Market forces have formed to support a strengthening market for business mergers and acquisitions in 2013. The sale of privately held businesses are normally motivated by a combination of personal and family factors, the specific business situation, and economic and industry conditions.

Montana born Heather and Aric Clark look forward to moving to Sunburst to take over Aric's family ranch someday, but someday is several years away. A graduate from the University of Missoula with a degree in Anthropology and a background in Forestry Club, one might think it odd to learn…

When government wants to accept as sound-science and set public policy regarding the application of scientific facts, based upon majority rule, be afraid, be very afraid. We have all seen those TV spots where somebody with a camera and microphone run around the streets asking people questions like "Who is…

During the Energy Forum I heard comments about how quickly MDU in North Dakota was able to get the building of their new refinery permitted. It took just a few months. I could not help but sadly reflect upon the almost certain knowledge that were they to build that same…

"German policy has declared energy to be a luxury. The poorest will notice first" Professor Helmut Alt, University of FH Aachen "The European Union is wracked by sovereign debt, budget deficits, monetary weakness, slow economic growth, trade deficits with the emerging economies, an ageing population, and mass unemployment – but it…

If talk is cheap, political talk is even cheaper. We can thank our governor for reminding us of this, when he vetoed two bills, unanimously endorsed by the PSC, which would have provided consumers with well-deserved protection against rising energy costs. Steve Bullock won the election by convincing enough people…

For most of his life Kevin Harris worked in lumber mills like so many others in the Flathead did. Logging and mill jobs in the robust, forested areas of Northwestern Montana provided pride and prosperity for years, until curbed dramatically by new regulations. Without work for nearly three months and…

Here's why the very popular alliance commonly called "public-private partnerships," or why excessive control of business by government, are not good in terms of maintaining a level playing field in the market or preserving our economic liberty: General Electric, Co. has been quietly informing gun shop owners that the company…

Montana exports had a record year in 2012—led by grain, Montana exported over $2.48 billion in high value grain last year. We're producing products and commodities that the world wants, and all our communities benefit from the resulting jobs, economic growth, and tax revenue. But to continue to thrive in…

The good news is that business is terrific right now for the professionals who are paid to prepare tax returns. The bad news is that the tax code that ensures their success is weighing down an essential sector of job creation: small business. Ninety-one percent of small-business owners surveyed recently…

After three months of sustained growth, the March NFIB Index of Small Business Optimism ended its slow climb, declining 1.3 points and landing at 89.5. In the 44 months of economic expansion since the beginning of the recovery in July 2009, the Index has averaged 90.7, putting the March reading…

The publisher of a national industry magazine, the Oil Patch Hotline, recently called Montana's former Gov. Brian Schweitzer "a loose cannon." He also underscored the negative impact to Montana and other states by the federal government's refusal to forward royalty payments on the sale of oil and gas leases.

Is stream access doomed? That is the question sportsmen are whispering across Big Sky Country, as a special interest group pushes a bridge access case it lost through the state appellate court. At stake is the state's claim of legal control over 68,000 miles of privately owned stream bed. That…

We're against expanding Medicaid during Montana's 2013 legislative session. You knew that. In short, it's bad welfare policy, bad economic policy and bad health care policy. * Medicaid expansion will cost Montana's businesses and taxpayers $50 million after all the 'free' federal money, jobs, tax revenues and all the other so-called…

The Montana Farm Bureau, along with the American Farm Bureau, has expressed strong dismay that the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) allowed special interest groups to gain private information about farmers and ranchers in a release of information under the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA). Working with counsel, AFBF has…

Montana newspapers report on March 29: "The governor also signed a bill ...sought by gun advocates that would make the state's list of concealed weapon permit holders confidential." No dah! Just exactly as proclaimed in a previous editorial. Government will never miss an opportunity to cloak its activities. Montana citizens…