Tutvedt rep

<font size="4" face="Times New Roman">=</font><div><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">he gave ati $? but he was flanked/primaried
</font><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"></font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><span class="first-paragraph" style="outline: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><span class="paragraph-0" style="outline: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><p style="outline: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 18px; line-height: 15.0075px;">Senate District 3 Republican primary race should be a lively one,<b> with incumbent Sen. Bruce Tutvedt being challenged by a candidate who contends Tutvedt hasn’t been conservative enough.</b></p></span></span><span style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><span class="paragraph-1" style="outline: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><p style="outline: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 18px; line-height: 15.006px;"><b>Seeking a second term, Tutvedt holds the Senate pro tempore leadership position and is considered a possible successor to Senate President Jim Peterson in two years.</b></p></span><span style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><span style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);" /></span></span></font><div class="encrypted-content" style="outline: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><p style="outline: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 18px; line-height: 15.006px;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">He is being challenged for the Republican nomination by Whitefish area businessman Rollan Roberts II, who says government needs to get out of the way for the state economy to flourish.</font></p></div><div class="encrypted-content" style="outline: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><p style="outline: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 18px; line-height: 15.006px;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">The Republican race was a three-way affair until last week when Jayson Peters announced he is withdrawing his candidacy. Peters’ name still will appear on the ballot. Absentee balloting begins Monday for the June 5 primary election.</font></p></div><div class="encrypted-content" style="outline: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><p style="outline: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 18px; line-height: 15.006px;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Senate District 3 covers the western part of Flathead County plus the area north of Whitefish.</font></p></div><div class="encrypted-content" style="outline: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><p style="outline: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 18px; line-height: 15.006px;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Tutvedt describes himself as a “traditional business Republican” who looks for practical solutions as a legislator, and he is proud of his record.</font></p></div><div class="encrypted-content" style="outline: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><p style="outline: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 18px; line-height: 15.006px;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">As chairman of the Senate Taxation Committee, Tutvedt sponsored legislation that led to the state’s business equipment tax being cut from 3 percent to 1.5 percent on the first $3 million of equipment value. Tutvedt expects there will be efforts to raise the cut-rate exemption threshold to $10 million in the next session.</font></p></div><div class="encrypted-content" style="outline: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><p style="outline: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 18px; line-height: 15.006px;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">While significant progress was made last year to<b> lower workers compensation rates, Tutvedt expects more work to be done to lower rates by an additional 10 to 15 percent.</b></font></p></div><div class="encrypted-content" style="outline: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><p style="outline: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 18px; line-height: 15.006px;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">“We’re trying to build a competitive tax system” and a business environment that is competitive with surrounding states, he said.  </font></p></div><div class="encrypted-content" style="outline: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><p style="outline: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 18px; line-height: 15.006px;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><b>Tutvedt expects the state’s $3.4 billion pension liabilities for the public employee and teacher retirement systems will be another important matter.</b></font></p></div><div class="encrypted-content" style="outline: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><p style="outline: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 18px; line-height: 15.006px;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">“The Montana Republican leadership has made resolving the retirement issue a priority for the 2013 legislative session,” he said.</font></p></div><div class="encrypted-content" style="outline: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><p style="outline: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 18px; line-height: 15.006px;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Tutvedt favors structural reforms that would involve treating new employees differently, allowing them to enter 401(k) type plans that are used in the private sector.</font></p></div><div class="encrypted-content" style="outline: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><p style="outline: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 18px; line-height: 15.006px;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><b><span style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">He predicts that if Republicans again have a majority, they will advance a series of bills aimed at</span><span style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 102);"> medical tort reforms that all were vetoed by Democratic Gov. Brian Schweitzer </span><span style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">during the last session.</span></b></font></p></div><div class="encrypted-content" style="outline: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><p style="outline: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 18px; line-height: 15.006px;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Although he’s a Western Montana legislator, Tutvedt has taken a strong interest in<b> oil and gas development in Eastern Montana</b> because it would provide statewide economic and revenue benefits.</font></p></div><div class="encrypted-content" style="outline: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><p style="outline: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 18px; line-height: 15.006px;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">“There is going to be some more revenues,” he said. “We need a more predictable and business friendly environment.”</font></p></div><div class="encrypted-content" style="outline: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><p style="outline: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 18px; line-height: 15.006px;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Tutvedt largely opposes special tax credits because he contends they shift tax burdens to other taxpayers.</font></p></div><div class="encrypted-content" style="outline: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><p style="outline: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 18px; line-height: 15.006px;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Tutvedt said he takes a different view of tax credits than his opponent. He is proud that he had a hand in killing about $40 million in credits because they would benefit certain taxpayers with costs that would be shifted to others.</font></p></div><div class="encrypted-content" style="outline: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><p style="outline: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 18px; line-height: 15.006px;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">“I’m for low, flat and fair taxes,” he said.</font></p></div><div class="encrypted-content" style="outline: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><p style="outline: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 18px; line-height: 15.006px;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Challenging an incumbent who is a Flathead Valley native, Roberts is an underdog in the race, but he is confident in his campaign strategy, work ethic and differing views on important issues.</font></p></div><div class="encrypted-content" style="outline: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><p style="outline: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 18px; line-height: 15.006px;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Roberts, who moved with his family from Florida to the Flathead Valley in 2010, has been a visible presence with campaign signs on the streets, regular meetings with voters in Whitefish and mailed surveys and campaign materials.</font></p></div><div class="encrypted-content" style="outline: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><p style="outline: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 18px; line-height: 15.006px;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">“We’re just starting,” he said of his campaign. “I believe we have a strong strategy. I don’t do anything halfway and I don’t want to be a halfway senator.”</font></p></div><div class="encrypted-content" style="outline: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><p style="outline: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 18px; line-height: 15.006px;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">He said he has never had an ambition to enter politics and he doesn’t regard the state senate as a steppingstone to higher office, but he “felt called” to enter the race to make a meaningful difference in Helena.</font></p></div><div class="encrypted-content" style="outline: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><p style="outline: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 18px; line-height: 15.006px;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Roberts said he took a look at Tutvedt’s voting record and positions “and I felt like I was a better, more conservative candidate.”</font></p></div><div class="encrypted-content" style="outline: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><p style="outline: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 18px; line-height: 15.006px;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">He takes exception to Tutvedt being praised for legislation that reduced the business equipment tax; Roberts said he believes it should be eliminated.</font></p></div><div class="encrypted-content" style="outline: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><p style="outline: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 18px; line-height: 15.006px;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">“That business equipment tax, even reduced, is extremely frustrating” for many business owners, Roberts said. “There was only one reason it wasn’t eliminated and that was my opponent.”</font></p></div><div class="encrypted-content" style="outline: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><p style="outline: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 18px; line-height: 15.006px;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">As with his position on tax credits, Tutvedt says completely eliminating the tax would cause severe impacts to local government and school revenues in places such as Yellowstone County, where abundant industrial equipment is a major source of revenue.</font></p></div><div class="encrypted-content" style="outline: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><p style="outline: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 18px; line-height: 15.006px;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">The reason there was compromise legislation is because there was pushback against eliminating the tax from lawmakers in those areas.</font></p></div><div class="encrypted-content" style="outline: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><p style="outline: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 18px; line-height: 15.006px;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Roberts says Tutvedt’s job is to represent the Flathead.</font></p></div><div class="encrypted-content" style="outline: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><p style="outline: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 18px; line-height: 15.006px;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Roberts also disagrees with Tutvedt’s views on tax credits.</font></p></div><div class="encrypted-content" style="outline: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><p style="outline: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 18px; line-height: 15.006px;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">He said he believes in incentives for strategic industries (such as the firearms manufacturing industry that has emerged in the Flathead Valley) rather than individual companies in Montana. He points out that Tutvedt also opposed legislation that would have reduced property taxes for energy exploration.</font></p></div><div class="encrypted-content" style="outline: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><p style="outline: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 18px; line-height: 15.006px;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">“I think it promotes jobs,” Roberts said of tax incentives for strategic industries....</font></p></div></div><div><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">
</font><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">=</font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">http://www.ktvh.com/<b>2016</b>/01/illegal-coordination-found-in-high-profile-2012-gop-primary-race</font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></div><div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><b>
</b></font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><b>`Illegal coordination’ found in high-profile<span style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 102);"> 2012 GOP primary race</span></b></font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><b>
</b></font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">January 15, 2016, 7 months ago</font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">(MTN News-HELENA)<b> A half-dozen conservative groups and a little-known candidate broke campaign laws when they banded together to attempt to defeat state Sen. Bruce Tutvedt in a high-profile 2012 Republican primary race, the state commissioner of political practices said Friday.</b></font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Commissioner Jonathan Motl, in a 30-page decision, said the groups illegally coordinated with <b>Roland Roberts II</b>, a self-described “internationally renowned best-selling author” who narrowly lost his primary challenge to Tutvedt.</font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">In fact, Roberts even self-published a book on his short-lived campaign, titled “90 Day Race: The Secret to Massive Results.”</font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">The amount of coordinated money, some of which was illegal corporate donations to Rollan’s campaign, “is substantial,” Motl wrote, and will be detailed later.</font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Motl said he expects to take the case before a judge, to seek a civil fine or other penalty.</font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Rollan, who has a Florida-based business, could not immediately be reached for comment. An attorney representing the groups also could not be reached.</font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Friday’s decision is the latest of a series of rulings by Motl on the 2010 and 2012 activities of several conservative groups that aided candidates in contested Republican legislative primaries.</font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><b>The groups, which included American Tradition Partnership, Montana Citizens for Right to Work, Taxpayers for Liberty, the National Association for Gun Rights and the National Pro-Life Alliance, often produced mailers and other material that attacked one candidate as being too liberal or not sufficiently conservative.</b></font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Motl has found that the groups often did not properly report their spending, or that they illegally coordinated with various candidates. The illegal coordination usually translates into an unreported contribution to the candidate supported by the groups, Motl has said.</font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Under Montana law, independent political groups can spend money to influence an election, but are required to report their spending and cannot coordinate with a candidate.</font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><b><span style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 102);">Roberts ran in the 2012 Republican primary against Tutvedt, a Kalispell farmer.</span> In Roberts’ book, he said he had moved to the Flathead Valley in 2010 and called his challenge a “David vs. Goliath” race, with Roberts cast as David.</b></font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Roberts also wrote that he “consulted with national advisors who had devoted their lives to state and national politics,” and described a broad-based campaign that used web ads, print ads, mailings, phone calls, surveys and a “media kit.”</font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><b>Tutvedt beat Roberts by only 66 votes,</b> with 45 percent of the vote versus Roberts’ 43.6 percent. A third candidate had 11.4 percent. <span style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 102);">Tutvedt went on to easily win re-election in the general election.</span></font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><b>Tutvedt filed a complaint in December 2012, alleging campaign violations by Roberts and various groups that aided his campaign.</b></font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Motl found that while Roberts did report $40,000 in campaign spending, he also coordinated with National Right to Work, an anti-labor group, and some of its affiliates and accepted “in-kind” services from these organizations without properly reporting their value.</font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">The services from these groups also amount to campaign contributions from corporations – which is illegal for a Montana candidate to accept, Motl said.</font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">“Candidate Roberts did not report or disclose in-kind contributions from any of the corporate group entities that the commissioner has determined provided attack slicks, attack letters, polling, voter ID, copy-writing, graphics or other services to his campaign,” the commissioner wrote.</font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman" style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 102);">Roberts calls himself a best-selling author, speaker, CEO and TV personality. He says he has a doctorate in international business and entrepreneurship.</font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman" style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 102);">
</font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman" style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 102);">Some of his books listed for sale on Amazon.com include “Born to be Rich” and “Born to Dream</font></div></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">=</font></div></div><div><div><span style="line-height: 22px;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"></font></span></div><div><span style="line-height: 22px;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">WFB?</font></span></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><br style="line-height: 22.425px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);" /><span style="line-height: 22.425px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><b>On the day of Lovell’s ruling, American Tradition Partnership posted an announcement on its website declaring, “ATP wins yet another case against Montana politicians.</b>” The organization has become known for its opposition to Montana’s campaign finance laws and is currently engaged in a high-profile battle with Attorney General Steve Bullock over the state’s century-old ban on corporate spending in political races. </span><br style="line-height: 22.425px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);" /><br style="line-height: 22.425px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);" /><span style="line-height: 22.425px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">“This is a victory for the free speech rights of all Americans, and a loss for Montana politicians trying to squelch the voices of grassroots citizens challenging their power</span><span style="line-height: 22.425px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">,” Donald Ferguson, ATP’s executive director, said of Lovell’s decision in a statement. </span><br style="line-height: 22.425px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);" /><br style="line-height: 22.425px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);" /><span style="line-height: 22.425px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><b>Tutvedt[gop]</b> was discouraged by ATP’s boast that Lovell’s ruling means the state can no longer “prohibit political speech about candidate voting records the state judged ‘false.’” The senator interprets that as a free pass to misrepresent candidates’ records.</span><br style="line-height: 22.425px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);" /><br style="line-height: 22.425px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);" /><span style="line-height: 22.425px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">Ferguson didn’t return a voice message before the Beacon went to print.</span><br style="line-height: 22.425px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);" /></font></div><div><span style="line-height: 22px;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"></font></span></div></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"></font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">lost? re-elected 2012</font><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">gop who said did not approve of ATP ruling, but have $</font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></div><div><p style="margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; color: rgb(68, 68, 68); line-height: 27px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><b>Other ATP financial backers include: 2010</b></font></p><ul style="margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; list-style-position: inside; list-style-image: initial; color: rgb(68, 68, 68); line-height: 27px;"><li style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; border-image-source: initial; border-image-slice: initial; border-image-width: initial; border-image-outset: initial; border-image-repeat: initial; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; background-color: transparent;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><b>TEA Party billionaire Ray Thompson, of Kalispell ($10,000)</b></font></li><li style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; border-image-source: initial; border-image-slice: initial; border-image-width: initial; border-image-outset: initial; border-image-repeat: initial; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; background-color: transparent;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><b>John Sinrud, of Bozeman</b></font></li><li style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; border-image-source: initial; border-image-slice: initial; border-image-width: initial; border-image-outset: initial; border-image-repeat: initial; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; background-color: transparent;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Intermountain Rural <b>Electric</b> Association ($25,000)</font></li><li style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; border-image-source: initial; border-image-slice: initial; border-image-width: initial; border-image-outset: initial; border-image-repeat: initial; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; background-color: transparent;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Former TEA Party Legislator Tom Burnett (R-Bozeman)</font></li><li style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; border-image-source: initial; border-image-slice: initial; border-image-width: initial; border-image-outset: initial; border-image-repeat: initial; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; background-color: transparent;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Montana and Wyoming <b>Oil Company</b></font></li><li style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; border-image-source: initial; border-image-slice: initial; border-image-width: initial; border-image-outset: initial; border-image-repeat: initial; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; background-color: transparent;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Flathead Timber, of Whitefish</font></li><li style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; border-image-source: initial; border-image-slice: initial; border-image-width: initial; border-image-outset: initial; border-image-repeat: initial; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; background-color: transparent;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Dan O’Neil Construction, of Billings</font></li><li style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; border-image-source: initial; border-image-slice: initial; border-image-width: initial; border-image-outset: initial; border-image-repeat: initial; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; background-color: transparent;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Soby Construction, of Bozeman</font></li><li style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; border-image-source: initial; border-image-slice: initial; border-image-width: initial; border-image-outset: initial; border-image-repeat: initial; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; background-color: transparent;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Raemaeker Insurance, of Choteau</font></li><li style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; border-image-source: initial; border-image-slice: initial; border-image-width: initial; border-image-outset: initial; border-image-repeat: initial; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; background-color: transparent;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Livingston developer Peter Mackenzie (various checks, thousands)</font></li><li style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; border-image-source: initial; border-image-slice: initial; border-image-width: initial; border-image-outset: initial; border-image-repeat: initial; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; background-color: transparent;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">T. Baird Construction, Big Timber</font></li><li style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; border-image-source: initial; border-image-slice: initial; border-image-width: initial; border-image-outset: initial; border-image-repeat: initial; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; background-color: transparent;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">developer Gateway Village LLC, Bozeman</font></li><li style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; border-image-source: initial; border-image-slice: initial; border-image-width: initial; border-image-outset: initial; border-image-repeat: initial; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; background-color: transparent;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><b>Jason Theilman, Steve Daines campaign manager</b></font></li><li style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; border-image-source: initial; border-image-slice: initial; border-image-width: initial; border-image-outset: initial; border-image-repeat: initial; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><b>GOP Senator <span style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 102);">Bruce Tutvedt </span>(R-Kalispell)</b></font></li><li style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; border-image-source: initial; border-image-slice: initial; border-image-width: initial; border-image-outset: initial; border-image-repeat: initial; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; background-color: transparent;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Applebee’s Neighborhood Grill (Apple Gilroy Inc.)</font></li><li style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; border-image-source: initial; border-image-slice: initial; border-image-width: initial; border-image-outset: initial; border-image-repeat: initial; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; background-color: transparent;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Big Timber TEA Partier Bob Faw</font></li><li style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; border-image-source: initial; border-image-slice: initial; border-image-width: initial; border-image-outset: initial; border-image-repeat: initial; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; background-color: transparent;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">AAON Inc.($20 k)</font></li><li style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; border-image-source: initial; border-image-slice: initial; border-image-width: initial; border-image-outset: initial; border-image-repeat: initial; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; background-color: transparent;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><b>K12 Management Inc. Catholic religious private school corporation</b>, Washington D.C. ($20k)</font></li><li style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; border-image-source: initial; border-image-slice: initial; border-image-width: initial; border-image-outset: initial; border-image-repeat: initial; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; background-color: transparent;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Colorado Springs Chamber of Commerce PAC</font></li><li style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; border-image-source: initial; border-image-slice: initial; border-image-width: initial; border-image-outset: initial; border-image-repeat: initial; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; background-color: transparent;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Taxpayers for Liberty, Andrew J. O<b>’Neill</b> ($4k)</font></li><li style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; border-image-source: initial; border-image-slice: initial; border-image-width: initial; border-image-outset: initial; border-image-repeat: initial; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; background-color: transparent;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">TEA Party Rep. Dan Kennedy (R-Laurel), Campaign account</font></li><li style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; border-image-source: initial; border-image-slice: initial; border-image-width: initial; border-image-outset: initial; border-image-repeat: initial; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; background-color: transparent;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><b>Colorado Mine Association ($25k)</b></font></li></ul><p style="margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; color: rgb(68, 68, 68); line-height: 27px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">–and many others.</font></p><p style="margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; color: rgb(68, 68, 68); line-height: 27px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">I haven’t had time to go through all the documents, but Cowgirl readers <a href="http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/government-elections-politics/big-sky-big-money/check-em-out-donations-to-dark-money-group-revealed/" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; color: rgb(46, 110, 176); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent;">can do so here.</a>  It should be most interesting to see what people find. This information is from the 2010 cycle only, not 2012.</font></p><p style="margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; color: rgb(68, 68, 68); line-height: 27px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">=</font></p><p style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); margin: 0px 20px 1em; padding: 0px;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">=</font></p><p style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); margin: 0px 20px 1em; padding: 0px;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">stranahan</font></p><p style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); margin: 0px 20px 1em; padding: 0px;"><a href="https://leestranahan.com/category/staffergate/"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman" color="#000000">https://leestranahan.com/category/staffergate/</font></a></p><h2 style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); margin: 30px 0px 0px; padding: 0px 0px 10px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; line-height: 1em;"><a href="https://leestranahan.com/sunlightdisinfectant-republican-group-lays-out-case-against-national-right-to-work-committee/" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; background: transparent; text-decoration-line: none;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman" color="#000000">Sunlight=Disinfectant: Republican Group Lays Out Case Against National Right To Work Committee</font></a></h2><p class="post-meta" style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); margin: 0px 0px 6px; padding: 0px 0px 15px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; line-height: 1.7em;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">by <a href="https://leestranahan.com/author/lee/" title="Posts by Lee Stranahan" rel="author" style="background: transparent; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; text-decoration-line: none;">Lee Stranahan</a> | <span style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 102);">Apr 23, 2014</span> | <a href="https://leestranahan.com/category/staffergate/" rel="category tag" style="background: transparent; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; text-decoration-line: none;">Staffergate</a>, <a href="https://leestranahan.com/category/uncategorized/" rel="category tag" style="background: transparent; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; text-decoration-line: none;">Uncategorized</a> | </font></p><p style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1em; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; line-height: 1.7em;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><a href="http://politicalpractices.mt.gov/2recentdecisions/docket.mcpx" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; background: transparent; text-decoration-line: none;">Two complaints filed this week</a> by a Republican led group in Montana lay out a damning case against lobbying group National Right To Work Committee and affiliated groups and individuals for years of extensive illegal campaign activity.</font></p><p style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1em; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; line-height: 1.7em;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Two complaints were filed on Monday, April 21st with the Montana Commissioner of Political Practices. <a href="http://politicalpractices.mt.gov/content/2recentdecisions/WelchvNationalRighttoWorkandOthers" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; background: transparent; text-decoration-line: none;">The first was filed against the National Right to Work Committee</a> and people associated with it. The<a href="http://politicalpractices.mt.gov/content/2recentdecisions/WelchvAmericanTraditionPartnershipandothers" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; background: transparent; text-decoration-line: none;"> second complaint </a>was against people and organizations including Western Tradition Partnership / American Tradition Partnership and the people behind those groups including <b>Christian and Allison LeFer and Donny Ferguson</b>. Ferguson is currently communications director for Texas Congressman Steve Stockman.</font></p><h3 style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 10px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; line-height: 1em; font-weight: 500;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">National Right To Work Committee Allegations</font></h3><p style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1em; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; line-height: 1.7em;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">The allegations made against the National Right to Work committee are stark and consistent with the months of reporting I’ve done on the group — it claims that they operated secret printing presses, coordinated illegally with candidates and operated a number of deceptive front groups.</font></p><blockquote style="background-image: initial; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; margin: 20px 0px 30px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 20px; border-width: 0px 0px 0px 5px; border-top-style: initial; border-right-style: initial; border-bottom-style: initial; border-left-style: solid; border-color: rgb(36, 79, 86); border-image: initial; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; quotes: none;"><p style="background-image: initial; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; line-height: 1.7em;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">This complaint is being filed against National Right to Work Committee and its affiliates, agents, officers, and directors for violations of Montana campaign finance and practices laws. For many years, the National Right to Work Committee has operated a secret political mail operation. The National Right to Work Committee owns its own printing presses and has the ability to produce thousands of mailings</font></p><p style="background-image: initial; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; line-height: 1.7em;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></p><p style="background-image: initial; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; line-height: 1.7em;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">in less than a few weeks. During the 2008, 2010, and 2012 election cycles the National Right to Work Committee through its affiliates and agents mailed thousands of pieces of election material to Montana voters. The National Prolife Alliance, National League of Taxpayers, National Association of Gun Rights, National Gun Owners Alliance, and Western Tradition Partnership/American Tradition Partnership are nothing more than front groups/agents of the National Right to Work Committee and act under the direction of the National Right to Work Committee.</font></p><p style="background-image: initial; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; line-height: 1.7em;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman" style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 102);">
</font></p><p style="background-image: initial; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; line-height: 1.7em;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman" style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 102);">Although the National Right to Work Committee has taken various steps to conceal the connection of the front groups/affiliates, there is enough publically available information to suggest a connection between the National Right to Work Committee and entities identified above. The National Right to Work Committee is located at 8001 Braddock Road, Suite 500 in <b>Springfield, VA</b> 22160. The National Prolife Alliance is located at 5211 Port Royal Road, Suite 500, Springfield, VA 22151. It is believed these addresses are for the same office building. The office building where the National Right to Work Committee is located is at the intersection of Braddock Road and Port Royal Road in Springfield, Virginia. An analysis of Google Maps shows the same office building is used for both addresses.</font></p><p style="background-image: initial; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; line-height: 1.7em;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman" style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 102);">The connection between these entities is more apparent when reviewing other publically available information. According to documents submitted to the Federal Elections Commission, the treasurer for the National Prolife Alliance PAC is Steve Antosh. Mr. Antosh’s personal residence is 3237<b> Fairfax, VA</b>. (Fairfax County Treasurer Records). This is the same address as the National League of Taxpayers. The President of the National Gun Owners Alliance is Dennis Fusaro who was also a prominent member of the National Right to Work Committee. The National Gun Owners Alliance has also used the same mailing address as the National League of Taxpayers.</font></p><p style="background-image: initial; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; line-height: 1.7em;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman" style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 102);">
</font></p><p style="background-image: initial; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; line-height: 1.7em;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman" style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 102);">Christian Lefer is the officer of Montana Citizens for Right to Work. Montana Citizens for Right to Work is financed by the National Right to Work Committee. See National Right to Work IRS Tax Returns. Mr. Lefer has also acted as an agent of Western Tradition Partnership/American Tradition Partnership. On information and belief, the National Right to Work Committee contributed to and/or financed the political operation of Montana Citizens for Right to Work/Western TraditionPartnership/American Tradition Partnership. These entities have never filed any of the necessary paperwork required by Montana law and have never disclosed any contributions and/or expenditures.<b> The complaint filed by Bruce Tutvedt shows a flyer paid for by the National Association for Gun Rights. The bulk mail postage stamp shows the flyer originated from the same mail house as the mailers sent by Western Tradition Partnership. It is believed the mailers were produced by Christian Lefer and/or Direct Mail and Communications.</b></font></p><p style="background-image: initial; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; line-height: 1.7em;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></p></blockquote><h3 style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 10px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; line-height: 1em;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Lefers, Donny Ferguson May Face Multi-Million Dollar Fines</font></h3><p style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1em; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; line-height: 1.7em;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Both complaints is seeking remedies including hefty fines and other injunctions from the LeFers, Ferguson, National Right to Work President Mark Mix and others because it says they are personally liable under Montana law:</font></p><blockquote style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); margin: 20px 0px 30px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 20px; border-width: 0px 0px 0px 5px; border-top-style: initial; border-right-style: initial; border-bottom-style: initial; border-left-style: solid; border-color: rgb(36, 79, 86); border-image: initial; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; quotes: none;"><p style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; background: transparent; line-height: 1.7em;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">The agents, officers, and directors of WTP/ATP/TFL/AAF/MCRW are personally liable for all fines, penalties, and other sanctions resulting from the violations listed above under the following statutes:</font></p><p style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; background: transparent; line-height: 1.7em;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">1.  Section 13-35-105, MCA. Under Montana law, a person who aids and abets the conduct of a person who violates a provision of Montana election law is also guilty of a violation of that provision.</font></p><p style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; background: transparent; line-height: 1.7em;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">2.   Section 28-10-702, MCA. Under Montana law, a person who assumes to act as an agent is responsible to third persons when the agent’s acts are wrongful in their nature.</font></p></blockquote><p style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1em; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; line-height: 1.7em;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">The complaint asks for:</font></p><blockquote style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); margin: 20px 0px 30px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 20px; border-width: 0px 0px 0px 5px; border-top-style: initial; border-right-style: initial; border-bottom-style: initial; border-left-style: solid; border-color: rgb(36, 79, 86); border-image: initial; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; quotes: none;"><p style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; background: transparent; line-height: 1.7em;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">  A fine against each party in the amount of three times the amount spent by WTP/ATP/TFL/AAF/MCRW and the other associated entities in the 2010 and 2012 election cycles under § 13-37-128, MCA. It is my understanding WTP/ATP alone spent roughly $500,000 in the 2010 election cycle. Thus, for the 2010 election cycle, I would request a fine against each person or entity who committed violations in the 2010 election cycle for the amount of $1,500,000 just for the WTP/ATP expenditures.  I would request other equivalent fines based upon the amount of spending by the other entities in 2010 and 2012;</font></p><p style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; background: transparent; line-height: 1.7em;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></p><p style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; background: transparent; line-height: 1.7em;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">An inspection of documents and reports under § 13-37-121, MCA and issuance of orders of noncompliance as authorized by law;</font></p><p style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; background: transparent; line-height: 1.7em;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">An injunction pursuant to § 13-35-108, MCA to prohibit WTP/ATP/TFL/AAF/MCRW  and its entities, associates, affiliates, subsidiaries, officers, directors, treasurers, and agents from spending any money or performing any election related activity until WTP/ATP/TFL/AAF/MCRW are in compliance with Montana law;</font></p></blockquote><h3 style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 10px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; line-height: 1em;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Complaints Filed By Republican Group</font></h3><p style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; line-height: 1.7em;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">The complaints were filed by a Republican affiliated group called<b> Business Advocates for Sensible Elections</b>. As Montana TV station <a href="http://www.kxlh.com/news/group-takes-aim-at-dark-money-in-montana-politics/" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; background: transparent; text-decoration-line: none;">KXLH reported</a>:</font></p><blockquote style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); margin: 20px 0px 30px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 20px; border-width: 0px 0px 0px 5px; border-top-style: initial; border-right-style: initial; border-bottom-style: initial; border-left-style: solid; border-color: rgb(36, 79, 86); border-image: initial; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; quotes: none;"><p style="background: transparent; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; line-height: 1.7em;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">“Dark money” is the term commonly used to refer to money spent to influence an election that does not disclose the source of the funding.</font></p><p style="background: transparent; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; line-height: 1.7em;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><b>After MT State Senator Ed Buttrey (R-Great Falls) </b>didn’t vote in a way that satisfied so called “dark money” groups during the session, he says that he was threatened: “It was told to me, ‘You are dead in the next election…we are coming after you.'”</font></p><p style="background: transparent; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; line-height: 1.7em;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">But despite fear of possible retaliation, Buttrey, along with several Republican lawmakers, are fighting back.</font></p><p style="background-image: initial; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; line-height: 1.7em;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman" style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 102);">The group is called Montana Business Advocates for Sensible Elections – abbreviated Montana BASE – and their issue is with 501(c)4 organizations, also known as “dark money” groups.</font></p></blockquote><p style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); margin: 0px 20px 1em; padding: 0px;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">=</font></p><p style="margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; color: rgb(68, 68, 68); line-height: 27px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">===</font></p></div></div></div>