Capitol Letters
We narrowly avoided invasion... the dreaded quagga mussel would have staked a claim in Flathead Lake had the FWP not intercepted it at Dayton last week. Folks are thanking us for funding invasive aquatic species prevention. This week’s news proves it’s needed. Verdell Jackson’s bill budgets $333,500 for two years’ of inspection at our state borders, and proper cleaning or impoundment if mussels are found on or in a boat. I hope boaters understand it’s preventive – not harassment. Like straightening your airline seat for landing, it’s for your safety, not meant to annoy you.
It was Filson vs.... Carhartt at another huge hearing. The “ditch bill” (House Bill 309) attempts to clarify the difference between an irrigation ditch and a natural stream. The nerve touched here was “access.” The public owns Montana’s waters, but land-owning irrigators have property rights and fear liability exposure and degradation due to recreational overuse. They have a legitimate concern, but the majority of testimony opposed the bill. Senator Shockley stated, “This would be economic development for lawyers.” Coming from a lawyer, that thought gives pause.
Annual legislation sessions – The Senate passed a bill that will refer to the people (a referendum) to decide on shortening legislative sessions. Here’s the kicker: the legislature would convene every year. Now we meet for 90 days every two years. (It’s been said that the public may prefer we meet for two days every 90 years!) The logic behind annual sessions is that business, industry, education, etc., moves faster all the time. Senator Zinke asked rhetorically, “Two years ago, who’d heard of Montana’s Bakken oil preserves?” Should a hot topic go two years without consideration?
Mandatory sprinkler bill dries up. We killed the chance for building codes to mandate installation of fire sprinklers in new home construction. Sprinklers can save lives, but at a cost of $4 per square feet, and the likelihood of it requiring extra water capacity and maintenance, it could put home ownership out of reach of some people. A $1.79 battery in each of your smoke detectors is highly effective in saving lives.
Jobs bills pass – I carried a jobs bill which passed the Senate unanimously giving Montana wood products priority over steel on county road, highway and bridge projects whenever wood meets engineering specifications and is cost-effective. I also carried a combined bill – covering many specific sections of Montana law – that simplifies and streamlines a dozen professional board licensing procedures without compromising public safety. These bills now head to the Governor.
According to a recent USA Today, Montana public employees earn an average of $7,396 more per year (including benefits) than comparable jobs in our private sector. I’d like to see better parity there.
As I left the Capitol Saturday afternoon, the House was still in session, hammering out more elements of the major funding bill. The Senate Finance and Claims committee then takes it on. You’ve sent good comments on the value of adult education, your desire to maintain the quality of care now occurring at Montana’s Veterans’ facility in Columbia Falls, and concern that tobacco tax money goes where it’s supposed to. I learned today that the money coming to the states from the Master Settlement Agreement runs out in 12 years — which may seem like a long time in the future, but to be sensible, Montana needs to be looking ahead for when it runs out.
COMING UP: Bills on eminent domain and medical marijuana. Visit my Website (www.carminemowbray.com) and let me know your thoughts on my daily poll. I value your input.