Word from Helena: Budget 'cuts' are really cuts to increases

By Janna Taylor, Representative HD 11

Representative Blasdel sits next to me and we are not playing on our computers. Like several other legislators, we’ve chosen to get the day’s agenda of bills on our laptops. Using our computers we can get the line number copy of a bill and the fiscal note. We’re drowning in paper over here.

We heard an MTTV bill in Appropriations. The Bresnan representative told us that if the state legislature show goes off the air for any reason, they get lots of calls. The show is live for the Senate session and they show the House session later. Also, committees are televised.

I forget that I’m on TV and I get nervous if I remember. Still, here in Montana we have an open government. We wouldn’t want it any other way.

Also last week in Appropriations we passed HB 11 which is the TSEP, or Treasure State Endowment grants. Applicants are rated on a point system, with 4900 being the most possible points. 57 projects applied for the grants, 32 were successful, Dayton waste water system was one of them.

The bill’s sponsor added the rest in an amendment that passed committee 19 to 0. He explained that all the projects were close in points with number one having 3900 points and the last at about 2400.

The water system improvements for Polson were number 48 at 3164 points, Whitefish number 42 with 3232 points, Panoramic sub-division east of Kalispell was 44 with 3164 points and wastewater improvements for Columbia Falls was 52 with 2960 points.

We were very pleased for our local communities and I then was shocked when this failed on the floor. All 49 Democrats voted no and Representatives Jore and Koopman joined them. Those two do not believe that state tax money should be spent on local projects, but returned to the people to do their own local projects. The Democrats in the House suddenly decided that we should bond these projects rather than take $15 million out of our general fund.

New projection from the bean counters; the state will have $60 million more. As I said before, the astronomical increases should slow down to a more normal level of increases in the future. Still, the forecast looks good for the state tax coffers. One legislator joked that there were a lot of squirrels after the same nut around here.

Whenever you hear that Republicans cut the budget, please remember that no one ever cuts budgets. We only reduce the increases. The Republicans on Appropriations are attempting to hold down the growth of government. Our budget will still have increases above the cost of living, and just wait until the Democrats in the Senate add millions more.

In Senate Judiciary I spoke in opposition to eliminating the death penalty. I do so for myself and for our former State Senator Ethel Harding. In business, government, and Christian life, she is a model for all of us. She has testified in favor of the death penalty for many years and I will continue that fight.

I voted for HB 230 which would let local school districts certify teachers. As you all know, I think that local control is always the best. This would really help our most rural schools. Most members of the house disagreed with me and the bill was defeated 24 to 76

The Department of Transportation needs $26 million more in bonds to complete Highway 93, all but the Ninepipes section. The Environmental Impact Study for that area should be done soon. Also, the strange fences that you see, the ones that look like loading docks, are built to allow deer and elk to exit the highway but not enter.

We’ve all been working on the funding that the Flathead Basin Commission wants to establish water quality levels in the Flathead drainage. As you all know, we’re worried about the mining in B.C. Senator Barkus (R. Kalispell) believes he’s got it done, so the partial fix that Representative Witte (R. Kalispell) found may not be needed.

Keep leaving me messages at 406-444-4800, email jannataylor@montana.com or writing PO Box 200400, Helena, MT, 59620-0400.