Tag Archives: Steve Daines

Caught My Eye…

It’s Friday and that means it is time to end your week with another exciting edition of “Caught My Eye!”

Reminder: “Caught My Eye” goes well with a glass of wine or with your favorite microbrew (especially on Friday afternoons).

If you are a first-time visitor, this is my weekly column where I take a quick look at some of the stories I did not have time to write about during the week. Often I throw in some sarcasm and poke fun at people just to make you smile.

Today I write about Daines and Obamacare, Barry Beach, Brad Molnar, Brown v. Board of Education, Werfel/Wuerffel, IRS, Top Baby Names of 2012, Making Montana Proud, and much more!

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Marketplace Fairness Act = Tax Increase

Many readers may remember an e-mail floating around the web several years ago about a bill, called 602P, which would allow the Federal Government to collect a five cent surcharge on every e-mail received. According to the information contained in the e-mail, the Feds would charge your internet service provider who in turn would charge your account five cents for the e-mail. The money would be used to help the Postal Service. That e-mail was false and there was no bill called 602P, but it did generate a lot of anger from the wild and untamed World Wide Web users.

Fast forward to 2013 and there’s a bill in the United States Senate called the “Marketplace Fairness Act of 2013” (S. 743) which, according to a website supporting it, “grants states the authority to compel online and catalog retailers (“remote sellers”), no matter where they are located, to collect sales tax at the time of a transaction.”

Unlike 602P, S. 743 is an actual bill.  Maybe they should call it the “Tax Increase and Burden on Small Business Act?”

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Caught My Eye…

Here we go – it’s Friday and time for another (almost) award-winning edition of “Caught My Eye!”

So you may be asking, “What is ‘Caught My Eye?’” Well, it’s the weekly column where I take a quick look at some of the stories I did not have time to write about during the week. Often I throw in some sarcasm and poke fun at people just to make you smile.

Today I write about MT Senate 2014, Responsible Republicans, Political Practices, Road Kill Bill, Internet Taxes, Obamacare Exemption, Twinkies, Birthdays, and much more! Continue reading →

Baucus: I Think I Will Go Home Now

The Washington Post citing Democratic sources reported yesterday morning that six-term United States Senator Max Baucus of Montana was retiring. A little later Baucus released a statement affirming that he was, in fact, retiring.

Then the speculation began about who would replace Baucus. Today, among that speculation is a love feast in Montana newspapers for Baucus.

Baucus had been raising money for his reelection, but he had also started building a home near Bozeman, which raised some doubts about his running again. Baucus will be 72 in 2014 which means he may have channeled Forrest Gump after that long run when he said, “I’m pretty tired…I think I will go home now.”

So far, Baucus raised almost $5 million for his race. That money will come in handy for Montana Democrats in 2014.

Last election (2008), Baucus disposed of his competition by a 73% to 27% margin. In 2002, he beat his opponent by 31%. Baucus was a great campaigner. He and his staff would go for the jugular on his opponents. They did not lose.

This year there was a lot of talk about former Montana Governor Brian Schweitzer taking on Baucus in a primary. A recent Public Policy Poll showed Schweitzer beating Baucus “54% to 35% with Democratic primary voters.” As for running for the U.S. House or U.S. Senate, Schweitzer told the Associated Press last year “I am not goofy enough to be in the House, and I’m not senile enough to be in the Senate.”  Continue reading →

TWW Poll: Who Should Replace Max Baucus?

Who Should Replace U.S. Senator Max Baucus?  (Pick One)

Brian Schweitzer (D), Denny Rehberg (R), Steve Bullock (D), Steve Daines (R), Denise Juneau (D), Rick Hill (R),  Linda McCulloch (D), Tim Fox (R), Kim Gillan (D), Cory Stapleton (R), Monica Lindeen (D), Champ Edmunds (R), Other (You May Leave the Name Comments).

Click on Continue Reading to take the poll!

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Caught My Eye…

Congrats on making it through another week and to another edition of “Caught My Eye!”

So what is “Caught My Eye?” It’s the column where I take a quick look at some of the stories I did not have time to write about during the week. Often I throw in some sarcasm and poke fun at people just to make you smile.

Today should not disappoint in the poking fun and sarcasm categories! I write about Rep. Hagstrom, Being deviate, Being friends, Ream-ed, applause for Judge Ed McLean, Cloture, Daines on guns, Meghan versus Ann, 30 miles of Noodles, David Cassidy, and much more! Continue reading →

Thursday Numbers

Welcome to the first “Thursday Numbers” of April! If you are a new visitor, this is my weekly column where I take a look at the numbers that are in the news (in descending order) and provide commentary (sometimes with a little sarcasm).

DISCLAIMER: By reading this column you may be able to use the information to impress your family, friends, and co-workers. You are hereby warned.

This week I write about the Michael Jackson family lawsuit, finding Kony, a unique stimulus study, unemployment, Martin Luther King, Jr., Daines listens, Women in Montana, the cell phone at 40, jury duty in Los Angeles, highest paid NFL players, Obama giving back, Cebull moving on, my latest book, and much more! Continue reading →

MT Flying Missions: Three things…

Happy April Fools’ Day! Although I wish the following column was a joke, it’s not.

The Montana Congressional delegation (U.S. Senators Max Baucus, Jon Tester, and U.S. Representative Steve Daines) along with Governor Steve Bullock signed a letter that was sent last week to the Secretary of the Air Force Michael Donley regarding flying missions at the Montana Air National Guard (MANG).

The Western Word was provided a copy of the letter from a source who follows defense and military issues closely in Montana and across the country. I like to share, so you can read it by clicking on this link:  MT Delegation Letter.

In their letter, the Congressional delegation and the Governor mentioned three things that concern them:

First, they would like C-130J aircraft assigned to MANG before the F-15s are transferred. C-130s are transport or cargo planes and F-15s are fighter jets. They would also like the C-130Js assigned to MANG instead of C-130H1 aircraft because they are newer. Second, they are concerned about the projected loss of personnel (approximately 90 slots) with the C-130 mission replacing the F-15 mission. Third, they are concerned there will not be adequate storage “to house and properly maintain these aircraft” so they would like some funding reprogrammed to build storage facilities for the cargo planes.  Continue reading →

Wednesday’s Political Potpourri

Welcome to Wednesday! To those of you going on spring break after today – have fun and be safe! Today there were so many interesting political stories to comment about that I put them in a “Political Potpourri” column.

Today I write about Daines listening, Tester hopping on the train, anonymous blogs, a cellphone ban bill, plus I give some motivation for the righties! There’s much more so read on…

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Thursday Numbers

Welcome to “Thursday Numbers” which is my weekly column where I take a look at the numbers in the news (in descending order) and provide commentary (sometimes laced with just a little sarcasm).

DISCLAIMER: If you read this column you may be able to use the information to impress your family, friends, and co-workers. Then again, when they find out that you spend your time reading blogs they may not be too impressed…

This week I write about the Powerball jackpot, Beartooth highway, unemployment, a tax hike proposal, sexual violence, first town meeting, coins, Steve Daines, cable TV for prisoners, Pope Francis, MMMBop, term limits, the Montana Legislature, Allied Veterans, Pi Day, Congressional approval, Tickle, DUI, Crossword champ, and much more!

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