Another year has come and gone, and Montana’s governor says he’s still not getting the full story about suspected pork-barrel spending at the state’s universities.
The governor, Brian D. Schweitzer, yesterday called in the state’s commissioner of higher education, Sheila Stearns, and the presidents of the University of Montana and Montana State University to demand that they exercise more oversight over the use of millions of dollars in research money, the Associated Press reported.
The Democratic governor said he was skeptical of projects such as the Inland Northwest Space Alliance and the Joe Skeen Institute for Rangeland Restoration. He said he awaited a report on grant money that he expected months ago. Ms. Stearns said the report will be submitted by March. —Paul Basken
