Employer listening sessions focus on job creation, growing the economy
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You should see my two shiners. I fell down the marble steps at the capitol and broke my nose. I’m healing fast, but look like I’ve been in a fist fight. The Helena emergency room doctor, Dr. Noles, is District Court Judge Christopher’s brother-in-law. Montana really is one small town spread way out.
Last week was full of classes, mostly directed at our new legislators. We’ve tried to coordinate the policy and budget committees. Term limits do not give freshmen legislators enough time to get up to speed.
Last Saturday was special. We had a large group of employers from across the state, some from our area, speak to the legislature about job creation and what we can do to help grow our economy. More than 100 people traveled to Helena.
There were four listening sessions throughout the capitol and they were televised throughout the day. In Ronan and Polson, TVMT can be found on cable channel 97 and in Kalispell it is 67. Also, committees and floor sessions can be listened to and watched over the internet. Go to http://leg.mt.gov and scroll down. Watch the house session on Thursday or Friday to see my black eyes.
The jobs listening sessions came up with several themes. First of all, our very high workers' comp rates were discussed repeatedly. Claims are never closed. Work comp injuries cost more to treat (bureaucracy and litigation) than the same injury not work-related. Non-work injuries are sometimes covered as work comp.
We have a comprehensive workers' compensation bill nearly ready to present. Representative Reichner from the Bigfork area has been working on this for many months.
I have been working with two senators on tort reform. This is difficult to get done but would help our business environment. Also, we’re working on a medical economy-of-effort bill. This would lower medical cost for all of us.
The second often-repeated comment at the jobs listening session was the need for less red tape. A construction company told us that the storm water permit in Wyoming is one page. The Montana form is seven pages and often requires four or five more additional pages. North Dakota agencies help with all the forms and requirements and in Montana they hide behind the hill to catch a company doing something wrong.
Thirdly, private businesses cannot compete with government. Firefighting planes, helicopters, trucks and workers sit on the sidelines of a fire while those of the state work. Yearlong, we have to hangar and keep up all the equipment and pay the workers with our tax money.
I put my name in for consideration for Senate District 6 because I felt that I could best serve the citizens of our area from the senate. I withdrew my name when the commissioners decided to play political football and delay the process.
I look forward to serving the citizens of our area in the Montana Senate two years from now if elected. In the meantime, I will continue to work for you from the House.
Continue to contact me with questions and suggestions. My office phone is (406) 444-1507, cell phone is (406) 253-8766, email jannataylor@montana.com or write me at State Capitol, P.O. Box 200400, Helena, Mont., 59620.
