News from the Capitol

Now that the legislative session is more than two-thirds over, I'd like to bring the people of Senate District 2 up to date on my activities at the State Capitol.

In the past two weeks I have presented two bills in legislative committees that resulted in hard-fought, and very interesting, hearings. My conservation easement legislation, which would add millions of dollars to the school trust and conserve state lands for public access, had a two and one-half hour hearing in the House Natural Resources committee. Four-fifths of the Land Board members spoke on my behalf, including Lt. Governor Bohlinger and State Auditor Morrison. Whitefish's Charlie Abell also spoke very effectively. I am anxiously awaiting the vote.

I also stood before the Senate Taxation committee for two hours presenting a bill that would register Montana's severed mineral rights. Severed rights are those that are owned by individuals who do not own the surface rights above. There is no database in the State that keeps track of this information. Successful passage of this bill could serve to reduce property taxes while consolidating mineral rights for greater productivity. I expect the committee to recommend further study of this important issue between now and the 2007 legislative session.

My school election bill will be on the House floor for vote next week, having moved through the Senate and House Committees on Education and the Senate. My Resolution on a Transboundary Agreement (Canada/US) has also been through the Senate and has been heard in a House Committee. It awaits a vote on the House floor. One more resolution protecting the integrity of Medicaid funding has successfully moved through the Senate and will be heard in a House committee shortly.

Recently, I attended a meeting with the Governor, Lt. Governor, mayors (including Andy Feury), and Amtrak leaders to try to save our passenger rail service. The group received a clear message that this service is essential to the economic vitality of the North Valley. As I prepare to present the Public Health and Human Services budget to the Senate, my work to create a comprehensive system of mental health crisis centers continues.

There are many hard working, sincere people in Helena who are looking after budgets and programs. Our philosophies sometimes differ from one another creating the tension that results in better balance and better legislation. The childishness and finger-pointing so often reported in the press is apparent and unfortunate. Please know that only a minority of legislators do it.

Regardless of last week's comments by Rep. Roy Brown in the Hungry Horse News, my goal and the goal of the majority of legislators I know, is to provide better services to those Montanans who cannot fend for themselves, while being responsible with the budget and without raising taxes. That's why we're there.

Sen. Dan Weinberg (D-Whitefish)