Changes

Montana has been fighting Wyoming for a century over control of unappropriated water in the Tongue and Powder Rivers. Both rivers originate in northeastern Wyoming and flow northward and ultimately drain into the Yellowstone River in Montana. The arguments between Wyoming and Montana water users have been contentious and of long duration. Creation of the Yellowstone River Compact Commission in 1943 failed to resolve disputes over allocation of water. In the 1970s the Montana’s Northern Cheyenne Indian tribe claimed a portion of unappropriated Tongue water, further complicating the issues. Agreements that were reached often failed to be ratified by one or the other state legislature. In 2007 the state of Montana sued Wyoming in the US Supreme Court over loss of water. After almost a century of failed compromises and continuing debate, the allocation issue remains unresolved.<ref> Hugh Lovin, A Battleground: Wyoming, Montana, and the Tongue and Powder Rivers. Lovin, Hugh.; Annals of Wyoming 2008 80(2): 2-13 </ref>  

Montana has been fighting Wyoming for a century over control of unappropriated water in the Tongue and Powder Rivers. Both rivers originate in northeastern Wyoming and flow northward and ultimately drain into the Yellowstone River in Montana. The arguments between Wyoming and Montana water users have been contentious and of long duration. Creation of the Yellowstone River Compact Commission in 1943 failed to resolve disputes over allocation of water. In the 1970s the Montana’s Northern Cheyenne Indian tribe claimed a portion of unappropriated Tongue water, further complicating the issues. Agreements that were reached often failed to be ratified by one or the other state legislature. In 2007 the state of Montana sued Wyoming in the US Supreme Court over loss of water. After almost a century of failed compromises and continuing debate, the allocation issue remains unresolved.<ref> Hugh Lovin, A Battleground: Wyoming, Montana, and the Tongue and Powder Rivers. Lovin, Hugh.; Annals of Wyoming 2008 80(2): 2-13 </ref>  

===State government===

===State government===

[[File:Brian Schweitzer.jpg|thumb|200px|Governor Brian Schweitzer, a Democrat, elected in 2004 and reelected in 2008]]

[[File:Brian Schweitzer.jpg|thumb|200px|Former Governor Brian Schweitzer, a Democrat, elected in 2004 and reelected in 2008]]

The challenge of the 1960s was to modernize outmoded policies in state government, especially regarding prison reform, the state's budgeting and auditing procedures, public school oversight, improving state land development and investments, and the evolution of a more efficient, streamlined state government.<ref>Eugene C. Tidball, "The Seminal Years of the Montana Legislative Council, 1957-1965" ''Montana: the Magazine of Western History'' 2008 58(1): 35-54, 98-99  </ref>

The challenge of the 1960s was to modernize outmoded policies in state government, especially regarding prison reform, the state's budgeting and auditing procedures, public school oversight, improving state land development and investments, and the evolution of a more efficient, streamlined state government.<ref>Eugene C. Tidball, "The Seminal Years of the Montana Legislative Council, 1957-1965" ''Montana: the Magazine of Western History'' 2008 58(1): 35-54, 98-99  </ref>

===Statewide===

===Statewide===

*Governor [[Brian Schweitzer]] (D)

*Governor [[Steve Bullock]] (D)

*Lt. Governor [[John Bohlinger]] (R)

*Lt. Governor [[John Bohlinger]] (R)

*Attorney General [[Steve Bullock]] (D)

*Attorney General [[Steve Bullock]] (D)