House Republican Floor Leader Mike Lange, R-Billings, said Schweitzer has been telling new Republican legislators that he will personally campaign against them during the 2006 election season and will veto their other bills if they don't toe his line on ethanol, wind energy and ethics laws.
Schweitzer has listed these issues among his top priorities this session.
"I've never heard of a governor who used the bully pulpit of his office to do that kind of thing to an individual freshman legislator," said Brown, who is in his fourth term in the House. "It's just not proper."
But Schweitzer's spokeswoman, Sarah Elliott, called the allegations of intimidation and harassment "silly."
"The governor works for the people of Montana," Elliott said. "It's part of his job to do the best he can to make sure their interests are represented."
Lange, however, said the governor has threatened or harassed some GOP lawmakers seven or eight times since the 2005 Legislature began in January. Lange said the new legislators have been making their complaints to House GOP leaders.
"When we sit down with him, I will name names," Lange said. "He's going to get it point-blank from me."
For example, Lange plans to tell Schweitzer that he inappropriately harassed Rep. Llew Jones, R-Conrad. Jones, who sits on the House Agriculture Committee, received a telephone call from Schweitzer after he voted against a bill that would have expanded the production and use of ethanol in the state.
The bill, strongly backed by Schweitzer, was tabled in committee. Jones said Schweitzer made it clear in the phone call that he was going to take action against the Conrad Republican for his vote.
"He did indicate he was going to let the agriculture publications know," Jones said. "If necessary, he would talk to people up in the area."
Jones, a solidly built farmer and rancher, said he doesn't ever feel too threatened by anyone. But he did say he felt "disappointed to be singled out."
Republican leaders call Schweitzer's actions unprecedented.
"I've never seen a governor who's constantly hauling people into his office," Brown said.
Brown and Lange said that if Schweitzer does personally campaign against GOP lawmakers who voted down his legislation, then they will be right on his heels campaigning for the incumbent.
"Threatening our caucus members is unacceptable," said Brown, who has repeatedly urged his fellow Republicans to wield their power in the equally divided House this session by voting straight party line.
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