Happy Groundhog Day! Here are some of the topics that I am writing and commenting about today:

• Groundhog Day
• Fighting Crime
• Montana House
• Facebook Meta

GROUNDHOG DAY:

In case you missed it, today is Groundhog Day and, according to a report from the Associated Press (AP), Punxsutawney Phil is predicting six more weeks of winter.

So, according to Phil about mid-March we should be able to get out the shorts and flip-flops…

Check out the AP story HERE.

FIGHTING CRIME:

I saw that Montana Attorney General Austin Knudsen (R) wants about $7 million for more officers, equipment, and support.

I think the real reason he wants money is to file more lawsuits against the Biden Administration because Biden is a Democrat. The extra money will also come in handy in helping his staff write more press releases slamming the Biden Administration, and for the Montana AG to travel to be on more right-wing radio programs.

The local NBC News reported that Knudsen said that violent crime and drug trafficking is skyrocketing in the state. If that is the case, it does not appear he has been very good at his job.

Knudsen also used the worn-out excuse saying a weak U.S. southern border is sending deadlier drugs to Montana. U.S. Senator Steve Daines (R-MT) and U.S. Representative Matt Rosendale (R-MT) must have given him their talking points.

I bet he gets the funding because there are hardly any legislators who will challenge his argument. Knudsen belongs to their club.

Read the complete report from NBC News HERE.

MONTANA HOUSE:

MTN News is reporting that the Montana House of Representatives has given initial approval to a package of budget and tax bills, including several tax policies endorsed by Gov. Greg Gianforte.

MTN News says House Bill 192, sponsored by Rep. Bill Mercer, R-Billings, would use $480 million of the surplus to provide income tax rebates of up to $1,250 for those filing individually and $2,500 for those filing jointly.

Why not send every taxpayer a $2,000 check and call it even? The House Republicans should not be such tightwads.

Another bill that MTN News reported about is House Bill 222, sponsored by Rep. Tom Welch, R-Dillon. The bill would use about $280 million in surplus funds to provide property tax rebates of up to $500 each of the next two years on Montana property owners’ primary residences.

So my cottage on the lake and my cabin in the Mountains won’t count? With this bill, they will just count my primary residence which also contains the underground bunker and is the worldwide headquarters of The Western Word.

Full Disclosure: I don’t really have a cottage on a lake or a cabin in the mountains.

MTN News looks at other bills and even one of them passed unanimously. Check it out HERE.

FACEBOOK META:

I happened to catch some people posting the following notice on their personal Facebook page:

An attorney advised us to post this. The violation of privacy can be punished by law. NOTE: Facebook is now a public entity. All members must post a note like this. If you do not publish a statement at least once, it will be tacitly understood that you are allowing the use of your photos, as well as the information contained in your profile status updates. I HEREBY STATE THAT I DO NOT GIVE MY PERMISSION. Copy and re-post.

This started back in 2012 according to some reports. It has been ruled fake over and over but there are still some dumbasses who post it.

If I employed someone who posted things like that, I would be wary about letting them handle anything important. Heck, I might just fire them for being a dumbass. These are the people who fall for scams and send scammers gift cards and give out their bank accounts and Social Security Numbers.

You can read about the fake information HERE and HERE.

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