Fighting Filibuster / Newtown

Missoulian: Judge dismisses suit challenging Senate filibuster

COMMON CAUSE et al v. BIDEN et al  

Missoulian: Obama on gun violence: 'We hear you'

President Obama at Prayer Vigil for Connecticut ShootingVictims: "Newtown, You Are Not Alone"

Fiscal Cliff Plan B

Missoulian: Boehner plan ends tax cuts forrich, poor

PROVIDING FOR CONSIDERATION OF THE SENATE AMENDMENT TO THE JOINTRESOLUTION (H.J. RES. 66) APPROVING THE RENEWAL OF IMPORT RESTRICTIONSCONTAINED IN THE BURMESE FREEDOM AND DEMOCRACY ACT OF 2003, AND PROVIDING FORCONSIDERATION OF THE BILL (H.R. 6684) TO PROVIDE FOR SPENDING REDUCTION 

AMENDMENT #1 TO THE SENATE AMENDMENT TO H.J. RES. 66

AMENDMENT #2 TO THE SENATE AMENDMENT TO H.J. RES. 66 

H.R. 6684 Spending Reduction Act of 2012

Selenium

Missoulian:  Canadamining expansion prompts fears of pollution flowing into Montana

Impaired Waters , Cause of Impairment: Selenium 

Selenium in Counties of the Conterminous States 

TOXICOLOGICAL PROFILE FOR SELENIUM

Gay Rights / Logging / Wal-Mart Bribery

Missoulian: Montana Supreme Court rejects equal benefits forgay couples 

Donaldson et al v. State of Montana 

“Plaintiffs are individuals from a variety of professional backgrounds who are in committed same-sex relationships. In 2010 they sued the State of Montana, complaining that they are unable to obtain protections and benefits that are available to similarly situated different-sex couples who marry under State law. Plaintiffs expressly do not challenge Montana law’s restriction of marriage to heterosexual couples, do not seek the opportunity to marry, and do not seek the designation of marriage for their relationships. They contend however that there is a “statutory structure” in Montana law that prohibits them from enjoying “significant relationship and family protections and obligations automatically provided to similarly-situated different-sex couples who marry.””

Missoulian: Thinning margins: Government agencies, loggerscarefully weigh projects’ viability

Forest Products Sold and Harvested from the National Forestsand Grasslands
“Cut and Sold reports show total volumes and values of all convertible forest products sold and harvested from the National Forest System lands and National Grasslands agency-wide, and by organizational unit, on a quarterly basis, and for the full calendar and fiscal years.”

Businessweek: On Mexico Bribes, Wal-Mart Committee MustJudge Its Leaders

Ranking Members Cummings and Waxman Offer Final Opportunityfor Wal-Mart Response on Foreign Corrupt Practices Act Bribery AllegationsBefore Releasing Investigative Report

“During the course of our investigation, we have learned that Wal-Mart's concerns about potential violations of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act are not limited to operations in Mexico, but are global in nature. Your outside counsel informed us that, before allegations of bribery in Mexico became public, Wal-Mart retained attorneys to conduct a broad review of the company's anti-corruption policies. This review identified five "first tier" countries "where risk was the greatest." Wal-Mart then conducted a worldwide assessment of the company's anti-corruption policies, culminating in a series of recommendations and policy changes based on those findings.”

A Resource Guide to the U.S. Foreign Corrupt Practices Act

DUI

Missoulian: Despite efforts, Montana sees rise in fatal DUIcrashes

Montana Impaired Driving Data - 2012

“Historically, western rural states have tended to have rates above the national average. One of the reasons is the greater percentage of rural miles travelled which translates to higher average travel speeds. During 2009 (the most current data published by NHTSA), the United States rural fatality rate was 1.96 while the urban fatality rate was 0.73. For the nation, rural fatalities accounted for 57% of the traffic fatalities, while in Montana, 92% of the fatalities in 2009 occurred in rural settings.”

Mining Royalties

Missoulian: GAO report shows royalties from hard-rock miningcould generate billions for U.S., if collected  

 MineralVolume, Value, and Revenue

“In summary, there were nearly 70 different types of leasable minerals extracted from federal lands and waters in fiscal years 2010 and 2011, but their volume cannot be aggregated because they use different units of measure. For example, the volumes of the four most valuable of these minerals--oil, gas, natural gas liquids, and coal--are measured in barrels, million cubic feet (mcf), gallons, and tons, respectively. According to ONRR data, the total value of all leasable minerals extracted from federal and Indian land and sold in fiscal years 2010 and 2011 was $92.3 billion and $98.6 billion, respectively.”