Legislators must allocate wisely

Last Monday was a very interesting day at the Legislature. I started at 8 a.m., more than four hours before I was sworn in. The early meeting was a joint House Appropriations and Senate Finance Committee. Wisely, the State Constitution requires the legislature to balance the budget. Meeting every other year, we need to propose a budget for the next biennium. We compare the budgets prepared by the Legislative Fiscal Division, the previous administration, and that of our new governor. When we've decided how much we can spend, we have to decide how to best use our money. Only it's not quite that easy. But I asked for the Appropriation Committee. I promised the voters of House District 11 that I would make sure that our tax money is spent wisely.

Electing the Speaker of the House was remarkable, because the House is equally split between Democrats and Republicans. When that is the case, the speaker position goes to the party of the governor. Democrat Dave Wanzenried from Missoula received 47 votes and Democrat Gary Matthews from Miles City received 53 votes. All 50 Republicans and three Democrats voted for Matthews.

Republicans consider Matthews to be more fiscally conservative and we were concerned that Wanzenried would be more apt to raise taxes.

There is a budget surplus. Montana fared better than almost every other state recently. Two years ago the legislature faced more than a $200 million deficit. And 10 years ago, when the Republicans took control of the Legislature, there was a $300 million deficit. So, let's spend this money wisely.

Montana is one of only three states that does not have a rainy-day fund.

I'm working for you. Please leave me a message at 406-444-4800 or e-mail me at jannataylor@montana.com

My address is Representative Janna Taylor, Capitol Station, P.O. Box 200400, Helena, MT 59620-0400