Lake County legislators meet with public
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POLSON — Lake County residents crowded the North Lake County Library District meeting room on Feb. 28 to talk to their legislative representatives.
Attendees were asked to submit questions on note cards, and then Lake County legislators State Senator Carmine Mowbray, R-Polson, and representatives Janna Taylor, R-Dayton and Dan Salomon, R-Ronan took turns answering.
Questions covered a wide spectrum: medical marijuana, the education budget, worker’s compensation, unemployment, property taxes, health care, appraisals and tax reduction, renewable energy, incentives for green jobs, the budget, and the death penalty to name a few.
Regarding medical marijuana, the legislators said HB161 to repeal voter approved medical marijuana was on the table. Representative Tom Berry, R-Roundup has introduced HB 429 that would revise procedures related to the Medical Marijuana Act.
Mark Nelson had a question about a bill supposedly restricting fishing and boating access.
The legislators told Nelson the bill was aimed at Fish Wildlife and Parks and property they’ve purchased but are finding difficult to maintain.
As well as answering questions, Mowbray repeated the Republican agenda for the crowd. It is:
1: Growing jobs and the economy
2: Facilitating responsible resource development
3: Delivering educational excellence
4: Restoring individual freedoms
5: Limiting the size and scope of government
“Personally, I want to see Montana return to its former status of the ‘Treasure State.’ Keep in mind,” Mowbray said, “treasure comes in all forms: a healthy work force, educated, inspired kids, healthy families and renewable resources.”
In a later email interview, Taylor said the issue she has received the most emails about is medical marijuana, both pro and con. Also she has gotten lots of messages on returning state employees to the 2005 pay rate, but the legislature had not seen that bill yet.
In talking about the budget, Salomon said, “Our party has said we want a budget that is solid.”
The Republican take is that the governor’s budget is not stable because funds are continually being moved around.
Legislators commented that the state of Montana is taking in $25 to $30 million a month less than it’s spending.
Salomon also noted Scott Reichner, R-Bigfork, has worked hard on an overhaul of the worker’s compensation system.
“ … After five years only two percent of the worker’s comp patients are not back at work so 55 percent of the money goes to that two percent,” Salomon noted.
After a short break, the legislators were back at work on Feb. 28. Their e-mail addresses are: carminemowbray@gmail.com, dansalomon12@gmail.com and jannataylor@montana.com or at the capitol at (406) 444-4800.
