Governor vetoes several important bills

The governor signed the budget bill. I

was surprised at his statement that the Republican leaders did not

live up to their promises. Senate President Peterson and House

Speaker Milburn wrote the agreement down at the time they spoke to

the governor. The governor said the final budget is much like the

one he proposed in the very beginning. So why all the

posturing?

Besides the budget bill, the governor

signed a 1 percent business equipment reduction plan (Senator

Tutvedt, R. Kalispell). He did say that it was inferior to his

plan, but his plan did not back fill the counties for lost revenue

and Senator Tutvedt’s bill does that.

Governor Schweitzer allowed an MEPA

overhaul bill (Senator Keane, D. Butte) to become law without his

signature. It does not stop any environmental assessment. It will

just help businesses that get a permit to hire employees instead of

lawyers.

Our governor vetoed about 80 bills. He

called them “frivolous, feel-good and unconstitutional.” Here are a

few examples that are none of those things:

1. HB 59 (Belcourt, D. Box Elder) which

would have included hydropower in renewable energy portfolios.

Right now hydropower is not considered renewable in Montana.

2. HB 152 (Washburn, R. Bozeman)

required proof of residency and identity before voting.

3. HB 167 (Regier, R. Kalispell)

categorized violence to an unborn child as a crime, except in the

case of abortion. This is like Conner’s Law.

4. HB 333 (Reichner, R. Bigfork)

included bank repossessions as comparables in property tax

reappraisals. We even agreed with the governor’s amendments and he

still vetoed the bill.

5. HB 444 (Burnett, R. Bozeman) created

a budget database website and put the state budget online. It is

the taxpayers’ right to know how their money is spent.

My bill, HB 405, was called bizarre by

the governor. If a doctor does not practice defensive medicine,

meaning not over-prescribing tests and medicines, he or she would

have a bit of civil immunity. A dozen doctors from all across our

state showed up to testify in favor as well as hospitals and

insurance companies. The only opponents were three trial

lawyers.

Our governmental system is full of

checks and balances. We do not all agree, even members of the same

political party. Still, there is no reason to let the discourse get

abusive. I believe that no legislator from either party serves for

the money, glamour or accolades. We do it because we care about

Montana.

I will not be writing weekly columns

now that the session is over. I will weigh in whenever I have an

interim committee or as interesting state events require. In the

meantime, please, keep questions and suggestions coming.

My home phone is 849-6096, my email is

jannataylor@montana.com and my address is PO Box 233, Dayton, MT

59914. I never forget that I work for you.

Taylor is the representative to the

Montana legislature for House District 11.