Education funding is on its way

John Brueggeman,

Senate District 6

Education - Last week the Governor and Legislative Leadership a held a press conference stating that the education funding formula would be studied over the interim. The bill to define a basic system of quality education was on the fast track through the Senate with the idea that once this was passed the discussion of how the system would be funded could begin. The new plan outlined by the Governor and Legislative Leadership proposes eighty million in "stop-gap" funding for education over the next biennium and creates a study commission to develop a new funding structure. The current delay arises because the education community that was united in supporting the school funding lawsuit is less coordinated when it comes to creating a new funding formula. Nevertheless, a number of legislators including myself are committed to providing a remedy to the court's decision this session. The last time the structure was overhauled, the legislature managed to accomplish this in the regular ninety day session and with a large budget deficit to overcome. With a healthy budget surplus and experienced human resources within staff and the Legislative body I am confident a solution can be achieved in these days. The school renewal commission was established by the last legislature to address this issue and to acquiesce our responsibility to solve the problem to another interim committee is a step backward for our schools.

I have received a considerable amount of correspondence regarding the Statewide Health Insurance Pool for education. Last session I strongly supported this common-sense legislation to reduce the administration costs for each district and broaden their risk pool to help make insurance more affordable. This session is no different and I hope this bill (HB 124) reaches the Senate and is ultimately successful.

Senate Bill 318 - Revising Registration and Titling for Quadricycles. I have heard a great number of comments from sporting people of all varieties who were very frustrated to find that to operate their quadricycle on any public road required it be street legal. Unfortunately, this change was brought about by the federal government, but this bill will help alleviate some of the problems with this policy shift. Because of the federal change to require street legalization, current state law requires an operator of a street legal quadricycle on public roads to have a motorcycle endorsement. As a person who has held this endorsement since the age of fifteen and spends a considerable amount of time on motorcycles and quadricycles I can attest to the fact that the handling of these machines couldn't be more different. This bill eliminates the requirement for a motorcycle endorsement to operate quadricycles on public roads and instead implements a minimal safety course that can be taken at a variety of locations including motorsports dealerships and on-line through the Motor Vehicle Division. The federal policy change clearly displays a lack of understanding about the way of life for most Montanans. This measure represents a best faith effort on behalf of a number of groups to alleviate some of the burden for our citizens.

With respect to these and all issues before the Legislature, I would like to hear from you.