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EPA Regs Will Severely Harm Economic Growth
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- Created on Tuesday, 04 December 2012 18:23
- Written by Press Room
The Montana Manufacturing Council and the National Association of Manufacturers (NAM) released a new study — "A Critical Review of the Benefits and Costs of EPA Regulations on the U.S. Economy" – which, examines the harmful impact of several burdensome Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) regulations on Montana's economy. The study finds that the annual compliance costs of the EPA's proposed Utility MACT, Boiler MACT, and Coal Combustion Residuals regulations on Montana will be over $172 million.
Montana Department of Commerce Announces Economic Development Awards
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- Created on Monday, 26 November 2012 10:19
- Written by Press Room
The Montana Department of Commerce (MDOC) has awarded $44,050 of Big Sky Economic Development Trust Fund (BSTF) planning grants, to two Montana organizations to promote business growth.
BSTF planning funds are awarded to local Certified Regional Development Corporations (CRDC), tribal governments and local economic development agencies not located in a CRDC region, to assist in planning efforts to promote long-term, stable economic growth in both the region and Montana.
Read more: Montana Department of Commerce Announces Economic Development Awards
Court to Publish Opinions In-house
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- Created on Tuesday, 04 December 2012 18:22
- Written by Press Room
Those who regularly follow the decisions of the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit will have recently noticed changes in the opinions filed electronically on the court's Internet website: www.ca9.uscourts.gov/opinions. Since early November, the court has been processing opinions in-house rather than contracting for that service from West Publishing. The change is expected to produce a substantial cost savings for the court.
Local Leaders Confer on Possible Legislative Agenda
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- Created on Monday, 26 November 2012 10:13
Representatives of a broad range of community organizations and local government met, last week, to compare notes about what they expect and hope for, from the next Montana State Legislature.
The primary purpose of the gathering, which is planned to be repeated, weekly, throughout the legislative session, is to help support each other's issues.
Read more: Local Leaders Confer on Possible Legislative Agenda
Public Employees Earn 15% More in Total Compensation Than Private
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- Created on Monday, 26 November 2012 10:30
- Written by Glenn Oppel, Policy Director, Montana Policy Institute
In a year when most state legislatures were engaged in budgetary belt-tightening, Montana Governor Brian Schweitzer and public employee union representatives agreed to a pay plan package that would cost taxpayers $138 million. According to the agreement, each of the next two years state workers would receive both a five percent raise in pay and a 10 percent increase in the state contribution toward health insurance premiums. After the pay plan agreement was reached, a local representative of the American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) argued that it was necessary to "bring us closer to being compensated fairly with those in the private sector."
Read more: Public Employees Earn 15% More in Total Compensation Than Private
Business, Environmental Groups Square-off over Tongue River Railroad Development
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- Created on Monday, 26 November 2012 10:02
- Written by Press Room
Differing factions are drawing lines in the sand regarding the development of the Tongue River Railroad. A series of scoping hearings were held by the federal Surface Transportation Board, in several communities, to decide what issues to consider in the Environmental Review.
Both environmental and business organizations issued press releases. The Northern Plains Resource Council stated that they oppose the railroad. "Farmers, ranchers, Native peoples, and landowners along the route are organizing to stop this ill-conceived project that would turn the agricultural Tongue River Valley into an industrial corridor — all for the sake of shipping Montana coal to China and other Asian markets. The Northern Plains Resource Council has successfully fought this railroad for 30 years."
Read more: Business, Environmental Groups Square-off over Tongue River Railroad Development
