News you can use
News you can use
Editor:
For months, Republicans in Montana have tried to cast our state as the most bloated, broken, bankrupt state in the nation. Our Republican colleagues would have you believe we Montanans are responsible for the global recession, that we've lost our innovative spirit, and that we just can't compete anymore.
But let us tell you about the Montana we see.
We see a state that the U. S. Chamber of Commerce ranked No. 1 for entrepreneurs and business start-ups. We see a state that Forbes magazine called one of the fastest climbers among business-friendly states. We see a state with the fastest growing oil production in the nation. We see a state that just opened its first new coal mine in 29 years, producing 235 good jobs. In Butte, we're proud of the new foundry and 60 workers that are making titanium parts for customers around the world.
Montana isn't broken, and come on, Montana didn't cause the financial mess that brought our nation to its knees. But you know what: It will be our Montana values and common sense that carry us through these tough times.
At the Legislature, we'll get our work done. We'll make sure government lives within its means — just like in 2009, when we passed a balanced budget and left $300 million in the bank to ride out the downturn we saw coming. We're still in the black today, and the budget we pass for the next two years will keep us there. At the same time, we will eliminate the business equipment tax for most small businesses, reduce homeowners' property taxes, and keep a healthy balance (more than $100 million) in savings to protect against any more bumps in the road.
Montana runs pretty darn well. That's not to say there's no room for improvement, and in these leaner times, we'll need to make some hard choices and be more effective in delivering the core services that our citizens deserve. But if we remember what has worked in the past — investments in our people, in education, in creating opportunities for all Montanans — we can build on our strengths and move Montana forward.
We know what we need to do. We had nearly 100 business leaders from across the state in Helena last weekend to share their ideas. Not one asked us to roll back education and workforce training. Not one asked us to eliminate the laws that preserve the natural beauty of the state and protect our families. Not one asked us to fix problems that don't exist.
Businesses asked for stability and fairness. They asked us to preserve our investment in Montana's people with a quality education system at all levels. They asked us to find ways to end instability caused by rate hikes for Workers' Compensation Insurance and health insurance.
We have a lot of work to do in the next four months, and we can't be distracted with the old ideas that have been rejected in the past. Instead of dire predictions about our future, we need to be focused and innovative building on Montana's strengths for prosperity that lasts.
Sen. Carol Williams, D-Missoula, Senate Democratic Leader
Rep. Jon Sesso, D-Butte, House Democratic Leader
Editor:
For months, Republicans in Montana have tried to cast our state as the most bloated, broken, bankrupt state in the nation. Our Republican colleagues would have you believe we Montanans are responsible for the global recession, that we've lost our innovative spirit, and that we just can't compete anymore.
But let us tell you about the Montana we see.
We see a state that the U. S. Chamber of Commerce ranked No. 1 for entrepreneurs and business start-ups. We see a state that Forbes magazine called one of the fastest climbers among business-friendly states. We see a state with the fastest growing oil production in the nation. We see a state that just opened its first new coal mine in 29 years, producing 235 good jobs. In Butte, we're proud of the new foundry and 60 workers that are making titanium parts for customers around the world.
Montana isn't broken, and come on, Montana didn't cause the financial mess that brought our nation to its knees. But you know what: It will be our Montana values and common sense that carry us through these tough times.
At the Legislature, we'll get our work done. We'll make sure government lives within its means — just like in 2009, when we passed a balanced budget and left $300 million in the bank to ride out the downturn we saw coming. We're still in the black today, and the budget we pass for the next two years will keep us there. At the same time, we will eliminate the business equipment tax for most small businesses, reduce homeowners' property taxes, and keep a healthy balance (more than $100 million) in savings to protect against any more bumps in the road.
Montana runs pretty darn well. That's not to say there's no room for improvement, and in these leaner times, we'll need to make some hard choices and be more effective in delivering the core services that our citizens deserve. But if we remember what has worked in the past — investments in our people, in education, in creating opportunities for all Montanans — we can build on our strengths and move Montana forward.
We know what we need to do. We had nearly 100 business leaders from across the state in Helena last weekend to share their ideas. Not one asked us to roll back education and workforce training. Not one asked us to eliminate the laws that preserve the natural beauty of the state and protect our families. Not one asked us to fix problems that don't exist.
Businesses asked for stability and fairness. They asked us to preserve our investment in Montana's people with a quality education system at all levels. They asked us to find ways to end instability caused by rate hikes for Workers' Compensation Insurance and health insurance.
We have a lot of work to do in the next four months, and we can't be distracted with the old ideas that have been rejected in the past. Instead of dire predictions about our future, we need to be focused and innovative building on Montana's strengths for prosperity that lasts.
Sen. Carol Williams, D-Missoula, Senate Democratic Leader
Rep. Jon Sesso, D-Butte, House Democratic Leader
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