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Barack Obama  |
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Rob Kailey is a working schmuck with no ties or affiliations to any governmental or political organizations, save those of sympathy.
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Carol Williams
Tue Oct 27, 2009 at 11:26:23 AM MST
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I've written previously here that I'm not really upset that people are expected to pay property taxes on their property values. Assets appreciate. That's one of the reasons people buy property. Taxes on property help ensure that properties get transferred to higher value uses, etc. There's some mediation that can (and probably should) be done through mechanisms like circuit breakers, but fundamentally, taxes are OK and are part of the price of civilization.
That being said, two legislators I have tremendous respect for -- Rep. Mike Jopek and Sen. Carol Williams -- have been written interesting pieces of late on the Republicans' attempts to distance themselves from a bill that they fundamentally wrote. Rep. Jopek was the main author of the House property tax bill, but ended up voting against the version that emerged from the Senate.
I still don't know all the ins-and-outs of the process in Helena, but I do know that if Jopek, Williams, and Sen. Brueggeman all opposed this legislation, it is likely pretty crappy legislation.
Read Carol Williams' take.
Update -- Rep. Jopek's op-ed is now available as well. Jopek's take is particularly interesting as he was the primary sponsor of this legislation until Essman and most Senate Republicans reworked it to the point that he voted against his own bill.
There's an interesting conversation in comments over the fact that the Governor let this bill become law without his signature. Why not veto it, some folks are asking. jhwygirl points out that the Constitution mandates reappraisals and that failure to pass any legislation would have led to far larger tax hikes (if I'm understanding this correctly). In other words, the politics of a veto are not cut and dried.
Why not haul the legislature back for a special session? Well, without having the votes lined up in advance for a solution (Jopek's original bill? Brueggeman's alternative? Frankly, I don't know the policy here well enough to judge), special sessions can become insanely costly endeavors. If the goal here is to stop waste, that's the wrong way to go about it.
In other words, if we're going to fix this problem, we have to figure out the solution aspect first, make sure it has the votes and push the legislature to reconvene or for the Governor to call them back. I don't think there's yet enough clarity on what is happening here for that to occur.
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Wed Apr 15, 2009 at 15:30:37 PM MST
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According to a press release in my inbox from Sen. Carol Williams, the Legislative Fiscal Division revised revenue estimates upwards by $17 million.
Perhaps just by chance, this is roughly the amount of money it will require to fully fund Healthy Montana Kids. So another set of GOP excuses for not funding is weakened.
There's a rally in Helena tomorrow -- Rm 303 in the Capitol -- at noon to support full funding of the Healthy Montana Kids initiative.
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Wed Apr 15, 2009 at 09:36:04 AM MST
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For the past couple years, we've seen Congressman Rehberg variously position himselves as an opponent of or a champion for the state children's health insurance program. Now is another chance for him to be a champion -- he can go to bat within his own part for the 15,000 children being left out by Senate Republicans' proposed cuts to the Healthy Montana Kids program.
From my inbox: The Honorable Dennis Rehberg
2448 Rayburn HOB
Washington, DC, 20515
April 14, 2009
Dear Congressman Rehberg,
In January you sent a letter to the Speaker of the House expressing support for the State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP). I commend you for showing leadership on this important issue. Unfortunately, this leadership is now desperately needed back here in Montana.
Last fall 70% of Montana's voters supported children's health care reform by voting for the Montana Healthy Kids Initiative (I-155). Last week, despite the overwhelming public support, State Senate Republicans cut health care for 15,000 kids from the budget and tabled a bill to implement the Healthy Montana Kids Initiative. You and I know this is the wrong direction for Montana.
In the press release that accompanied your letter you stated, "now's not the time to play politics with kids health." I couldn't agree more. I also agree with your statement that "during these tough economic times SCHIP is more important than ever." I am sure you are as committed as I am to these ideas.
Senate Democrats have exhausted every possible avenue of working with Senate Republicans to find a solution that respects the wishes of the voters. Our efforts have been repeatedly rejected. Senate Republicans need leadership - your leadership- to break this impasse.
There are only 11 days remaining in the 61st legislative session but you still have time to make a difference in the lives of 15,000 kids in Montana. I thank you for your past leadership on the issue of children's health care and I urge you to continue showing that leadership by calling Senate Finance & Claims Committee Chairman Keith Bales (R-Otter) and the Public, Health, Welfare & Safety Committee Chairman Roy Brown (R-Billings) and ask them to reconsider their actions from last week.
Thank you for all you do for the people of Montana.
Sincerely,
Senator Carol Williams The ball is in Denny's court.
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Thu Sep 18, 2008 at 08:30:42 AM MST
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So, more fun than clicking on a link and dropping dimes in ActBlue is actually going to a fundraiser and hobnobbing, maybe grabbing a plateful of food and enjoying a tasty beverage of your choice.
And I'm happy to say that tonight Pat and Carol Williams -- co-sponsored by the Missoula County Democratic central committee and Missoula legislature -- are hosting a fundraiser for several Montana candidates.
The details:
Where: At the home of Pat and Carol Willams. (Email Emily Thomas for directions.)
When: Tonight, from 5:30 to 7:30
Who: A veritable who's-who of statewide Democratic candidates.
Steve Bullock - Attorney General
Denise Juneau - State Superintendent
Linda McCulloch - Secretary of State
Monica Lindeen - Auditor
Gail Gutsche - Public Service Commissioner
How much: Suggested contributions start at $40.
Go, and hang with Senator Carolyn Squires, Senator Dave Wanzenried, Representative Ron Erickson, Representative Tim Furey, Representative Betsy Hands, Representative Teresa Henry, Representative Dave McAlpin, Representative Michele Reinhart, Representative Diane Sands, Dick Barrett, Willis Curdy, Cliff Larsen, Sue Malek, and Tom Facey.
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Mon Nov 27, 2006 at 17:26:15 PM MST
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Well, never in a million years did I think the Republicans would put someone like Scott Sales in charge of their House caucus. But they did. Consider this the beginning of a big wandering into the wilderness. Already, Sales is pissing on everyone's shoes -- fellow House Republicans, Senate Republicans, the Governor. And he seems to think that now is a time to make himself known as the state's roadblock, declaring that Republicans "have to know who our enemy is and who our friends are."
My gut says that the far right's take over of the House Republican caucus is a good sign. Sales won't be able to keep his caucus unified. He's too crazy.
Senator Mike Cooney is set to be President and Representative John Parker is set to be Speaker. Senator Corey Stapleton will be minority leader.
Update -- Just heard most of the rest of the leadership teams. In addition to Speaker Parker, Dems will be led by Speaker Pro Tem Bergren, Majority Leader Art Noonan, Majority Whips Dave McAlpin and Margie Campbell, and Caucus Chair Dan Villa. In the Senate, in addition to President Mike Cooney, we have President Pro Tem Dan Harrington, Majority Leader Carol Williams, and Majority Whips Lynda Moss and Lane Larson. In the Senate GOP caucus, Dan McGee and Greg Barkus will be Minority Whips.
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