GOP leaders: (Mont. Gov.) Schweitzer (D) harassing freshman lawmakers

[Newsjock]

http://missoulian.com/articles/2005/03/08/news/top/news01.txt

By ALLISON FARRELL of the Missoulian State Bureau

HELENA - Gov. Brian Schweitzer has been threatening and intimidating freshman GOP lawmakers when they vote against his legislation this session, and the harassment has got to stop, Republican House leaders said Monday.

House Republican Floor Leader Mike Lange, R-Billings, said Schweitzer has been telling new Republican legislators that he will personally campaign against them during the 2006 election season and will veto their other bills if they don't toe his line on ethanol, wind energy and ethics laws.

... Lange and House Republican Leader Roy Brown of Billings said they will ask the governor to back off during their regularly scheduled meeting of state government leaders Tuesday morning.

"I've never heard of a governor who used the bully pulpit of his office to do that kind of thing to an individual freshman legislator," said Brown, who is in his fourth term in the House. "It's just not proper."

* * *

... I guess they haven't been to California lately, have they.

[RandomKoolzip]

1. There is no rage like the rage of the franchised.

Oh, those poor poor republicans! Is there no outrage left?

[jean]

2. I'd like to hear what Sirota says about this - he helped elect the Gov

[rpannier]

3. Let's see...

Reagan did it both as Governor and President, Arnie does it, Pataki does it...Nope. I guess it never happens. It's only when the DEMOCRATS do it that it's unprecedented.

[Renew Deal]

4. Let's make this guy president.

It's about time we had a real bad ass in there.

[w4rma]

6. I know almost nothing about this guy and I already like him. (nt)

[Beetwasher]

10. Yup! I LIKE This Guy! He KICKS ASS!

And you can't beat a cowboy named SCHWEITZER!!! How'd that happen? I dunno, but I think it's cool as hell!

[lostnfound]

5. Is this punishment for the proposed Walmart tax by any chance?

Good for Schweitzer.

[xxqqqzme]

7. is there anything worse

than a bunch of whiney wimp-ass rethuglicans when they R prevented from running roughshod over everything? In his 4th term and is shocked, I tell U. Boof*ckinghoo. Welcome to the show!

[illflem]

8. And they say nothing of the Rep trick when in

the 50/50 split Montana house the Reps nominate a Demo for house speaker, he gets all the Rep votes and wins!
Too bad he's a Zell Miller clone and only receives 3 Demo votes, one of which was for himself.
This is the first time the Reps supported a Demo for the position.

Shortly after winning the speaker's job, Zell clone insisted that an impromptu House Rules Committee he appointed give the only other two Demos who voted for him more desired committee assignments than they had been slated to get. Zell clone said he wanted to protect these lawmakers from retaliation by their fellow Democrats after the vote.

Excellent article on Schweitzer here
http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/features/2004/0412.sirota.html

[montanacowboy]

9. Schweitzer Rocks!

Such a pleasure to see a Demo gov of a Red State - and one that kicks ass (repuke that is) and kick's *'s ass as well

It will be a pleasure to be returning to Montana very soon, with high hopes that the people of that state have finally seen the light..

you GO Brian!!!

[illflem]

11. Montana is a excellent example

of why there is no black and white when it comes to blue and red, the state seems to go both ways. I like to think it's because Montanans consider the candidate more than tow party lines.
Still trying to figure out how the medical marijuana bill passed with such a wide margin while in "blue state" Oregon it was rejected.

[sandnsea]

12. We already have it

The bill that failed would have created dispensaries, increased the amount of medical marijuana one can have to a pound, and added language that may have made medicaid responsible for paying for it. It went too far in alot of people's minds. But we still have legal medical marijuana and possession of less than an ounce for anybody is a misdemeanor ticket.

[illflem]

13. Thanks for the clarification!

[ClarkUSA]

14. Send some love to Montana

Call 406-444-3111 and write [e-mail]