State pay rates, checkbook now online
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Finally, we have some transparency in state government. Our new governor put the checkbook online and the pay by hourly rates. Of course, that last one omits overtime and bonuses, if any, and you have to figure out what the yearly salary would be.
Still, it is a step in the right direction. Our last governor vetoed this idea. I think it shows the potential for the legislative and the executive branches of government to work together. Check out the site at http://transparency.mt.gov.
At the request of a local state employee, I had a bill to have public unions make their annual reports available. Labor organizations already file this report with the US Department of Labor and have been required to do so since 1959. So, no new costs.
You would think that everyone would want to know where their money goes, but I had several negative comments. What is there to hide?
There are lots of gun bills up in the house this week. Speaker Blasdel (R-Somers) has scheduled most of them for Feb. 12 and 13. We could make a “just in time for Valentine’s Day” joke, but the issues are serious. House Bill 302, sponsored by Representative and veterinarian, Krayton Kerns, (R-Laurel) would prohibit any state enforcement of a federal semi-automatic ban. He also has HB 304 that would revise concealed weapon laws to legalize most concealed carry.
I am still very concerned about the new redistricting plan. If I look at Republican/Democrat demographics, the new Senate District 6 would help me. But I am concerned with what the new plan does to Lake County. We will have parts of four senate districts, and these parts can be dominated by Flathead, Missoula and Glacier Counties. For example, the residents of our Turtle Lake area would be represented by a state senator from Missoula. If you can, check out http://leg.mt.gov/districting and leave a comment.
In the senate tax committee, we are still studying property tax reappraisals. What a mess. Most residential property owners favor a yearly or two year cycle, but agricultural and forest landowners are arguing to remain on the six-year cycle. We are running comparisons of all the costs.
The new appraisal plans call for oblique imaging. That is where images from planes can show any new construction or additions to a property. Before you get upset, just check out Google or Bing mapping. The department of revenue images are not detailed enough to show license plates or faces.
We lost former State Senator Ethel Harding last week. Please keep her family and friends in your prayers.
Leave me a message at (406) 444-4800; my cell is (406) 253-8766; and my email address is jannataylor@montana.com.
Never forget that I work for you.
