress with the stroke of a pen.” -Billings Gazette, 1/5/2016

Coal:

Hillary Clinton’s anti-coal agenda:

“…we’re gonna put a lot of coal miners and coal companies out of business”-Hillary Clinton, on CNN, 3/13/2016

Clinton has said that the country has to move away from coal.

"We need to move away from coal. Everybody understands that. There's no doubt about it." -Hillary Clinton event with the League of Conservation Voters, 11/9/2015

Hillary Clinton has called the Obama Administration's Clean Power Plan, which threatens thousands of Montana jobs, "the floor not the ceiling, and promised to go further." Even to the point of using illegal executive orders to bypass Congress.

"Clinton called the plan 'the floor, not the ceiling,' and said she would go further.
Her plan contemplates using executive orders if Congress tried to block her proposals." -Washington Post, 8/2/2015

Meanwhile Governor Bullock will not stand up for Montana's coal industry. Last month, his office did not even send a representative to a hearing on a bill sponsored by Rep. Zinke and Sen. Daines that seeks to protect Montana coal jobs.

“Gov. Steve Bullock did not send anyone to the hearing.

Zinke spokeswoman Heather Swift said their office was surprised the governor didn’t want to be involved, saying he has voiced support in the past and has been opposed to federal moratoriums.

‘As far as his motivation we’re completely clueless as to why they wouldn’t want to participate,’ she said.” -Great Falls Tribune 6/15/2016



This is after Bullock waited until the last minute (under pressure from Gianforte) to call on Washington Gov. Jay Inslee to veto a bill that paves the way for the shutdown of the Colstrip Power Plant AFTER first saying he wouldn’t demand a veto.

“Bullock isn’t likely to veto the bill.” -MTN News, 3/15/2016

FLIP-FLOP:

“Montana Gov. Steve Bullock last week asked Inslee to veto the bill over concerns about its effect on Montana.” -Seattle Times, 4/3/2016

Last year, Bullock refused to support Attorney General Tim Fox’s lawsuit against the Obama/EPA Clean Power Plan which threatens thousands of Montana jobs.

“A statement issued by Governor Steve Bullock didn’t say whether he thinks the lawsuit is a good idea.” -Montana Public Radio, 10/23/2015

Early in the year, after the U.S. Supreme Court put a stay on the Obama/EPA Clean Power Plan, Bullock simply suspended his Clean Power Plan Advisory Council.

"Montana Gov. Steve Bullock on Tuesday suspended the work of a panel appointed to address new federal carbon dioxide emissions rules after the U.S. Supreme Court temporarily blocked the key component of President Barack Obama’s climate change plan.” -Associated Press 2/9/2016

A big issue is for Bullock is that his campaign has taken a combined thousands of dollars from environmental activists with the Montana Environmental Information Center and the Sierra Club of Montana. Both groups sued to shut down Colstrip Units 1 and 2.

 "'The firm MEIC that actually pursued this lawsuit against Colstrip, their board members have written checks, five of them have written checks to Gov. Bullock’s campaign,' Gianforte said. 'He’s bought and paid for by special interests that shut down Montana jobs.'”

Campaign records show Gianforte’s allegation is true." -Billings Gazette, 7/13/2016

Emails:

Recently, Montanans were treated to the shocking news that all of the emails on state accounts from Governor Steve Bullock's 2009-2013 term as Attorney General have been destroyed. This is despite emails clearly being considered "public record" in state law and guidance from the Secretary of State's office that public officials turn over their emails to the state archives when they leave office.

“Note the email accounts for former Attorney General Steve Bullock and his appointed staff members no longer exist, so neither the accounts nor their archives are available to search,’ he wrote. Blixseth has asked state officials for a copy of the minutes of the meeting in which they followed proper protocols and requested destruction of emails." -Great Falls Tribune, 8/31/2016

"Andrew J. Huff, chief legal counsel for Bullock, said the governor’s office does not maintain public information archives from the attorney general’s office or other state agencies.

“With some limited exceptions, the governor’s office does not store public information that predates January 2013 when Governor Bullock came into office,” he wrote July 26." -Great Falls Tribune, 8/31/2016

“Do they exist, were they destroyed legally or illegally?” he [Blixseth] asked. “We find no record they were destroyed legally, so the assumption is they were destroyed illegally.” -Great Falls Tribune, 8/31/2016

"Blixseth cites email guidelines posted on the Secretary of State’s website that claim “When records are no longer needed, they may be disposed of in a legally prescribed fashion — but only after the State or Local Government Records Committees have approved their disposal.” -Great Falls Tribune, 8/31/2016

"He said research by him and his attorneys has shown the governor has not made a request to delete the information." -Great Falls Tribune, 8/31//2016

Bullock has been dealing with a "slow drip" of issues regarding how he is using both his state and private email since his 2nd lieutenant governor, Angela McLean, resigned her post unexpectedly last year.

"Montana Gov. Steve Bullock has used his private email account to communicate about a wide variety of official business from proposed legislation to his increasingly strained relationship with the former lieutenant governor, according to hundreds of pages of emails released Friday." -Great Falls Tribune, 5/6/2016

"The newly released records shed more light on the strained relationship between McLean, Bullock and his staff. McLean complains to Bullock about her treatment by his budget director, Dan Villa, whom she said told her 'either you are on the team or you are not.'

In May, the lieutenant governor wrote a letter to Bullock saying Chief of Staff Tracy Stone-Manning had confirmed that he was considering a different running mate for his 2016 re-election campaign. 'I guess I am learning ambition is a funny thing and realizing the full consequences of standing up for what you believe it right,' McLean wrote." -Great Falls Tribune, 5/6/2016

"Hundreds of pages of documents, which were released Friday, show the democratic governor used his private account for official communications regarding his proposed state budget... legislation... and even lighting the state capitol at night. bullock previously told the associated press that he uses private email to communicate about political or election issues, but that government affairs are sometimes in those communications." -KFBB, 5/6/2016

The emails from the governor's private account were released after emails from official state accounts showed an increasingly strained relationship between Bullock and then-Lt. Gov. Angela McLean.

"Gov. Steve Bullock and his administration had a strained relationship with Lt. Gov. Angela McLean and had considered replacing her on the 2016 ticket since early this year, according to internal emails and top Bullock staffers.

Emails obtained late this week by MTN News also showed that McLean had become largely isolated on the job by early October, when she was locked out of her official Twitter account, excluded from office meetings, and stripped of her initiatives." -MTN News, 12/11/2015

VIDEO: "What are they hiding?"

Bullock's choice for president, Hillary Clinton, has faced a tremendous amount of scrutiny for illegally using a private email server while Secretary of State. Despite, initial denials, it was found that Clinton sent and received classified information over an insecure server.

"But on a day of political high drama in Washington, Mr. Comey rebuked Mrs. Clinton as being 'extremely careless' in using a private email address and server. He raised questions about her judgment, contradicted statements she has made about her email practices, said it was possible that hostile foreign governments had gained access to her account, and declared that a person still employed by the government — Mrs. Clinton left the State Department in 2013 — could have faced disciplinary action for doing what she did." -New York Times, 7/5/2016

"Of 30,000 emails Mrs. Clinton handed over to the State Department, 110 contained information that was classified at the time she sent or received them. Of those, Mr. Comey said, aa very small number' bore markings that identified them as classified. This finding is at odds with Mrs. Clinton’s repeated assertions that none of the emails were classified at the time she sent or received them." -New York Times, 7/5/2016