Where's the truth in the wolf issue? Tester & Rehberg

So, was U.S. Rep. Denny Rehberg really “lying,” as alleged last week by Democratic U.S. Sen. Jon Tester’s camp, when Rehberg said he and fellow House Republicans played the lead role in solving Montana’s wolf dilemma earlier this year? And was Tester really the man who got it done, as he describes, by ensuring that a giant budget bill contained language that overturned a federal court decision and returned management of the wolf back to Montana wildlife officials? After spending a few days reporting on the issue, I’m confident each man can claim some credit for trying to tackle this issue, which, in the short term, has led to the enabling of Montana wildlife officials to “manage” the federally protected wolf and allow a wolf hunt in Montana. But as for the gritty detail on who did what, who was most effective and who may be stretching the truth — that’s not as easy to come by, especially for reporters 2,500 miles away from Washington, D.C. More on that in a minute. But first, a quick summary of the wolf issue and the Tester-Rehberg flap over it...more