An update from Senator Fielder

Special Note: Please join area legislators in person Thursday May 16, 6pm at the St. Regis Community Center for the Sanders-Mineral County Legislators’ Town Hall.

In the world of politics, if you’re not at the table, you’re on the menu.

Unfortunately this political cliché applies to so many decisions that affect each and every one of us. Hundreds of paid, full time lobbyists and government employees flood the State Capitol every single day to promote their special interests, increase their power, or pressure legislators for a bigger slice of your tax dollars.

They heavily influence how much the government will charge you in taxes and fees, what your tax money will be spent on, what services will be cut or expanded, which of your rights will be protected or not, and new laws that could make a criminal out of you, or grant you a reprieve without you ever knowing.

Who stands up for you, the average tax payer?

As your Senator, I see it as my job to represent citizens, not the government, the lobbyists, or the special interests. There’s a lot of folks working against us. For example, are you okay with the state spending $35,000 on a glass blowing project? It just happened. It’s true, glass art can be quite beautiful. But is it the proper role of government to fund it? Apparently a majority of legislators saw no problem with this.

Our roads are crumbling, polling places are being reduced, too many essential services are underfunded. Yet there are those who successfully insist on spending your tax dollars on “wonderful” non-essential programs all the time. Blowing your tax money on glass art is just one example of why average citizens like you and I need to work harder to bring common sense back into our government.

One way you can help is to become informed of government actions, and learn how to participate effectively.

The upcoming Legislators’ Town Hall will be one opportunity to do that. At 6pm on Thursday May 16th at the St. Regis Community Center, I and other area legislators will share what we achieved this session, what we fell short on, what we will be working on in preparation for next session, and tips for how you can participate most effectively.

We will update you on efforts to improve management of federal lands; increase local input in wildlife management; control wolves; reduce state income tax; eliminate small business equipment tax; and steps taken to protect your property rights, gun rights, privacy, and other Constitutional rights.

We will also talk with you about the status of the CSKT Reserved Water Rights Compact; new laws to help veterans transition to private sector jobs; increased funding for education; tougher laws on child abuse, sexual assault, elder abuse, driving under the influence, and designer drug abuse; the status of health care reform; other topics you wish to discuss, and of course we will do our best to answer your questions.

Now that the 2013 Legislative session has come to a close, it is so good to be home among the down to earth folks and beautiful scenery of Northwest Montana. Although we are no longer convened in Helena, the legislature’s work continues throughout the year. I have been assigned to the state Environmental Quality Council (EQC), the Water Policy Interim Committee (WPIC), and was elected by my peers as President of Women in Republican Leadership (the female republican members of the House and Senate). I expect these duties to require about one week a month in Helena and the rest of the time I’ll be working from home in Thompson Falls.

You can reach me best by email at sen.jfielder@legmt.gov or write to me at P.O. Box 2558, Thompson Falls, MT 59873.