Montana Main Street Blog

Governors' Cup Golf Tournament

Every year around this time, the Montana Chamber Foundation hosts the Governors' Cup Golf Tournament. This is the premier business golf tournament in the state where hundreds of golfers (more than 75 teams of five players) from around the country come and play and network in the Flathead. It's an excellent opportunity to show off our state and hopefully lure new business to Montana.

This year we are expanding the tournament to three courses. Teams will still play only two courses on Friday and Saturday, but we added a third course in order to add teams that have been on the waiting list for years. This is the 21st time we've done the tournament, and it's popularity grows each year. The proceeds of the tournament go to fund the High School Business Challenge, a business simulation course taught in many high schools around Montana.

Other may try to copy it, but there's only one Governors' Cup. Even though I don't get to golf (running one of the courses this year), it sure beats two days in the office.

What's the Latest News on Montana's Economy?

We all know the state and national economies are in recession. And they are not in just any old recession either - unemployment is extra high, consumer confidence is low, and there seems to be a lot of anxiety about the country's direction.

For the fourth year in a row, the Montana Chamber Foundation is teaming up with the University of Montana's Bureau of Business and Economic Research to host seven "Mid-Year Updates" to the Economic Outlook series. Economists from the Bureau will discuss projections for the national, state and local economies in Kalispell, Billings, Bozeman, Helena, Great Falls, Havre and Missoula.

The times, dates and locations are all listed below. There is a $20 registration fee which includes a meal (breakfast or lunch depending on the time of day). All attendees must RSVP to the Montana Chamber before each program. To RSVP, contact Dee at 442-2405, ext. 100 or email her at dee@montanachamber.com.

Kalispell - Thursday, July 30 ● 12:00 – 1:30 pm ● Hilton Garden Inn

Billings - Wednesday, August 5 ● 12:00 – 1:30 p.m. ● Crowne Plaza

Bozeman - Thursday, August 6 ● 7:00 – 8:30 a.m. ● Hilton Garden Inn

Helena - Thursday, August 6 ● 12:00 – 1:30 p.m. ● Red Lion Colonial

Havre - Wednesday, August 12 ● 7:00 – 8:30 a.m. ● Duck Inn

Great Falls - Wednesday, August 12 ● 12:00 – 1:30 p.m. ● Holiday Inn

Missoula - Thursday, August 13 ● 12:00 – 1:30 p.m. ● Doubletree Inn

2010 U.S. House Race in Montana a Snoozer

CQ Politics has released its list of the most competitive congressional races for the 2010 cycle. Montana is not one of them. The lone seat, held by five-term incumbent Denny Rebherg, is listed as "safe." It's a little more than a year before the election, and that can be a lifetime in politics. But something really bad would have to happen for Rehberg to make this race competitive. The only other statewide race next cycle is for a single Montana Supreme Court spot, currently held by Justice Leaphart. It is unknown whether he will run for reelection.

Looks like the real races will be in competitive seats for Montana's Legislature. It's also quite likely that we'll see some interesting ballot initiatives.

Minimum Wage Going Up This Month, What About January?

Effective Friday, July 24, the minimum wage will be raised, according to the final phase-in of a federal bill passed in 2007.  The current federal minimum wage rate of $6.55 per hour will increase to $7.25 per hour.  However, Montana’s minimum wage is already $6.90 per hour because of voter-passed Initiative 151, which raises the minimum wage according the Consumer Price Index - Urban (CPI-U).  But, when all is said and done, the new minimum wage will be $7.25 per federal law. This is the fourth minimum wage increase (from $5.15 per hour) in just over two years for Montana businesses.

Because the minimum wage in Montana is tied to the CPI-U, the wage could go up every year in January according to the state law. This year, however, it's possible to see the CPI-U go down. Based on the current 12 month change, the CPI-U is down 1.7%. Therefore, if the rates remain similar over the next two months until the August data comes out there may be no increase in the minimum wage. Unfortunately for small businesses, the law does not allow the minimum wage to be reduced if there is a decrease in the CPI-U.

The CPI-U is an interesting index to tie our minimum wage to if you look at how it's calculated. It's put together by taking the price increases of different goods in various locations around the country. The only problem is that it doesn't use any Montana data to calculate it. In fact, it doesn't use any from Wyoming, South Dakota and North Dakota either. Weird way to change the state's minimum wage if you ask me.  

Sign This Petition to Save Montana Mining Jobs

As many of you know, and as we've reported a few times already, GM is seeking to end its contract with Stillwater Mining Company for rhodium and palladium while maintaining its contracts with foreign suppliers in Russia and South Africa. This is after GM received billions in American tax dollars to keep it afloat. Hundreds of good-paying jobs in south-central Montana are at stake here. Representative Denny Rehberg and Governor Brian Schweitzer have already contacted the Obama administration on this issue, but we need Baucus and Tester to do the same.

Please sign this online petition and urge your friends, co-workers and fellow bloggers to do so as well. We need to keep the heat on GM, our federal delegation and the Obama administration. What good is the American Recovery Act and government bailouts if American jobs are lost in this way?

Another Montana Primary Upset in the Works?

In 2008, politicos were shocked when two unknown, obscure candidates beat establishment candidates and emerged as the winners of their respective races. Perennial candidate Bob Kelleher won the GOP nomination for U.S. Senate and John Driscoll won the Democratic nomination for U.S. House.

Fundraising numbers for the second quarter were just released in the 2010 contest for U.S. House, and it looks like another upset may be in the works in one of the primaries. Incumbent Denny Rehberg has done quite well and will probably face no primary opponent on the GOP side. On the Democratic side, state Democratic Party chair Dennis MacDonald will face off against a young, relatively unknown Missoula lawyer, Tyler Gernant. In the second quarter, Gernant outraised MacDonald by more than $10,000. Could this 20-something challenger take out the establishment candidate?

MacDonald probably isn't too worried about the money issue. He is a fairly wealthy former trial lawyer who can probably afford to throw in some bucks of his own. Still, this may turn into more of a race than he'd like.

Rushing to Pass Health Care Reform

I realize that health care didn't just become a problem overnight and that many have pushed for reform for years. But sometimes it seems like there is a rush to pass something overnight.

The Senate health committee just barely passed their version of health care reform today. The House Democrats just released their plan yesterday. The Senate Finance has yet to endorse a bill or come up with one of it's own. President Obama has said he wants something on his desk before Congress' August recess, which is just two weeks away.

Can Congress really work out all the differences in these bills, figure out how to cover 46 million Americans, agree on how it will be paid for, and still ensure that we have quality health care in just two weeks? That seems like a stretch to me. There are still so many questions about how much this will cost and how it will be funded.

Anyone think they aren't going to make it by August? Something will pass regarding health care, but it seems fairly rushed to try and railroad it through in the next two weeks.

SEIU Claims Worker Intimidation......By Another Union

Business groups have long claimed that EFCA, also known as "card check," would lead to more worker intimidation by unions. Labor unions have said that is a non-issue, and counter that employer intimidation is the real problem.

This example of worker "intimidation" is union vs. union. I guess SEIU may be agreeing with business groups on this one.

Rehberg Goes to Bat for Stillwater Mining Jobs

I just learned today that Representative Denny Rehberg has also sent a letter to the Obama administration asking it to review GM's decision to stop its contract with Montana's Stillwater Mining Co.

In the letter, Rehberg points out that Stillwater's tax dollars and the taxes paid by Stillwater's employees went to bail out GM. The decision to not go forward with the contract, while honoring contracts with mining companies in Russia and South Africa is ridiculous.

A big thanks to Rehberg for his prompt work on this important issue. Now, if we could just get Tester and Baucus to act as well...

Schweitzer Asks Obama to Honor Contract with Stillwater Mining

Kudos to Governor Schweitzer for stepping in and asking the Obama Administration to put American jobs first when it comes to GM's decision to break it's contract with Stillwater Mining but keeping contracts with foreign mining operations. We hope our representative and our two senators make a similar push.