In this week’s political trough, when it comes to the IRS scandal, Sen. Jon Tester (D-MT)says, “There probably should be more heads roll on this situation.” Tester told The Havre Daily News that the government scandals are “crazy stuff.” That and more with this week’s political trough is included below.
Havre Daily News– Tester: Government scandals are ‘crazy stuff’
The latest revelations are that a Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Agency court judge ordered the mobile communication company turn over customer records, and that a government computer program scours telephone and Internet records, collating them in a system known as “Big Data” to search for connections to potential terrorism.
The revelations come after a string of findings about actions of the Obama administration, including collecting Associated Press telephone records and that IRS officials targeted conservative groups when investigating nonprofit records and requests.
“Although I think they are absolutely within their grounds to take a look at nonprofits and make sure they’re doing the work they’re supposed to be doing, to single out certain nonprofits based on political belief is absolutely totally improper, and should not, and will not, be tolerated,” he said. “There’s already been some heads roll on this thing and there probably should be more heads roll on this situation.”
Sen. Tester also joined Sen. Max Baucus (D-MT) and 22 other Senators to call on “the Environmental Protection Agency respond to allegations that it has leaked thousands of farmers’ private information to environmental groups,” as TheBlaze.com reports.
“We are writing today to express concern regarding the sensitivity of the data that was released,” the senators said in a letter addressed to EPA acting administrator Bob Perciasepe.
Plus, still no word from State Sen. Shannon Augare (D-Browning) who recently fled a law enforcement traffic stop. Justin Franz has this for The Flathead Beacon:
Pressure is mounting on Blackfeet Tribal Councilman and State Senator Shannon Augare to come forward and address the allegations of May 26, when he fled a Glacier County Sheriff’s deputy in Cut Bank.
Nathan DeRoche, spokesperson for Blackfeet Against Corruption, agreed the tribe’s representatives should be held to a higher standard. DeRoche has been an outspoken critic of the current tribal council and Augare.
“Shannon Augare’s head has gotten so big that he thought he was untouchable, but we’re going to bring him down,” DeRoche said. “People are finally seeing what he’s all about, because he has no morals.”
From Montana Media Trackers: Senate Democrat and Tribal Leader Augare Faces New DUI, Corruption Allegations
This is the second time in two months that Augare has faced allegations of using his membership in the Blackfeet Tribe and its tribal sovereignty to avoid law enforcement.
In early April, Augare left his duties in the Montana State Senate and returned to the Blackfeet reservation where state law enforcement — which would normally have the right to return legislators to the Capitol — has no jurisdiction. The move was largely seen as a gamble by Democrats to prevent Republicans efforts to pass two legislative referendums involving third-party political candidates and same-day voter registration onto voters in 2014.
Wrapping up the political trough- The University of Montana hires a new affirmative action director.
Here’s a quote from the new director in The Missoulian:
“As a civil rights advocate, I was drawn to Missoula’s growing diversity and the chance to be a part of the University’s historic response to addressing discrimination issues campuswide.”
Affirmative action is, in itself, a form of discrimination. Some might consider it justified discrimination; others might consider it unjustified discrimination- but it is discrimination nonetheless.