MT: State shops for new way to save money when buying supplies

By   /  October 26, 2012  /  Montana, News  /  No Comments

The state plans to buy office supplies from vendors directly instead of the current central store warehouse.

By Phil Drake | Montana Watchdog
HELENA — The state plans to change the way it buys office supplies, a move that one official says could save $1 million each biennium.
The state Legislative Audit Committee on Friday heard a report about the change, which comes after state Sen. Taylor Brown, R-Huntley, complained the current system was a [...]

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MT: State puts iPad use in government bids on hold

By   /  October 17, 2012  /  Montana, News  /  No Comments

Montana, reportedly the first state to allow businesses to submit bids on Apple iPads instead of reams of documents, has put a moratorium on the practice after questions arose.

By Phil Drake | Montana Watchdog
HELENA — It was a case of policy trying to catch up with technology.
The state has suspended the practice of allowing businesses to submit copies of bids on Apple iPads, as opposed to copies printed on paper, so it can sort out how the tablet computers are returned to owners after [...]

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MT: Top political cop’s office could get overhaul after years of partisanship claims

By   /  October 12, 2012  /  Accountability, Elections, Ethics, Featured, Montana, News, State Government  /  No Comments

INVESTIGATION:

By Phil Drake | Montana Watchdog
HELENA — The commissioner of political practices holds great authority, investigating allegations of election and campaign finance malfeasance, an inherently political position.
It is even more politically charged because the governor appoints the commissioner, resulting in previous officeholders facing repeated claims of partisanship, cronyism and pokey resolution of complaints.
After years of [...]

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MT: State no longer has highest workers’ comp rate, study finds

By   /  October 11, 2012  /  Business, Montana, News, State Budgets, State Government  /  No Comments

workers comp

By Phil Drake | Montana Watchdog
HELENA — Nearly 18 months after Montana cut its workers’ compensation rate, the Treasure State no longer has the most expensive rate in the nation.
Instead, it has the eighth highest premium rate after sweeping reforms reduced the rate by 20 percent, according to the “2012 Oregon Workers’ Compensation Premium Rate Ranking [...]

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MT: Cato gives governor a C for fiscal responsibility

By   /  October 10, 2012  /  Montana, News, Uncategorized  /  No Comments

A Washington, D.C.-based public policy think tank gave Gov. Brian Schweitzer a C for fiscal responsibility in a nationwide study of governors, a grade that rankled Montana’s chief executive.

By Phil Drake | Montana Watchdog
HELENA – Gov. Brian Schweitzer is no better than average, says the nonprofit Cato Institute.
Schweitzer, who earned a C for fiscal responsibility in a nationwide study of governors, isn’t happy with the mark.
“Former agronomist and rancher Brian Schweitzer has a generally centrist fiscal record as governor,” the libertarian think tank wrote in its [...]

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