Economy
Steep construction increases hit Montana University System
The steep hike in construction costs has hit Montana State University in Bozeman to the tune of $18.2 million, a roughly 30 percent increase on a $60 million project to rebuild its Student Wellness Center. However, the student fee will remain the same, $58 a semester, due to a lower interest rate on the bond, […]
Moderate House Dems to Pelosi: Pass the infrastructure bill first, then the budget
WASHINGTON — Nine moderate U.S. House Democrats including Josh Gottheimer of New Jersey, Carolyn Bourdeaux of Georgia and Jared Golden of Maine are threatening to oppose a budget resolution needed to pass a major social policy package unless a bipartisan infrastructure bill is first signed into law, according to multiple media reports. Opposition from the […]
‘Big and bold’ infrastructure bill still falls short on helping states fight climate change
The Senate is poised to pass a massive $1.2 trillion infrastructure bill that would upgrade state transportation networks, electric grids, water systems and more. It’s a major spending boost and potential job-creator that yet falls short of the administration’s goals to address climate change and reduce its effects in the states. The White House worked […]
Mid-year report shows boom in state park visitors
Fire and smoke are choking out some Montana communities, but mid-year visitation numbers show tourism is thriving, with a record number of visitors flocking to state parks this year. Visitation to Montana parks so far has increased 11.1% over 2020 and 44.1% over 2019, according to data provided by the University of Montana’s Institute of […]
Federal eviction moratorium ends today, after deal to extend it collapses
WASHINGTON — Congressional Democrats unsuccessfully scrambled on Friday to extend federal legal protections against eviction that will expire on Saturday. The end of the eviction moratorium jeopardizes housing security for millions of Americans who are struggling both to pay their rent and to access billions of dollars in slow-moving federal rental assistance funds. Top Democrats in […]
Montana, U.S. saw surge in personal income in early 2021
If anyone needed proof of what sending most Americans checks would do, the federal Bureau of Economic Analysis proved it: Personal income for the first quarter of 2021 jumped a whopping 59 percent compared to a year ago, driven mostly by a combination of COVID-19 relief from the government and expanded unemployment benefits. Overall, the […]
Anti-poverty advocates urge Congress to act on voting rights, minimum wage, filibuster
WASHINGTON—The Poor People’s Campaign announced on Monday the beginning of a weeks-long push calling on Congress to end the Senate filibuster and pass voting rights legislation. The anti-poverty campaign, “A Season of Nonviolent Moral Direct Action,” will run each Monday until Aug. 2. Advocates are urging Congress to enact the sweeping “For the People Act,” an […]
How the expanded federal child tax credit will work
WASHINGTON — The most ambitious part of the pandemic stimulus package signed by President Joe Biden earlier this year is about to hit the bank accounts of millions of U.S. parents. Starting next week and ending in December, the vast majority of U.S. households with children will begin receiving monthly payments as a result of changes […]
Department of Commerce: More than $10M in rent, assistance, paid
Montana Housing announced Thursday that more than $10 million in rent and utility assistance has been paid to support Montanans who have experienced financial hardships due to the COVID-19 pandemic and were at risk of housing instability, according to a news release from the Montana Department of Commerce. The federally funded assistance is provided by […]
Biden administration to issue executive order on country of origin labeling
WASHINGTON—The White House will unveil an executive order in the coming days that directs the U.S. Department of Agriculture to clarify that meat can only receive a “Product of USA” label if that livestock is raised in the U.S. rather than abroad, press secretary Jen Psaki told reporters Tuesday afternoon. “The EO directs USDA to […]
Biden tries to sell infrastructure deal in Wisconsin
In a trip to the swingiest congressional district in the swing state of Wisconsin, President Joe Biden detailed a bipartisan deal on infrastructure, focusing on how it would help families and workers across Wisconsin and the country. Speaking from the municipal transit utility in La Crosse, Biden discussed the ways the infrastructure deal will help […]
Tester’s meatpacking bill gets first hearing
U.S. Sen. Charles Grassley of Iowa and other members of a key committee called Wednesday for legislation to reduce the power of four large packing companies that control more than 80% of the cattle market. That legislation, co-sponsored by Grassley, was originally formulated by Montana’s Jon Tester. He unveiled the proposal in Billings recently. In […]