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September 29, 2006
Helena Handbag and Billings Outpost, plus a poll
Queen City News - Helena Handbag
Ethics was first out of the chute when Burns was asked whether his connections with indicted lobbyist Jack Abramoff influenced his actions. Adroitly avoiding directly answering the question, the junior senator called any charges of improper behavior on his part "baseless allegations" and "negative campaigning."
Billings Outpost
Can A nice guy finish First?
Sen. Elliott says that at the beginning of the last regular session, he thought Tester should take a stronger stand on procedural matters.
"I would keep saying to him, 'Jon, You've got to put your foot down; you"ve got to put your foot down.’ And he never did."
By the end of the session, Elliott says, he realized that Tester had been right. The session was the most amicable he had ever experienced, he says.
"Jon is not a wheeler dealer," he says. "He does not connive. If you ask Jon a question you'll get an answer."
There's a poll on the race. Tester is winning that one also.
Posted by admin at 02:10 PM
Letters to the Editor State
Missoulian
Vote as if it will really count
Many people whom I have talked to recently think that the courts have "taken care of" Constitutional Initiative 97, the dangerous and unnecessary budget cap initiative. That is not the case. This initiative and the others supported by big out-of-state money, CI-98 and Initiative 154 are still on the ballot. Until the Supreme Court rules, we will not know whether the votes will be counted. Urge everyone you know to vote as if it will count.
Bozeman Daily Chronicle
Lack of congressional accountability demands outrage
It is time to put honest people in Congress; people who have integrity and honor the responsibility to speak and act for the people they represent. Do you wonder when we will be represented by legislators who first and foremost legislate for the good of the majority of people?
If you can't say something good about somebody ...
On the front page it stated "First Zorroo, now The Mark of Tester."
If there were ever anything which would make me not vote for a candidate it would be this type of campaigning. I can only imagine that this must be a group of "Mental Pigmys" to put out something like this. I guess these people think that the citizens of Montana are a bunch of dumb sheepherders who know nothing about politics and politicians, and I would imagine that there may be a rude awakening for them come election day.
Posted by admin at 05:21 AM | Comments (0)
September 28, 2006
Governor Announces College Affordability Plan -CAP Tuition for MT Students -Schweitzer's Square Deal with Montanans
(HELENA)-Governor Brian Schweitzer today announced his intention to hold the line on tuition for Montanan's university system in the 2007 session. "It's part of my square deal with Montanans," said Governor Schweitzer. "Our Montana kids should have the opportunity to go to college - affordability is a barrier that we have to address."
The Governor's proposal:
The College Affordability Plan: The Governor's plan would give the Montana University System the money needed to hold tuition at current levels for the biennium. The cost of this tuition proposal is approximately $50 million for the biennium. This would be the first time since 1991 tuition didn't increase.
"Montana's families have been priced out of an education. Our most talented should have the opportunity to attend college in Montana and be the engines that drive our state's future economic growth," Schweitzer said. Governor Schweitzer’s parents didn't graduate from high school, but sent all 6 of their children to college. "My own parents knew how important it was to dream and provide their children with the possibility of college. Education is for life."
In addition to the "CAP Tuition" proposal Governor Schweitzer last session started the Best and Brightest Scholarship program. When fully funded the Governor’s Postsecondary Scholarship Program will provide 970 new scholarships to Montanans.
The Governor has already announced his square deal proposals for:
* Rebating Montana homeowners $100 million of one time money or $400 per homeowner
* Suspending the water tax (HB22)
* And acquiring more state parks and fishing access sites across the state.
The Schweitzer administration has not raised taxes and does not support raising taxes. Governor Schweitzer advanced legislation that eliminated the business equipment tax for 13,000 small businesses. Recently Montana was ranked number 9 in best tax code for business and 12th best in state and local tax burden by The Tax Foundation.
Supporting Documents. Note: The following documents can be found on the Governor's website
* State Funding Per University Student (Powerpoint, 43K)
* Historical and Future Resident Tuition Rates (PDF, 23K)
Posted by admin at 10:16 PM | Comments (0)
September 27, 2006
Republicans and Taxes
Update: We've added a PDF that shows what the raise in Gallatin County. It's not a 50% raise, it's a 44% raise. The gist: Republicans shift your taxes to the wealthy and well connected.
(Helena, MT) - Today, Democrats will release a new report that reveals that under twelve years of Republican control of Montana's state government, homeowners' property tax bills soared more than 50% on average. Today's figures strongly contradict Montana Republicans' election-time claim that they were responsible for reducing property taxes.
WHAT: House Democratic Leader Dave Wanzenried, Public Service Commissioner Greg Jergeson, and Montana Democratic Party Chair Dennis McDonald
WHEN: 2:00 pm TODAY, Wednesday September 27, 2006
WHERE: Montana State Capitol Building, Helena, front steps.
Documentation: We have a letter from Public Service Commissioner Greg Jergeson with the interesting details, including spreadsheet at the bottom.
For years, as a legislator, I looked for a means to assess the impact of legislative policy on the taxes paid by Montana property taxpayers. As I searched for a consistent measure of property taxes, it became apparent that mill levies and the changes in mill levies applied to Montanans taxable property were the one consistent and objective measure by which to gauge whether property taxes were increasing or decreasing. I began this project looking at the counties I served as a State Senator. As I looked at those changes in Blaine and Hill Counties, I became curious about how those changes compared to other counties in Montana.
I also needed a consistent source for the information I would be analyzing to make my assessment of how legislative policy changes the property taxes paid by Montanans. Although legislative agencies and the Montana Department of Revenue issue enormously detailed and useful information related to taxes by jurisdiction, the most consistent source I found for my analyses are the annual reports issued by the Montana Taxpayers Association in their publication Montana Taxation. Though the Association and I did not always share the same approach to taxation issues, their presentation of "Total Property Tax Levies by School District" has been consistently straight-forward and informative.
Frequently, changes in legislative policy aren’t reflected immediately in property tax outcomes and the effects are often cumulative over time. Therefore, I chose to use a longer than two year time-frame to assess the changes in property taxes due to legislative policy. The period I chose, 1993-2005, is generally agreed as the period when the Republicans dominated property tax and school funding policy in the state of Montana. During that period, Republicans frequently hailed their actions as major property tax reductions and that their party could be trusted to look out for the interests of the taxpayers.
However, the results of my study are startling. In the period when Republicans dominated the legislature and Governor's office, property tax mill levies increased in all but parts of four school districts in the State. The magnitude of those increases all around the State are startling, usually dwarfing any calculation of inflation during the period.
Though policy makers are often given to looking at averages and then deciding whether those averages are tolerable, averages frequently don't tell the whole story. For example, the residents in a rural part of the Plentywood school district in Sheridan county experienced a 190.6% increase in their mill levies from 1993 to 2005. And the residents of tiny Westby, Montana can claim the distinction for paying 1024.99 mills in 2005, the highest combined rate anywhere in the entire state of Montana. Since mills are frequently misunderstood, let me translate. The property taxpayer in Westby pays $1024.99 for every $1000 of taxable property that taxpayer owns. For those taxpayers, averages are no solace. Therefore, my study does not calculate the changes in property taxes using any kinds of averages. It reports the changes by identifiable jurisdiction.
The startling magnitude of these changes is not limited to Sheridan county in northeastern Montana. Pick counties randomly and the increases in property taxes are shown to be enormous. For example, in Beaverhead county, the increases ranged from 45.4% to 65.8%. In Flathead county, the increases ranged from 18.5% to 62.6%. In Toole County, the increases ranged from 38.9% to 75.4%. Finally, in Yellowstone County, the increases ranged from 34.3% to 69.7%.
While I did not calculate averages for counties, the Department of Revenue has made those calculations.
So how did Republicans manage this amazing feat of raising property taxes generally all over the state at the same time they claimed to be providing enormous amounts of property tax relief? Part of the answer is in the question. By granting enormous tax breaks on certain isolated classes of property, i.e. business equipment, they shifted the burden to the remaining property taxpayers, residential, commercial and agricultural. As they reduced the tax base in taxing jurisdictions, they forced county commissions, city councils and school boards to increase mill levies on the remaining taxpayers just to maintain the same level of services.
The second major contributor to increased property taxes due to Republican policy choices during this period was their refusal to properly fund the State's portion of public education. As the Republican legislature reduced the proportion the state contributed to education costs, local school boards were force to raise local mill levies just to maintain the same level of service.
This report is clear and convincing evidence that Republican policies did not result in tax reductions, they result in tax shifts. To be sure, some favored, special interests got the benefits of those shifts, the rest of the taxpayers got the shaft.
Senator Don Ryan reports to me that under the Governor’s leadership along with Senator Jon Tester and Representative Monica Lindeen, co-chairs of the school funding committee, Democrats in the Montana legislature have begun to reverse the pattern of ever increasing property tax mill levies. The level of state funding for public education established during the special session is resulting in mill levy reductions all over the state. Congratulations. We need more good public policy like that.
Republicans promise, in their 'handshake' promotion that they will lower property taxes. Given our experience with the results of their policy implemented over 12 years, I do not believe Montana’s residential, commercial and agricultural property taxpayers can afford anymore Republican special interest tax relief.
I have attached the Xcel files with the information for your county. Don't be intimidated by the information. What matters for an individual voter (taxpayer) is what their taxes did.
Sincerely,
Greg Jergeson
Chinook, Montana
Notes on methodology:
1) Total mill levies are the combined mill levies for county, city and education. The education mills include local, statewide and university mills. Special mill levies for other kinds of districts are not included in my calculation of total mills.
2) Typically, the taxpayer living within city limits pays city mills, county mills less certain mills like road taxes, and education mills. The taxpayer outside city limits, while not paying city mills, generally pays higher county mills and education mills. In the tables, the part of a school district within the city limits is indicated by (C ). Rural parts of school districts are indicated by either (R ) or just a number.
3) Statewide mills for education have not been increased since well before the beginning of the period.
4) A mill is $1 for every $1000 of taxable property. Therefore, 500 mills equates to $500 for every $1000 of taxable property.
Download file
Posted by admin at 01:08 PM | Comments (0)
Letters to the Editor State
Missoulian
It's time to bring Burns back to Montana
As a taxpayer, I would seriously object to funding Air Force One for the use of campaigning for Burns, who is still under investigation for the Abramoff scandal. I can't believe the latest remarks made by Burns about taxi drivers, firefighters and working women. If you think he's for Montana values, go online and read his voting record in the Senate.
Montana Standard
Reserved seating at the debate bothers observer
Nearby there were a lot of seats that were clearly reserved. I was surprised to see how those seats were filled by late-arriving Burns supporters.
If there was an advantage to Conrad to have his supporters so close, then I shudder to think how he would have done without them nearby.
Burns fails to show respect for working man
But the worst thing yet, he falls asleep numerous times during the Senate agriculture hearing in Great Falls, while the president of the National Association of Wheat Growers is describing industry needs.
Consider Burns’ history in upcoming election
Will Burns be able to bring home the bacon if under indictment? What if Republicans end up the congressional minority after the elections?
Or what if legal problems down the road prevent Burns from actually
finishing another term?
Helena IR
A dumb defense
The fact is that the Bush policy in Iraq is a failure, and "me too" congressmen like Rep. Rehberg who mindlessly and blindly follow their inept leader are in part to blame. He doesn’t deserve another term representing Montana.
Raise minimum wage
We are fortunate as Montanans to have a public servant who is a gentleman and a thoughtful politician. John Bohlinger, our lieutenant governor, recently spoke at our Montana Noon Kiwanis meeting
Same old story
Well, the sad truth is that the more money the workers would make, the more they would spend, making it a win-win situation for both the business and the worker.
Come next election, I hope and pray the voters will tell the Chamber of Commerce to take a long walk on a short pier.
Facts don’t change
It is public record that the Senate Select Committee on Ethics "decided not to take action on the Jack Abramoff lobbying scandal" last July. Burns had "asked the committee for a letter clearing him of wrongdoing. The Committee refused the request because of a Justice Department investigation," according to Alexander Bolton in the Aug. 2, 2006 issue of "The Hill." Although I am not on the state executive board of the Montana Democrat Party, I think I will suggest we extend our agreement with Jim Farrell, not fire him.
Pride vs. shame
Or do I vote for a Missouri transplant with greasy wheels, whose name is associated with crooked lobbyists and brings SHAME to me as a Montanan whenever his name is spoken on the national news (Conrad Burns)?
Tester versus Burns. Hummmm. A real no-brainer.
Posted by admin at 10:34 AM | Comments (0)
September 26, 2006
Letters to the Editor State
Billings Gazette
Letter: Ends justify means for GOP strategist
Karl Rove has come to Bigfork. This means Jon Tester is up against the greatest political strategist of all time. If Sen. Tester survives, it is sure to be bloody. If he wins, it could help change the course of history. A defeated Sen. Burns could break the Republican stranglehold.
Letter: Burns' attacks on Tester are false patriotism
This administration has slowly eroded the Constitution at every turn. Then Burns calls a judge who stands up for that Constitution a liberal. Well, if that is liberalism, count me in.
Letter: Tester will bring Montana values to Washington
But trust your gut, and trust a third-generation dirt farmer from Big Sandy. Vote for Tester.
Bozeman Daily Chronicle
Tester is one who represents true Montana values
It's not even so much that he can't keep his mouth shut but that he won't. Burns intends to offend. He assumes that Americans and Montanans relate to his boorish behavior. Are these Montana values? Do we really want Conrad Burns to represent us?
Montanans hold themselves apart from national politics
I feel moved to say to any reader of the Chronicle opinion page: be involved in the political process enough to care. Be involved in the process enough to gather information to make an informed vote on all the issues and be involved enough to protect yourselves and the most vulnerable among us from the tyranny of a few, be they "activist judges," radical Republicans, "blue-state Democrats" or just "Montanans of all stripes."
Montana Standard Letters page
Documentation sought about Burns employee
The question has been raised in news stories because of comments you have made at various public events as to whether Reyes is residing and working legally or illegally in the Unites States.
As executive secretary of the Montana State AFL-CIO representing thousands of organized working men and women and their families, I am requesting that you provide documentation clearing up this matter.
Take a close look at the House race
Rehberg favors "staying the course"in Iraq, even though the Bush administration has no plan for extricating our troops from the sectarian civil war raging there, a tragically useless war having nothing to do with the real "War on Terror."
'Cut and run' can have many meanings
Cut our national integrity, and run our countries honor into the toilet.
Jon Tester and Monica Lindeen will not cut and run. So join me in supporting your Democratic candidates this election.
Posted by admin at 08:19 AM | Comments (0)
September 25, 2006
Senator Jon Tester: "With Things Like the PATRIOT Act, We'd Damn Well Better Keep Our Guns."
Great Falls Tribune
"With things like the Patriot Act," Tester said, "We'd damn well better keep our guns."
Left in the West: That may be the most quintessentially Western Democratic expression I’ve ever heard.
Daily KOS: This is how a patriot acts
Posted by admin at 01:47 PM | Comments (0)
Letters to the Editor State
Billings Gazette
Letter: Bring U.S. troops home to protect our borders
I'm from a military family going back to World War I, losing family members who served, as many did.
Instead of warring overseas to the tune of American lives and billions spent, I suggest:
1. Bring our troops home to protect our borders so that families feel safe here.
2. Use the warmongering billions to reinstate a stable economic balance for the millions of Americans who suffer in poverty, loss of homes, farms, health aid and, most of all, their self-esteem and pride.
Letter: Check your history: 'Liberal' is a worthy title
overall, our greatest presidents have been liberals (Jefferson, Franklin Roosevelt, Truman, Kennedy, Clinton - and it's not my job or anyone else's to judge personal mistakes; ask any bona fide mainstream Christian theologian).
Bozeman Chronicle
...Sims then goes on to criticize the “cut and run” approach of the Democrats to solving the terrorism problem in Iraq. Was there a terrorist problem in Iraq prior to the U.S.-led invasion? Didn't 9/11 happen on Mr. Bush's watch? For the record, there are Republicans and Democrats who want to bring the troops home. If the politicians who want to bring our troops home for their safety are to be attacked for that policy, should we then argue that the politicians and citizens who want to keep them in Iraq be called killers for wanting to keep them in harm's way? What in the world has happened to political discourse in this country?
Perhaps the problem with politics in America today is not so much corrupt leaders like Conrad Burns and George Bush, but rather the people who elect them.
Sean Madden Bozeman
...or we are just opening the door to an even more fascist government. Most democracies have lasted less than 200 years. I don’t feel ours is secure any more.
Peter Aven Bozeman
Missoulian
Senator is a bronze medal winner
Burns' campaign manager, Eric Iverson, said the senator is not under investigation by the Justice Department. Burns knows he is under investigation, and so does Montana. If you want the facts, go to Time.com dated Sept. 15, 2006. The title of the story is "Who is the next target in the Abramoff probe." It's time to show the nation that we the people of Montana put the truth above all things.