Gov. Brian Schweitzer is touting another round of lucrative state oil leases — and also taking aim at Republican critics.

The Montana Land Board on Monday approved a recent round of leases for oil rights to state land. The state will get $3.5 million for the right to drill on 273 tracts.

Schweitzer says the state continues to do well, although not nearly as well as next door neighbor North Dakota.

The governor says Republicans running to replace him are wrong to blame Montana's taxes or regulations for the disparity. Schweitzer argues North Dakota has more activity because it has more oil.

Former congressman Rick Hill agrees that geology is a big reason. But he argues some burdensome regulations are slowing all areas of the state's economy — including oil.

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