Government News & Events

The numbers are staggering. More than one in four of America’s nearly 600,000 bridges need significant repairs or are burdened with more traffic than they were designed to carry, according to the U.S. Department of Transportation.

Montana’s governor showed an appalling lack of leadership last week when he summarily rejected an agreement on water quality between his state and Wyoming.

Many impediments conspire against innovation, such as government’s defensiveness and risk-averse organizational and political leaders. Not understanding citizens’ expectations and the shortage of courageous leaders willing to bear the burden and responsibilities of innovation are other issues.

Maine and others like Connecticut, Florida, Montana and King County in Washington n were drawn to the highly rated commercial paper issued by an SIV called Mainsail II that was operated by British hedge fund Solent Capital Partners.

Among the topics covered in the handbook are Montana’s open meetings law, code of ethics, board liability, information on wrongful discharge, discrimination, and use of Robert’s Rules of Order and motions.

Earlier this month, Bloomberg Markets magazine identified Montana and Florida as states where some public money is invested in risky funds.

The story also notes that Montana has 465-million dollars tied to SIV’s. That’s about one-fifth of Montana’s short term investment program.

Wages were so low, the lab didn’t attract a single qualified person to fill the vacancies after several national searches.

"We thought we needed more people plugging away at this," says Evan Barrett, the state’s chief economic development officer. "It’s more people, more talent to cover the bases on all the work that has to be done."

Initiative First Bipartisan, Governor-Led, National Effort to Promote Clean Energy Policies Across the States