From Treasure State Politics on MontPIRG: We don’t like swipe fees, but we love Max and Jon
USPirg voiced very publically the support for Senator Durbin’s swipe fee amendment known as the “Durban Amendment”. (Durbin)
Ironically, MontPirg has done absolutely nothing to attempt to campaign against Jon Tester who is proposing to repeal the very supported amendment. Coincidental that he is a democrat.
And, The Los Angeles Times ponders an expected wolf hunt coming for Montana and Idaho again.
“When I see a cow elk with her guts hanging out, and a little calf that’s been hamstrung — I know I’m on the right side. No question about it,” Gillett said. “These Canadian wolves are the most cruel, vicious predators in North America.”
Now the days of talking compromise are over, he said. “We’re killing ’em.”
That Idaho and Montana will kill wolves later this year appears beyond doubt. The question is how many. That will be determined by state wildlife managers in the coming months.
PERC has a great Earth Day post-mortem by Laura Huggins:
Green activism is often a threat to the very environment that activists are trying to save. The immediate action of calling for biofuel, for example, does not achieve the long-term goal of cutting carbon emissions. Subsidies for ethanol are currently so large that one-sixth of the world’s corn crop is turned into fuel for American cars. This increases food prices, which hurts the poor and entices other countries to burn native forests to make way for agriculture. The outcome: More emissions generated than saved from biofuels over the next century, writes author Bjorn Lomborg
The March 14 raids have placed a chill over the once-booming industry in Montana. Chuck Watson, a Bozeman attorney representing one of the medical marijuana businesses that was raided, estimated 25 percent of the state’s providers have shut down or suspended operations since the raids. Other providers — called caregivers in Montana — have closed their doors and will only deliver to patients.
The raids also appear to be part of a larger U.S. Department of Justice crackdown on medical marijuana providers in the 15 states and the District of Columbia where it is legal. Last week, Cotter sent a letter to Montana legislative leaders that said the Department of Justice would enforce the federal Controlled Substances Act “against individuals and organizations that participate in manufacturing and distribution activity involving marijuana, even if such activities are permitted under state law.”
Meanwhile, Chuck Johnson has a great Q&A on the medical marijuana reform bill that looks to become law. Here’s some of the highlights:
How would it work?
Once the current law is repealed, SB423 would ban all medical-marijuana-growing operations, storefront dispensaries and infused marijuana product manufacturers.
What do volunteer marijuana providers have to do?
To qualify, providers first would have to undergo fingerprinting and criminal background checks. They could not have any felony or drug conviction.