Montana’s Gov. Schweitzer does the right thing in releasing federal stimulus grants

Gov. Brian Schweitzer http://governor.mt.gov/news/listing.asp did the right thing Monday in releasing federal stimulus grants that he was previously withholding — that, of course, after doing the wrong thing by bullying counties into supporting the Land Board’s decision to mine coal in the Otter Creek Valley in order to receive any of the grant money.

Last week Schweitzer toured the state, telling city and county officials and state representatives that he would release federal stimulus grant money only if he received letters in support for Otter Creek coal leases. He basically held cities and counties for ransom under the guise of pending state budget decreases.

Whatever fever he was stricken with was somehow cured over Easter Sunday, as first thing Monday morning his office issued an announcement that he was releasing all the remaining grant funds because the “state financial picture is looking brighter.”

Full Story: http://helenair.com/news/article_4e8afe62-4135-11df-827a-001cc4c03286.html