Senate and House set to meet on differences

Just a couple more days. At this time it is difficult to determine the outcome of some of the highest profile bills in the '09 legislative session, even though they have passed both the House and Senate.

Some bills are returned from the Governor with amendments that we need to approve or disapprove. One such bill is the Horse Processing Plant bill. This has been amended by the Governor and resubmitted to the House and Senate.

Neither body agreed with his amendments. I don't know if he will veto the bill or sign it the way your representatives in the House and Senate voted it out.

We did agree with his amendments to House Bill 150. This bill expands the inherent risk protection for some Montana businesses. If a business operates safely but is inherently dangerous, like rafting or skiing, they would be protected from liability.

Some House bills have been amended by the Senate and visa versa. If one house rejects the amendments of the other, the bill goes to a conference committee. That committee's compromises are then returned for a vote in both the House and Senate.

Like I stated last week, the Senate reduced the increases in the budget across the board. Inflation and several other customary increases are automatically in the budget and then new spending is added. No existing budget was reduced and all agencies in state government are receiving more than they did the last biennium.

So this week we look at the budget bill again as well as the stimulus money bill. We will review all the amendments and the conference committee reports and come up with a final product. As in the past, no one will be completely happy with the results, especially legislators like me. We do not approve of the way taxpayers' money is spent.

Only one bill to address the impact of the new cyclical reappraisal is left. The author of that bill, Rep. Jopek of Whitefish, has threatened to withdraw his support if the Senate makes major changes.

We in Lake and Flathead Counties are going to see the largest increases, even though unemployment in our area is at a record high. The mitigation plans in this bill will help lower and middle income residents, but overall we'll see increases.

One interesting process that is coming up has many of us concerned. After every 10-year census we re-apportion the legislative districts. There are 100 representative districts of about 9,400 people each. The senate seats are twice that size.

My house district is nearly 950 square miles and had about 9,400 people after the 2003 re-districting. I know HD 11 has grown in population more than most.

Representative Fleming's House District 12, just south of my district, is only 344 sq. miles. In Missoula Rep. Dave McAlpin only has to campaign in 3.6 sq. miles and I think the smallest district in area is only 1.6 sq. miles in Billings.

House District 11 goes from the new golf course expansion in Polson, includes northwest Lake County, into Flathead County past the Marion and McGreggor Lake exits on Highway 2, to the Lincoln County line. It is not an easy area to cover.

Before that last re-districting, Lake County had two house district and one that went into Flathead County on the east side. Now there is only one house district entirely in Lake County and three others that cross into Flathead, Pondera, Glacier and Missoula Counties.

We are hoping that the next re-appraisal commission will look at logical divisions, not just party affiliation. It would make more sense.

It is an honor to work for the citizens of our area, but I sure look forward to getting home. Keep leaving me a message at 406-444-4800, writing Representative Janna Taylor, Capitol Building, PO Box 200400, Helena, MT 59620, or emailing jannataylor@montana.com.