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Brian Schweitzer on Government Reform

Democratic MT Governor

 


Used cattle brand saying "VETO" to publicly burn bad bills

Schweitzer became known for his endearing folksiness. Frequently dropping the traditional necktie for a bolo tie, he instituted an open-door policy for reporters in his capitol office. There, they were likely to see his black-and-white border collie, Jag, dubbed the "First Dog of Montana." In 2008, Jag had an approval rating of 80%, higher than Schweitzer himself. The governor once traveled to Opheim, a town of 85 near the Canadian border, to give the commencement address at the local high school. Unremarkable, maybe, except there was only one student graduating.

The spectacles continued, often designed to embarrass the Republican legislature. At one point, Schweitzer fashioned a cattle brand with the word "VETO" and used it to dramatically burn bills in front of crowds outside the capitol. People loved it. Democrats overflow with praise for Schweitzer's "political gut."

Source: Michael Warren in The Weekly Standard magazine , Dec 23, 2013

Refuses special interest & PAC money for his campaign

Special interests have had far too much influence in Montana for far too long. I will not accept one cent of PAC or special interest money. I support full campaign finance disclosure and tougher ethics laws for lobbyists. To learn more about my proposed ethics reforms, please visit www.brianschweitzer.com. As Governor, I will work to enact policies that benefit the people of Montana, not special interests.
Source: 2004 Montana Gubernatorial National Political Awareness Test , Nov 1, 2004

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Page last updated: Mar 25, 2015