Great Falls Tribune

John S. Adams
Published 5/13/2012

HELENA — When Montana Attorney Gen­eral Steve Bullock was a kid, he used to deliver newspapers. The state Capitol was on the corner of his paper route.

A lot has changed in the years since young Steve the paper­boy became Attorney General and now the presumptive Democ­ratic nominee for Gover­nor of the state he loves. Bullock says he’s running for governor because he wants to make sure his children can enjoy the same opportunities he’s had.

“I’ve really enjoyed being attorney general. I think we’ve been able to do some great things, be it with repeat DUIs, cracking down on sex offenders and changing the way we prosecute crimes against kids, to the prescription drug work to the Citizen’s United case,” Bullock said. “So I really enjoy what we have done. But I don’t think it’s an exaggeration to say we’re at a real crossroads, and I want to make sure that my kids have the same opportunities that I had,” Bullock said.

Bullock, 45, is the clear favorite among Democrats to win the gubernatorial primary in June and go on to retain party control of the governor’s seat come November.

Bullock faces a primary challenge from political newcomer Heather Margolis, who has few campaign funds and little name recognition. Political analysts agree that Bullock will win the nomination and go on to face the Republican nominee in the general election.

But the outcome of the November election is less clear.

A recent survey by the Raleigh, N.C.-based Public Policy Polling found Bullock — who defeated Republican attorney general candidate Tim Fox percent in 2008 by garnering 53 percent of the vote — in a statistical tie with former Republican Congressman Rick Hill, the GOP frontrunner.

But Bullock believes Montanans want to keep a Democrat in the office held for the past two terms by Democrat Brian Schweitzer.

Schweitzer famously battled Republicans, who held huge majorities in both legislative houses, in 2011.

“Looking at the last legislative session, people can take issues with various bills that the governor vetoed, but there were 79, and the record (number of vetoes) before that was 19,” Bullock said. “A lot of what the whole discussion was, was ‘If you spend all your time looking in the rearview mirror the only direction you’re going to go is backwards.’” Bullock said the discussion voters are having this election cycle is “How do we move Montana forward?”

“Do we just say ‘What we were in 1940 or 1950 is all we can ever be,’ or is it a crossroads of saying if we adequately invest in education, if we invest in our two-year colleges and our universities, if we try to turn around and say, ‘yeah, we can responsibly develop our natural resources, but we can also look at the new places the state could go?’” Bullock said.

Bullock said as governor he would encourage economic growth, help give a boost to the state’s agriculture industry, and foster responsible resource development.

“Think of the value added in agriculture. How much work are we doing to try to make sure that Montana dollars and Montana products — we don’t just ship out but we actually add value here?” Bullock said. “How much are we looking at the 100 new startups that are incubating in Bozeman, and say ‘That could be a great potential for where our future economy is as well.’ So we’re at a crossroads because it’s really time to define where we want to take the state and what role public investment will play in everything from law enforcement to education.”

Bullock said unlike his GOP opponents, he doesn’t believe the state should drastically cut taxes. Bullock said the state is already recognized by national taxpayer groups as having one of the best tax climates in the nation. For example, the National Tax Foundation rates the state eighth overall for business tax climate and the state’s local tax burden is “well below the national average.” In 2010 the U.S. Chamber of Commerce said Montana is the top state in the nation for entrepreneurship and innovation.

“The answer to me isn’t just cutting all taxes and revenues to the state, because people still want the roads paved, their kids educated,” Bullock said. “But when there are opportunities, if it makes reasonable sense to cut some taxes, that would certainly be on the table.”

Bullock said he would work with lawmakers from both sides of the aisle to increase funding for education. Bullock pointed out that Montana is last in the nation in early childhood education funding, a problem he said he would seek to mend if elected governor.

“Ages 3 to 5 are critical for learning and Montana invests least in the nation,” Bullock said.

Bullock said it’s also important to invest more in higher education, including universities and two-year colleges.

Bullock said if Republicans retain control of the Legislature and a Republican ends up in the governor’s office, then the state could be in for some drastic changes most Montanans wouldn’t like.

“I think by the end of the first week (of the legislative session with a Republican governor) we’re going to be a right-to-work state, we’ll be dismantling — not investing — in K-12 education programs. We’ll go back to cyanide heap leach mining and we’ll probably be restricting public access,” Bullock said. “And businesses won’t want to come to Montana if we secede from the nation.”

Read more: http://www.greatfallstribune.com/article/20120513/NEWS01/205130305/Democratic-gubernatorial-candidate-Bullock-looking-future-next-generation

Montana’s roads are safer: 24/7 Sobriety Program making a difference a year after passage

Missoulian

Opinion

Steve Bullock

Published 5/9/12

One year ago, on May 6, 2011, Gov. Brian Schweitzer signed House Bill 106 into law. That law authorized a new program – the 24/7 Sobriety Program – and heralded a new attitude toward repeat drunk drivers in Montana. The bill was sponsored by Rep. Steve Lavin, R-Kalispell, a Highway Patrol sergeant who had recently lost two colleagues to drunk drivers.

Under the 24/7 Sobriety Program, anyone arrested for a second or subsequent DUI is required to submit to a breath test, twice a day, every day – paid for by the offender. If offenders fail a breath test or don’t show up to be tested, their bond is immediately revoked and they find themselves sitting in jail, waiting to see a judge.

With the cooperation of local law enforcement, prosecutors and judges, we first introduced the 24/7 program as a pilot project in Lewis and Clark County in May 2010. With that success under our belts, we took the program to the 2011 Legislature, where HB 106 passed with almost unanimous bipartisan support.

In the past, judges in Montana routinely required repeat DUI offenders to stay out of bars and not to drink as conditions of bond – but we had no effective program to ensure that they complied. Instead, we had examples such as a Jefferson County man, who was drunk when he drove his pickup into a motorcycle and killed a young married couple, leaving behind two young children to be raised by their grandparents. Less than four months later, while out on bond, he was again arrested for driving his girlfriend’s car into the ditch, again while driving drunk.

On Oct. 1, 2011, we joined with local sheriffs to roll out 24/7 Sobriety in six counties – Lewis and Clark, Yellowstone, Custer, Butte-Silver Bow, Flathead and Sanders. In the months since then, 10 additional counties have implemented the program – Anaconda-Deer Lodge, Beaverhead, Big Horn, Blaine, Broadwater, Gallatin, Lincoln, Powell, Sheridan and Sweet Grass. Together, these 16 counties represent 53 percent of Montana’s population.

The sheriffs in another 11 counties are trained and working with my office to get the program under way in their communities: Cascade, Dawson, Fergus, Hill, Judith Basin, Madison, McCone, Mineral, Musselshell, Phillips and Rosebud.

In the seven months since the program began on Oct. 1 last year, 24/7’s results have been truly impressive:

• We’ve administered more than 56,000 breath tests.

• Of these, 55,840 have passed, for a success rate of 99.7 percent.

• Participants “blew hot” in only 183 tests, and missed approximately 1,446 tests (referred to as “no shows”).

• Taking these “no shows” into account reduces the success rate statewide to 97.1 percent.

Additionally, 300 participants in the 24/7 Sobriety Program have been monitored on SCRAM bracelets, which test for alcohol every 30 minutes. Since October 2011, more than 1 million readings have been taken (1,032,865) with the overwhelming majority showing no alcohol use. In fact, out of all the tests, there have been only 28 confirmed alcohol events and 97 tampering events.

As we had hoped, in the 16 counties using the 24/7 program, we have for the first time found a way to keep anyone who is arrested for a second or subsequent DUI sober – 24 hours a day, seven days a week. That change is leading to very different – and very encouraging – results.

We have, for the first time, given judges in those counties an effective way to ensure that repeat DUI offenders really do abstain from using alcohol as required by their conditions of bond.

And we have given offenders a sobering opportunity to take stock of how continuing alcohol abuse is impacting their lives and the lives of those around them.

The 24/7 Sobriety Program works. It is a simple, effective and low-cost way to make a real difference. Offenders, not the taxpayers, cover the cost of administering the program and both the state and counties are poised to save significant amounts of money currently being spent on incarceration.

And thanks to the support of legislators on both sides of the aisle, and to our partnership with local law enforcement and judges, 24/7 is now working across our state to make our roads safer for everyone.

It’s a great partnership, and I look forward to working with other Montana communities as the program expands statewide.

Steve Bullock was elected Montana’s 20th Attorney General in November 2008.

http://missoulian.com/news/opinion/columnists/montana-s-roads-are-safer-sobriety-program-making-a-difference/article_ba84099a-99e1-11e1-9a91-0019bb2963f4.html

Guest opinion: Attorney general has worked to protect kids, public safety

Billings Gazette

Opinion

Steve Bullock

Published 5/10/12

As a native Montanan and father of three young children, I believe our state is at a crossroads. The next governor will not only help set our course for the next four years, but also determine the opportunities our state holds for the next generation.

The best predictor of how I will serve as governor is reflected in how I have been serving as attorney general. I’ve worked hard to protect our communities and families, and improve the lives of all Montanans.

Nothing is more important than keeping our kids safe. I put more cops on the street and on computers to protect against sexual predators. I’ve worked with social services, law enforcement, physicians and others to improve how we prevent, investigate, arrest, and convict those who would harm our kids.

We have combated the invisible epidemic of prescription drug abuse by raising awareness, improving law enforcement, providing opportunities to safely dispose of unneeded drugs, and giving doctors and pharmacists the tools they need.

I’ve fought to protect public access to our lands and streams so every Montanan can hunt and fish.

Through a pilot program and now legislation, I’ve introduced the 24/7 Sobriety Program, providing effective strategies for keeping repeat drunk drivers off our roads, without costing taxpayers a dime.

I have fought to protect family farms and ranches by working for competitive rail shipping rates, and leading a national effort to ensure producers receive a fair price set by the market, not by monopolies.

I fought the federal government when they wanted to impose new gun restrictions and limit our Second Amendment rights. I told Washington, D.C. “no” when they tried to implement Real ID. And I have worked with the federal government to better protect consumers from fraud and the abuses of the national banks.

When companies broke our laws, I held them accountable, bringing millions of dollars back to our state to address unmet mental health needs.

As a member of the Land Board, I protected our public lands while responsibly managing our resources. We have generated more dollars for the state than has any Land Board in our history.

And I’ve defended Montana’s election laws while leading the charge nationally to stop unlimited corporate spending in our elections — a fight that has reached the U.S. Supreme Court.

We have accomplished this by bringing people together and finding creative solutions to difficult problems. I have worked with legislators and community leaders — regardless of political party labels — focusing on the public interest, not partisan games. Actions speak louder than words.

My oldest daughter graduates from high school in 2020, and I want to make sure that she — and all Montana’s children — have even greater opportunities than my wife Lisa and I had growing up here. As your governor, I’ll continue to work hard every day — and across party lines — to ensure that Montana’s best days are ahead of us.

http://billingsgazette.com/news/opinion/guest/guest-opinion-attorney-general-has-worked-to-protect-kids-public/article_3a0ce9ad-eaa1-5da2-b8e8-0383b344af4f.html

Helena Independent Record

Letter to the editor

Published 5/8/12

Recently a pile of money was dropped into Montana’s media markets by an out of state political group and soon a steady barrage of negative political ads found their way into the homes, cars and workplaces of many Montanans. Why would some obscure group situated far from Montana spend money here in our state? Some of the ads criticized Montana Attorney General Steve Bullock for not moving to include the state of Montana in the lawsuit questioning the constitutionality of Obamacare, initiated by other states’ attorneys general. This attack on Mr. Bullock was supposed to make us think that he was not doing his job. Nothing could be further from the truth. Steve Bullock felt there was no need to file a separate lawsuit in a matter that was already headed for the Supreme Court. There was no need to commit to spending precious Montana tax dollars on a specious political stunt. Montana enjoys a tidy revenue surplus where other states are deep in deficit. Mr. Bullock deserves credit for his prudence and his independence.

Dave Lyman

Heron

http://helenair.com/news/opinion/readers_alley/bullock-prudent/article_d7882ff2-98d4-11e1-b035-0019bb2963f4.html

Associated Press

Matt Gouras

Published 4/10/12

Bullock is a Democrat seeking to replace Gov. Brian Schweitzer, who is leaving due to term limits.HELENA, Mont. (AP) — Attorney General Steve Bullock is reporting a big month of fundraising in the race to win the governor’s office.

Bullock reported raising more than $100,000 in the last month. That leaves him with more than $500,000 on hand with only token primary opposition.

Republican Rick Hill has been targeted by a crowded GOP primary field as the front-runner. The former congressman reported raising more than $30,000 in the month and has about $300,000 on hand.

Some of Hill’s Republican foes have recently upped their criticisms in an attempt to woo the party’s more conservative voters. Hill, however, has not been ceding the ground and has been touting his own conservative credentials.

Published 4/2/12

5. Montana

Much like McKenna, the Supreme Court’s health care ruling could adversely impact Democratic Attorney General Steve Bullock — but for the opposite reason. Bullock declined to join the multistate lawsuit against “Obamacare,” writing in April 2010 that he saw “no credible constitutional claim.” If the nation’s top justices disagree, it will be easy for Republicans to question the Democrat’s competence and judgment. The good news for the presumptive Democratic nominee is that he’s able to look toward the general election as the GOP navigates its colorful primary, which includes a deep-pocketed candidate who once offered advice on how to land a high-quality prostitute overseas.

Bullock selected Brig. Gen. John Walsh — who earned a Bronze Star in Iraq — as his running mate and continues to stack up a cash-on-hand advantage over GOP front-runner Rick Hill in the race for retiring Democratic Gov. Brian Schweitzer’s seat.

Who won March: Bullock

Helena, MT, March 22, 2012 – By unanimous vote of the Executive Board, the Montana State AFL-CIO endorsed Steve Bullock in his campaign for election to serve as Montana’s next Governor.

“Steve Bullock worked for working people before he needed our votes. He has stood for economic growth, strong and safe communities, and consumer rights. In short, he has been the primary defender and protector of our Montana way of life,” said Al Ekblad, executive secretary of the Montana State AFL-CIO.

As Montana’s Attorney General, Bullock has led the fight nationally to the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision in Citizens United, the court case that opened the flood gates to unlimited corporate expenditures in elections.

Bullock supports the permitting of the Keystone XL Pipeline, a project that creates quality jobs and increases the tax base while reducing our dependence on oil from volatile regions of the Middle East that threaten our national security.

As Governor, Bullock will fight for quality, public schools and an affordable higher education system; ensuring that the next generation of Montanans have the skills needed and the option to work and live here in Montana.

“Steve Bullock has consistently promoted quality Montana jobs that pay wages that support a family and offer health insurance coverage and defined benefit pensions. He knows how important it is for Montana families and our state’s economy that we create these quality jobs,” said Ekblad.

Members of the Executive Board, who represent 46,000 Montana workers from every region of the state and every sector of employment, said that Steve Bullock is the working families’ candidate.

Read More: http://www.mtaflcio.org/index.cfm?zone=/unionactive/view_article.cfm&HomeID=240232

Billings Gazette

Jan Falstad

Published 3/21/12

 
An 80-year-old Billings man wires $10,000 to the Dominican Republic to get his grandson out of jail in Quebec.

 
A Montana woman wires $30,000 overseas to “save her nephew.”

 
Altogether, Montanans lost a total of $68,000 in 2010 to this scam.

 
“The minute somebody wires someone overseas, that money is gone forever,” said Montana Attorney General Steve Bullock, one of the speakers at a fraud prevention seminar sponsored by MasterCard on Wednesday morning at the Hilton Garden Inn in Billings.

 
Everybody who has an email address gets hit with so-called “phishing” scams, where con artists promise they’ve won a lottery or an iPad and must send money first.

 
“Anytime somebody receives an email that sounds too good to be true, it probably is,” he said.

 
Bullock made those comments in a Gazette interview, adding that because of the shame involved, the fraud reported to his office is only a fraction of what is happening.

 
Ravi Aurora, MasterCard’s vice president of information technology security, said the electronic ecosystem is changing so rapidly that today 2.2 billion people, out of 7 billion worldwide, have Internet access. That’s a 500 percent jump in 12 years.

 
FBI special agent John Teeling, who attended the seminar, said that his agency fields about 1,000 calls per day about fraud, crimes that rob Americans of an estimated $1 million to $2 million every day.

 
Senior citizens should have special credit cards with an extra password or some other fraud protections, Teeling suggested. And he advised consumers and businesses to never respond to emails asking for personal data.

 
“Banks and stock brokerage companies, your Visa company, MasterCard, they are never going to email you and say, ‘Please give us your account information,’” he said.

 
The sponsors’ presentation was heavily spiced with promos for MasterCard’s services. Company speakers also lobbied against the Durbin Amendment that took effect last October and capped “swipe fees,” debit card interchange fees. That change cut costs to merchants, but was a major financial hit to companies that issue the cards, including Visa and MasterCard.

 
Before the change, the Merchants Payment Coalition said Americans were paying on average 2 percent per purchase, while Europeans paid 0.25 percent in swipe fees.

 
The seminar was organized by Barb Skelton of Billings, who represents MasterCard in Montana.

 
Ninety percent of card fraud today is from counterfeiting, using lost or stolen cards and Internet fraud, Aurora said.

 
“Fraud is like a balloon. You puff it out and then look for the weakest link,” Aurora said.

 
Security measures by credit card companies have cut the cost of global card fraud from 15 cents per $100 about 10 to 15 years ago, to 8 cents per $100 today, Aurora said.

 
But fraud is easier and cheaper now than ever.

 
– $200 “skimmers” can read cards swiped at cash registers.

 
– Pinhole cameras that match the color scheme of ATMs can be placed on the machines to steal card data.

 
“Always, when entering your pin number, shield it,” Aurora said.

 
Business owners should watch out for “repair technicians” or employees who can install malicious software on a computer or plug in a device to steal sensitive information. Outsiders make 92 percent of the attacks, while business partners steal data less than 1 percent of the time, he said.

 
A few years ago, cyber thieves stole from the largest companies, but now they are targeting smaller ones, especially food and beverage, lodging and retail businesses, said MasterCard’s Erik Mueller.

 
“They’re starting to figure out they can go after the small fish and collect lots of information,” he said.

 
Read more: http://billingsgazette.com/news/local/conference-outlines-reach-of-online-fraud/article_36e2c534-f4b9-5687-ab1b-4e5444e1376d.html

BOZEMAN – Montana Attorney General Steve Bullock released the following statement amid news reports that the White House will push federal agencies to approve a first section of the Keystone XL Pipeline:

“While I’m pleased that development of the Keystone XL Pipeline is slated to start, it’s well past time for full permitting of this job-creating project.  Washington should approve construction of the whole pipeline – including an on-ramp at Baker to bring Montana oil to market.

If long-term oversight is guaranteed, property rights are always respected and safeguards are put in place, this project will bring economic development to rural Montana and reduce our dependence on oil from dictators in the Middle East.”

Bullock has long been a supporter of permitting of the Keystone XL Pipeline and last year submitted testimony to the U.S. Secretary of State in support of permitting the pipeline.  The text of his letter is below.

-30-

 Contact: Kevin O’Brien, (406) 465-6969

September 27, 2011

The Honorable Hillary Clinton
Secretary of State
2201 C Street NW
Washington, DC 20520

Dear Secretary Clinton:

I want to express my strong appreciation to the State Department and your office for engaging in an open and transparent process as you consider the permitting process for the Keystone XL pipeline – including today’s hearing at Dawson Community College in Glendive, Montana.

With tight regulation and appropriate, long-term oversight, the Keystone XL Pipeline project has the ability to create thousands of jobs in Montana, advance domestic energy security, and be a shot in the arm to our economy.  If tight controls are put in place and long-term oversight of this project is ensured, I would encourage you to grant the Presidential Permit.

At the strong urging of the State of Montana, TransCanada has agreed to create an on-ramp in Baker, Montana, to allow domestic oil from the Bakken formation to be transported on the pipeline. This on-ramp will provide a further economic boost to rural communities adjacent to the pipeline in Eastern Montana.

Responsible development of a project like this must take into account the safety and security of the pipeline, the workers who will construct it, and the communities it will pass through. Before a permit is issued or a shovel is turned, you must ensure that Montana’s top industry, production agriculture, as well as our waters and Wildlife habitats, will never be adversely affected.

As you know, Montana has recently had several high-profile pipeline failures, including a breach of the Silvertip pipeline that spilled over 40 thousand gallons of oil into the Yellowstone River.  I hope that your review of the project can learn from these devastating spills – including the need for a public response plan with input from local authorities, citizens and first responders.

When constructing this pipeline, it will also be necessary for TransCanada to Work in collaboration with Montana landowners and always respect the rights of private property holders.

Moreover, I believe that it is absolutely imperative that the industry’s best practices are used in constructing this pipeline. Uniform thickness of the steel- even in so-called “low consequence areas”  will greatly reduce the risk of a catastrophic spill. Before approving any plan, federal regulators should ensure a detailed and rigorous construction inspection process is outlined and will be followed.

Responsible development of America’s oil resources will play an important role in our energy portfolio for the foreseeable future. I believe that, if done correctly, with long-term oversight, the Keystone XL project has the ability to create good-paying jobs in Montana, further American energy security, and add to the vitality of our rural communities.

Thank you for your consideration.

Sincerely,
STEVE BULLOCK
Attorney General

Billings Gazette

Published 3/18/12

One hundred years after the Corrupt Practices Act of 1912, Montanans are still fighting to be free of the stifling effect of unfettered corporate funds in electoral campaigns. The U.S. Supreme Court’s recent stay opens the floodgates of corporate finance.

In twisted logic, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that corporate “beings” share the same rights to free speech as humans. Money equals speech, which should be unrestricted. Super PACs have become super spenders in the wake of the Citizens United decision.

Montana ranks in the bottom 15 of per-capita personal income; thus, a corporate being and a human being are inherently unequal in terms of spending capital.

Steve Bullock, running for governor, has traversed the many byways and highways, meeting and listening to the concerns of Montanans. He relies on the support of cowboys, ranchers, farmers, retirees, teachers and small business entrepreneurs — people who in the grand scheme do not make significant sums but who care earnestly about the world they leave their children and grandchildren.

All who support Bullock stand united in the face of corporate interlopers who would tell us how to rule our state. At stake is Montanans’ freedom to decide for ourselves and by ourselves. Our forefathers wrote, “we, the people,” not we, the “corporate beings.”

Analicia Pianca

Billings
Read more: http://billingsgazette.com/news/opinion/mailbag/support-bullock-and-fight-against-corporate-influence/article_77944274-1a24-540f-9f94-8bbf32579b0c.html#ixzz1pbsNx3dA