Setting the record straight
Dear Editor,
I’ve had about enough of these goofy giant post-card campaign ads showing up in our mailboxes these days. The Montana Republican Party and the Montana Democratic Party somehow think we’re gullible enough to let some little negative out-of-context snippet be a reason to vote for or against our neighbors. Governing is a complex task, and requires complex thought. I respect all of our local candidates for having the courage of their convictions and running for office. They don’t get rich, or powerful, or any special treat for their efforts. I believe they all have the interests of our schools and our jobs and our future at heart. They simply have different perspectives and solutions they favor, and a voter should do all he or she can to understand those differences in deciding their vote. One of the best ways is to actually talk to the candidates in person. Relying on these little spiteful ads would be a mistake.
The most recent mailings from the Republican Party have been the most negative and ridiculous this year. Last cycle, it was a Democrat ad that set me off; several of us complained and they stopped mailing them this direction. I actually contacted Pat Ingraham about this year’s editions, and to her credit, she said she has asked that they don’t do that with her name. Apparently, they’re disregarding her, unfortunately. I feel someone must do something to shed light on the oversimplistic and incorrect jabs made by these mailings. In a local election, there’s really no place for whipping up misplaced ire.
The first mailing actually accused Jim Elliott of wanting to keep jobs out of Montana, and siding with extremists, making a mockery of some of his voting record. Because Jim supports stream access, he is somehow linked to environmental “extremists.” This is so absurd it almost asks to be ignored, if it weren’t so pernicious. Get to know Jim. Give him a call. He will blow you away how well versed he is and how he works for jobs and tax fairness and helping out you and me.
The second mailings really got me though — the ones saying the Democrats have somehow failed our students and that Pat Ingraham and Greg Hinkle have a plan for education. Pat and Greg haven’t said anything about their plans for education in statements to the paper or at legislative forums. Now I see that their plan, as sent to us by the Montana Republican Party in two mailers this week, is exactly the same plan. What a coincidence! By the way, no offense is intended toward Greg and Pat. This is just another party attack piece sent out to confuse the public. I’m glad to see the Republican Party having an interest in education funding. I suspect Democrats will appreciate them coming on board.
A little “setting the record straight” on the education issue: I could not find evidence of the Democrats opposing funding education and job training from the increased state energy revenue, though I’m sure there’s some out-of-context vote that could be construed that way. I do note that in 1999, the Montana Republican Party controlled the governor’s office, the house, AND the senate. Early in the session, they passed a cut in business equipment tax, from 6 percent down to 3 percent, which was a huge chunk of tax relief. But it was the same percentage across the board, so of course, the biggest corporations got the biggest share of the cut. Obviously, 3 percent for Exxon, PPL, Northwestern Power, Burlington Northern, and other huge corporations operating in Montana, meant they got millions of dollars in tax cuts, which meant millions of dollars of lost revenue for our schools. (For small businesses, 3 percent doesn’t mean nearly as much in the way of real dollars, and makes less impact on state revenue.) Then, at the end of the legislative session, they took up education, but, surprise, surprise, they didn’t have any money left for education, because they didn’t bring education up until LAST, after the big giveaway to the large corporations.
As the state share of education funding dropped, the state government had to raise local property taxes, beyond our usual local mil levies that we vote on. So some small local businesses actually got an increase in property taxes bigger than they received in equipment tax relief! And the rest of us got an even bigger tax increase. And, schools were still so poorly funded, that the State Supreme Court mandated more funding, which was provided in 2005 by a government led by the Democrats. Not that schools are well-funded even yet, but at least they are able to function.
If the Republicans are wanting to further education spending this session, and also reduce local property taxes to make up for this past problem, GREAT! Go to it! And perhaps we could give small business an exemption from the business equipment tax altogether, so they actually DO end up with a break. Work together on this and other important issues! Just don’t try to rewrite history.
Nasty little notes in our mailboxes do not help Montanans get the solutions we need.
Carolyn Hidy
Trout Creek