Latest News We look back at 2008 No action taken by council on meat plant The Great American Lager Belgian owned Barley workshop slated for Conrad I-O publisher Jack Lee passes away Popular Wyatt Stokes charged with embezzlement The news in review for 2006 Top stories that made the news in 2005 Wyatt Stokes pleads guilty in federal court Wyatt Stokes sentenced to three years for fraud Home News Latest Rep. Rehberg highlights Lincoln-Reagan dinner Rep. Rehberg highlights Lincoln-Reagan dinner Wednesday, 25 April 2007 Article Index Rep. Rehberg highlights Lincoln-Reagan dinner Page 2 Page 1 of 2 By Buck Traxler, I-O Editor     Montana’s lone Congressman, Rep. Denny Rehberg, highlighted the annual Pondera County republican Central Committee Lincoln-Reagan dinner Saturday evening at the Pondera Golf Club.     A little over 100 party faithful from not only Pondera, but also Glacier, Teton and Toole counties showed up to see and chat with Rehberg and other local politicians as well.     Pastor Kirk Kestler gave both an invocation and benediction and diners feasted on a meal of beef brisket and pork riblets, served by Conrad Veterinarian Dr. Dick Kinyon and his crew.     In his talk, Rehberg said he was, “Still on the couch, which is good practice for when I come home.” This in reference to his sleeping at  his Congressional office after moving his family back to Montana.     He noted that while doing this, because of the high crime rate in Washington, his wife was recently mugged while getting money from an ATM machine in Billings. Congressman Denny Rehberg     Rehberg touched on taxes, saying, “You are working 114 days for the government. That’s how many days it takes to pay your taxes.” He noted that non-permanent tax breaks, orchestrated by Republicans, would expire soon and “You will see the largest tax increase in history and Democrats are already trying to spend that money.”     He also noted that Republicans stand for faith, family and freedom.     Aside from his talk, he touched on the Real ID Act for which Congress passed, setting the standard for a federal driver’s license.     Gov. Schweitzer signed into legislation, this past week, a bill that bans the state Motor Vehicle Division from enforcing federal rules.     The ID Act requires state to verify the identity of all driver’s license applicants.     Rehberg told the I-O, “States that are not in compliance will see that citizens with just Montana licenses can not use them to board commercial flights, cross the border or enter federal buildings.”     Montana citizens will need  to purchase passports.     This will also affect students applying for college scholarships and it may have an effect on federal farm programs.     The Act is an unfunded federal mandate that passed Congress, without discussion in 2005, being attached to a bill funding the war in Iraq. Prev - Next >>   < Prev   Next > [ Back ]