Hello from the Capitol
Hello from the capitol. This marks the end of week three which was a very busy one for all of us. I introduced three bills so far: HB119, a bill to revise laws related to volunteer firefighter compensation; HB20, a bill to authorize a county social host liability ordinance and HB253, a bill to provide for recovery of costs for DUI conviction. There are at least seven more in the hopper. All bills have to be introduced and heard in committee before Feb. 21st and heard on the floor before Feb. 24 or they will die, so as you can see I have my work cut out for me. Last week the hearing of HB20 was one of the highlights of my career; to watch all those kids testify on this bill was a sight to behold. I would like to thank Denyse Traeder of Superior and all the other people for all the hard work they did to put this bill together. Committee member Liz made a special comment on the integrity and character of all the students who testified.
As chairman of The House Natural Resources Committee, my job is to line up all the bill hearings, contact the bill sponsors and to assign the dates they will be heard. So far we have had only about 15 bills but there is a possibility there could be another 100 or more coming our way. I also serve on the House State Administration Committee; this is my fourth term in this committee. So far most of the bills we’ve heard have been election bills, and the biggest one so far has been the mail ballot issue. This bill alone could save the state taxpayers millions of dollars.
As we wrap up our third legislative week in Helena, I am getting quite a few questions from constituents about what exactly the legislature is working on to get Montana’s economy back on track. The voters who sent me to represent them want results. Our Republican majorities in the state House and Senate will deliver on what was promised in November.
I campaigned on the principles of getting government out of the way, finding ways to responsibly develop our natural resources and most importantly, creating a business environment where our state’s economy can grow. Unfortunately, the bills that seem to get the most attention in the media are often the ones that have little or nothing to do with the important issues facing Montana. Don’t let the stories fool you. While the past few weeks have been busy with committee hearings and initial floor votes on a wide range of subjects, that does not mean we have lost sight of our main goals. As Speaker of the House Mike Milburn told us the other day, “There is a time to work and a time to rest. This is not the time to rest.”
After hearing input from small business owners, entrepreneurs and hardworking folks from across the state, my colleagues and I have come up with a number of legislative solutions. So beginning this week, Republicans in the House will be rolling out the first of our major policy proposals designed to create sustained economic development opportunities for Montana small businesses and families. We want to make this an even better place to live and work. Employers and employees should not have to move to neighboring states in order to find a friendly business climate and good paying jobs.
I have heard from many of you about what is important to you and your families, both during the campaign and in the short time we have been in session. As we continue to present our ideas for Montana’s future, I look forward to your continued input on the issues that matter most.