Quote for today…
When the debate is lost, slander becomes the tool of the loser. ― Anonymous
Welcome to “Thursday Numbers!” In case you are a first-time visitor, this is the weekly column where I look at the numbers in the news (in descending order) and provide commentary sometimes sprinkled with sarcasm and humor.
This week’s topics include the debt limit, defense bill, nation, state, and local COVID numbers, unemployment claims, TWW poll results, Biden approval numbers, bowl season, and much more!
2,500,000,000,000
Congress averted a catastrophic debt default early Wednesday morning after Democratic majorities in both chambers voted to send a $2.5 trillion increase in the nation’s borrowing authority to President Joe Biden over lockstep Republican opposition. (AP)
U.S. Senator Jon Tester (D-MT) voted “YEA” while U.S. Senator Steve Daines (R-MT) voted “NAY.” (Source) In the U.S. House, Representative Matt Rosendale (R-MT/AL) voted “NAY.” (Source)
768,000,000,000
The Senate on Wednesday approved a record-setting $768 billion defense authorization bill, readying it for President Biden’s expected signature. (WaPo)
The defense authorization bill passed with an 88-to-11 vote in the Senate. Montana’s U.S. Senators (Tester/Daines) voted for the bill. (Source) In the U.S. House, U.S. Representative Matt Rosendale (R-MT/AL) voted “NAY.” (Source)
800,000
The U.S. death toll from COVID-19 topped 800,000 on Tuesday, a once-unimaginable figure seen as doubly tragic, given that more than 200,000 of those lives were lost after the vaccine became available practically for the asking last spring. (AP)
Thanks to everyone who wears a mask and has been vaccinated – you are patriots!
531,916
That is how many Montanans have been fully immunized for COVID-19. That is just 52% of the eligible population. (Source)
Last week, the number of fully immunized Montanans was 526,500.
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, Montana’s estimated population in July 2019 was 1,068,778.
Find COVID-19 Vaccines Near You by clicking HERE.
206,000
In the week ending December 11, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial unemployment claims was 206,000, an increase of 18,000 from the previous week’s revised level. The previous week’s level was revised up by 4,000 from 184,000 to 188,000. The 4-week moving average was 203,750, a decrease of 16,000 from the previous week’s revised average. This is the lowest level for this average since November 15, 1969 when it was 202,750. The previous week’s average was revised up by 1,000 from 218,750 to 219,750. (DOL)
Note: On Thursdays, this column is published right after 6:30 a.m. (Montana time), so I can post the latest unemployment numbers.
79
This week’s poll question asked, “Have you or will you receive the COVID-19 booster shot?”
YES – ALREADY RECEIVED IT: 79%
I PLAN TO GET IT: 10%
NO: 8%
UNDECIDED: 3%
Thank you for participating!
47
The Cascade County (Great Falls, MT) City-County Health Department reports that as of Wednesday still only 47% of eligible individuals in the county are fully vaccinated. (Source)
C’mon people!
44
College football bowl season is almost here. There will be 44 bowl games, including the College Football Playoff and the national championship games, beginning Friday, Dec. 17, and ending on Monday, Jan. 10. (ESPN)
Pro Tip: Make sure your remote has fresh batteries!
43.8
According to FiveThirtyEight.com, that is President Joe Biden’s approval rating. (Source)
Last week, Biden’s approval rating was 42.5%.
12
That is how many positive COVID cases were reported in the Great Falls Public Schools for the week ending December 10, 2021. (Source)
Last week he positive COVID cases numbered 21.
Mask up, Montana – it is making a difference!
The Western Word 
“Nope” Rosendale finally did something bipartisan, finding common cause with noted lefist radicals Jayapal, Khanna, Ocasio-Cortez, Omar, Pressley, and Tlaib in voting Nay on the Defense Authorization Act. It seems he hates our troops! He wants to see America fail!
Terry – That was an interesting vote. He voted against a pay raise for our military members, money for the Montana National Guard, and funding for Malmstrom.
The only thing I saw from him was he was against the draft for women, but that was removed.
Thanks, JmB
The only conclusion I can reach about Matt’s nearly unbroken string of Nay votes since he took office, on every issue under the sun, is that he’s out to prove a point – that he is utterly irrelevant. And by extension the people of the State of Montana he supposedly represents are irrelevant.