When did education turn into daycare?
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The water compact with the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes was heard in House Judiciary last Saturday. The Chairman, Jerry Bennett from Libby, asked all the members to allow a Saturday committee because there were so many people that wanted to speak. Committee was in session from 10 a.m. until after 7 p.m.
It will be on the House floor this week and there are a few Republicans that will join all of the Democrats to get the bill passed. As I have always said, I am in favor of a compact, but there are too many things in this compact that need to be changed. No legislation is perfect, but this one is forever.
SB 405 — introducted by Ed Buttrey, R-Great Falls, and called “Buttreycare” around here — passed the legislature. Many people are in favor of Medicaid expansion, but you need to know that by 2021, taxpayers in Montana will pay too much. The 2021 legislature will have difficult decisions. The cost of Medicaid expansion will require your representatives to chose between Medicaid, corrections and education spending. We will spend our children’s future.
Speaking of money, we passed HB 2, the budget bill, in the Senate. Just think, in 1967 it cost $100 million to fund Montana for two years. Now? More than $10 billion. And real spending for Montana families has not improved since the early ‘80s.
There are always political games played around here. This time, not as much on HB 2; there’s been more wheeling and dealing on the water compact and Medicaid expansion. Here’s one example: every bill in the House that spends more than $25,000 goes to the House Appropriations Committee for review. That is, except Buttreycare. In a deal with Democrats, 11 so-called Republicans voted to exempt this one bill from that promise.
Governor Bullock vetoed all attempts to reduce taxes. His first veto said that the income tax reduction only helped the wealthy. Senator Ankney, R-Colstrip had what he called the working man’s and woman’s income tax reduction: the Carhartt-wearers bill. The governor vetoed that bill, too.
Many people are in favor of the governor’s pre-K plan, what he calls “Early Edge.” Of course we knew when all-day kindergarten was enacted in Montana, that pre-K would be next. The initial cost will increase. We have been told by many smaller school districts that they do not have the space or staff. Rural schools already have a difficult time finding teachers now.
Many studies show that at-risk and non-English speaking students are helped by early education, and there is little or no improvement in other children. Let’s use our Head Start program more wisely.
A few Early Edge proponents even said that this is better than daycare. And it is less expansive than daycare. When did education turn into daycare?
Many tax paying childcare businesses will close. They ask, “How do you compete with free?”
I forgot to mention two more wonderful Senate pages, Remington Janeway and Hannah Vaughan. The page director told me that our area has wonderful youth.
Thank you for all the comments. I read them, but there is no way I can answer them all. Leave me a message at 406-444-4800. My cell is 253-8766 but it is usually off. Email me at sen.janna.taylor@mt.gov. Remember that I work for you.
