Mike Phillips wants to represent House District 66 in
the state legislature in Helena. This is good news!
Mike has the integrity, experience, intelligence, and
skills to work collaboratively and productively for
the residents of our district and for Montana. He
advocates - and he would practice - transparency and
accountability in government, and he understands the
importance of fiscal responsibility.
Mike listens carefully. He respects people, and he is
accessible, approachable. He does his homework. He
studies the issues and considers people's concerns.
He cares, and he plays fair. As a wildlife biologist,
Mike has worked effectively with many interest groups,
built consensus, and produced good results. He would
do the same in Helena.
As shown by his efforts on behalf of renovating the
high school and building of a new middle school, Mike
strongly supports public education. And he supports
healthy waterways, stream access, outdoor recreation,
locally-owned businesses, an energy policy that
includes conservation and renewable sources of energy,
and the economic and environmental health of the
region and the state.
Mike Phillips is also a soccer Dad, a good neighbor,
and an all around nice guy. He's got my vote. How
about yours?
Anne Millbrooke
Posted by admin at 07:29 AM | Comments (0)
Much is being made of the projected $500 million that Montana will soon have in the "bank". While it's been labeled a surplus, perhaps it is best considered a timely windfall for addressing persistent needs including property tax relief.
The Republican Party and the Governor are each proposing property tax breaks. When considering such proposals remain mindful that over the last 20 years state and federal legislators have successfully shifted taxes from corporations and ultra-wealthy people onto lower and middle-class wage earners. Nationwide, the oil industry is effectively taxed at just 11%, a sweet deal that amounted to tax saving for oil companies if $1.5 billion in 2000 and more than $10 billion since 1968. In Montana annual property taxes paid by out-of-state electricity producers were cut in half by 1999 Republican legislature.
The Republican's current proposal calls for more of the same by favoring large corporations and wealthy out-of-state homeowners. Four electrical energy companies would see their taxes reduced by $3.4 million annually, and 5 out-of-state homeowners alone (holding property with a median market value of $6.7 million) would see their taxes reduced by $38,000, or an average of $7,610 annually.
Most importantly, the Republican’s proposal would make these reductions permanent. Such permanence seems misguided and unacceptably liberal given other needs. Our corrections system is about to burst with methamphetamine addicts and Montana's public pension programs are headed for a $1 billion (or more) shortfall.
In sharp contrast, the Governor's proposal would provide a $400 rebate only to Montana homeowners. Large energy corporations and out-of-state homeowners would get zip. Most importantly, the Governor's proposal calls for a one-time rebate not a permanent tax break, thus retaining our ability to meet other future needs.
The Governor,s proposal recognizes two important facts that escaped the Republicans: 1) these uncertain times justify a measured and conservative approach to fiscal policy, and 2) it is time for lower and middle-class Montana homeowners to be favored by the state's fiscal policies rather than corporations and wealthy "out-of-staters".
Mike Phillips
Posted by admin at 07:24 AM | Comments (0)