Articles
Government is not Free
The TEA (taxed enough already) Party movement and the various conservative groups that have formed over the past few years are but a reflection of the frustrations that many people are feeling toward the government....<read article>
The Economy
The fiscal picture for Montana continues to slide and the suggestions of band-aids to tide us over until the legislature are being offered from all sides. Most of those suggestions come with the plea “everyone but me” needs to cut back...<read article>
Setting the Record Straight on Tax Policy
Now that the dust has settled from extended version of this year’s legislative session, we have a clear view of how Montana’s taxpayers made out. Unfortunately, it’s not a pretty picture...<read article>
We Must Plan Ahead
The population of the State of Montana is rapidly becoming one of the oldest populations in the nation. I recently sat through a presentation by the economists of Montana State University and the University of Montana who project that by the year 2030, Montana will be the 3rd or 4th “grayest” state in the United States...<read article>
Don't believe the property tax rumors
By now, many Montanans have probably heard about the property tax reappraisal. Rumors are flying about everyone experiencing a big increase in their property taxes – as much as fifty percent. As you might imagine, that kind of talk is a major concern for property owners...<read article>
It's time to limit cell phones
Last week in the legislature, I had a hearing on a bill I'm sponsoring: House Bill 49. It restricts the use of cell phones and texting devices while driving in school zones and in cities...<read article>
Accountable To The People:
Require Revenue Department Transparency
Recently I presented a bill requiring the Montana Department of Revenue to post on its website the number of its employees and their job descriptions, the performance measures used to evaluate goals and objectives, changes to administrative rules, the methods used to calculate taxable value, and other information...<read article>
Montana Stimulus Bill
As your elected Representative, I enjoy these opportunities to report back to you on what's being done in Helena in your name. It was the citizens who sent us here, and we must be accountable to those citizens...<read article>
On Education...
At the start of this legislative session, Republican leadership in both the Senate and the House announced a list of seven goals for the session: live within our means, stop the property tax increase, responsible natural resource development, openness in government, keep energy costs low, real solutions for education, and think long term...<read article>
Cap and Trade
There’s little doubt that the Waxman-Markey cap and trade bill will have a negative impact on our economy. Economists on both sides of the issue agree that it will, the question they’re debating is by what degree. It’s amazing to me that in one of the economically-weakest points in our country’s history, Congress would be contemplating passing legislation that all agree would make things worse...<read article>
Property Reappraisal Mitigation Requires Accurate Information
Prior to the 2009 legislature The Department of Revenue advised that property values for homeowners in the state were likely to increase by 40 to 50 %. Big increases in valuations were also forecast for small business commercial property and agricultural and forest lands. Without a bill to maintain revenue neutrality, homeowners and small business people would see big increases in tax bills and the state would receive a tax windfall...<read article>