Campaign Trail News

The other day I noticed my opponents yard sign in front of a business I frequented. I stewed over this observation, defensively proclaiming, “Maybe I should stop dong business with the proprietor”. I’ve run into folks who say to me, “I simply can’t vote for a Democrat any more, I now your’e a nice person, I voted for you twice before” My response might include, “You need to follow your conscience, I’ll be representing you whether you vote for me or not…maybe you’d consider leaving this race blank on your ballot”.

Abiding by this philosophy, I though it reasonable that the proprietor promote whatever political speech acceptable to his personal views. Our past conversations have always been congenial on the political front. I had hoped he would maintain a certain neutrality when it came to “endorsing” a candidate. I would not hesitate to recommend the services provided by the proprietor. I would hope he would not hesitate to recommend services I provide in my business. Political advice? Let’s not seek it from one another, there’s no need to sever a professional relationship over a yard sign.

Political signs are being vandalized. Such acts are an extreme abridgment of one’s first amendment rights. Slashing or disfiguring a sign is tantamount to forcibly duct taping one’s mouth shut.

Yard signs have been a helpful tool for my campaign. Over multiple elections the sign has developed a name and “brand” recognition. This is especially helpful following multiple door to door campaigns. Often times we (the candidate and voter), have been able to meet one another. When we finally meet, the comment by the voter often follows this line, “I’ve seen your signs, I’m glad to finally met you”. A sign should boldly proclaim ones name. The color and style should be consistent from year to year. Sign and door knocking work well together. This year, the Covid induced campaign substitutes a regiment of calling in front of the house for door knocking. This may lead to a socially distanced conversation, a phone call or a simply a literature drop.

An opponents yard sign by whom you assumed was a supporter or neutral entity can be a let down. Nobody is neutral. When the signs come down, business goes on as it should.

Since this campaign is being done exclusively by bicycle, I should talk about the perils of cycling (and driving), on District 5 and nearby roads. A week or so ago I met with MDT Regional Director Bob Vosen to discuss my concerns. I invited my friend, Rep. Frank Garner, Kalispell to join us. The meeting was held in the Midway Mini-Mart Parking lot, Happy Valley, the heart of roadway blues, with high speed 93 bifurcating Forrest Acres, a large mobile home community, the store and the residential area known as Happy Valley. A District 5 constituent was involved in a near death experience at the corner of Blanchard Lake Rd. and HWY 93. With the diplomacy of Frank Garner, I think we were able to convince Director Vosen that this intersection is a hazard. The Iverson’s are one of four home owners on a private road (Iverson Lane), across and slightly north of the intersection of HWY 40. I’ve visited the Iverson’s two times and they patiently explained to me that one can’t safely leave Iverson onto HWY 93 unless one turns south. If you want to turn north? That’s a risk because usually there is a line of vehicles waiting to turn onto HWY 40 on the middle turn lane.

A general safety study is needed on HWY 93 between Happy Valley and Spokane Avenue. The problem is that not enough fatalities have occurred to warrant a study. I suggested to Director Vosen that HWY 93 is doing nothing very well siting such factors as too much speed, too many points of access and egress, too many game crossings and a failure to safely accommodate pedestrian and bike usage between HWY 40 and the north Kalispell sprawl.

Flathead County (the commissioners), have no interest in taking on the maintenance costs of a bike/pedestrian trail between HWY 40 and Kalispell. This is shortsighted failure to recognize the Covid induced resurgence of cycling and walking and the burgeoning recreational economy, driving growth and life style choices in the Flathead. There is some potential light at the end of the tunnel. Vosen told us that Whitefish Stage will be widened between HWY 40 and Reserve to accommodate four foot shoulders. This improvement may not be safe enough for the casual rider but equipped with helmet and rearview mirror, the improvements will be significant. It’s anyone’s guess when this will occur.

Wisconsin Ave. is at overcapacity. I suggested that the Whitefish City council petition the commissioners to request MDT to make the stretch between Baker and the The Big Mountain intersection a primary road. Apparently this is such a big deal that the HWY commissioners are reluctant to grant such status. Recently, Reserve Rd. was granted primary status with help from the local political entities and the Kalispell Chamber. The process from secondary to primary, potentially fast tracks highway dollars to a primary designated road.

The last properties were recently purchased to allow for the reconstruction of HWY 93 leaving Whitefish beyond the deadly turnoff to the Twin Bridges Road. Two years ago, campaigning on my bike in the fringes of precinct 45, west and north of town, I had a tire blow out, causing me to take a dump resuting in road rash and a disfigured finger near the then Fish House. It was my fault for riding on a crappy tire but the road, with its high scare factor, made the experience a bit more maddening.

Well, the three of us, with Vosen’s spouse waiting patiently in their Honda, had a productive meeting in the Covid era zoom-free meeting at the mini-mart parking lot. Frank and I sit on the House Transportation Committee. So, along with our constituent’s complaints, we have a heightened sense of urgency regarding our transportation challenges. Of course, Frank made it clear that the priority ought to be the immediate upgrade of Reserve Road. Rooting for the home team is an understandable position for a legislator.

There’s a terrific article in the 8/3/20 edition of the The New Yorker concerning the intrepid actions of the Army Corp of Engineers in response to the pandemic. You will have opinions concerning dams and warfare, but we ought to be unified regarding the quick response actions of the Corps in the construction of mobile emergency structures to address the overload demand for ICU facilities. Todd Semonite is the leader of the Corps . He’s a Vermont guy and a West Point grad in civil engineering. He’s also a leader! The Corps have the ability to create new products on demand. To clarify, if there is a need for a storage facility size ICU unit, the Corps have the capabilities to seek such specifications and very quickly create a product (or have a product created), with the assistance of experienced vendors. We’re really in need of good news; such as “can the federal government get anything right?” type news.

From the New Yorker article, “In a large project at the Jacob Javits Center in Manhattan, The Corps stood up Javits in four days. This was possible , in part because the military sent medical units, nurses, pharmacists and lab techs who could attend to hundreds of patients.”

The top down command approach is not kindly seen as way to attack a national scourge such as the current pandemic. Masks are political fodder. Social distancing is an unnecessary convenience of youthful indiscretions. We’re in a mess that takes the likes of Churchillian or FDR leadership to provide the unity and confidence of each and every American (I’ll take a solid majority). Leadership…now more than ever!

The Corps activities in the pandemic is a needed bulwark against conspiratorial and political mischievous rhetoric permeating the American conversation.

Affordable Housing:

Re-authorize 15 million dollars from the Coal Trust Fund towards loans for the repair of current affordable housing units in the state. This is HB-16 which I sponsored in 2019 and proved to be very successful assisting the completion loan packages state wide, serving small and large communities to upgrade facilities.

I support passage of SB18 from 2019, Senator Margie MacDonald, Billings. This is establishes a 4% state tax credit program which can be compounded with the limited federal 9% tax credits to allow new affordable unitsto be marketable for an ownership group. This is successful in Colorado to increase the inventory of housing for folks making 60% average county wages.

Support measures to incentivize the renewals of Section 8 housing. We cannot loose such stock of housing such as the loss at 265 Colorado Ave, Whitefish. Might it take an incentive for new ownership to continue the contract with HUD to be a Section 8 voucher provider?

Assure that resident groups in mobile home parks are provided first buyer offer when these affordable housing parks are up for sale.

Nursing Homes:

Increase state state funding on the long term reimbursement for nursing homes. Seek a statutory funding bill that indexes the amount to inflation on an annual basis.

Coal Trust Fund:

Improve the investment earning of the fund so as to take in common stocks and comparable products. The New Mexico Fund yields about 6% while our trust yield about 3.5%.

Diversify beyond coal.

Recognizing that Covid 19 will stunt Income tax collections, special sales tax collections affiliated with tourism and an unknown impact on property tax collections in November (though mils retain their value).

1. Implement statutory special education funding. To date, the increases in such allocations are done on a one time basis. A minimum indexing allocation will provide additional predictability for school district budgeting purposes.
2. Create and establish ANB applicability for a pre-k program. Governor Steve Bullock and Rep. Eric Moore R, Miles City presented a hybrid Pre-K program that blended some private providers with mainly public schools. It was killed by purists in pursuit of a 100% public program. Establishing a per student (ANB), eligible funding increment that contributes to a districts base budget and includes pre-K is the essential first step. Data strongly infers that a program increases student achievement. Young moms and dads need child care assistance. It’s a winner!
3. Provide health insurance assistance to districts. Health Insurance costs are disproportionally effecting districts. Less money available for funding classrooms and staff salaries. The statutory increases for funding is at the inflationary level. My bill last session aimed to incentivize the formation of large group plans by rewarding assistance for such outcomes. Possibly this upcoming legislation, additional funding can be awarded through direct payments. Less or no impact on property taxes would be my preference.
4. Create Magnet School definitions and assistance. Such facilities are school board governed and provide opportunities for students who wish to concentrate on such topics as science/math, CTE (career/technical), foreign languages and the arts.
5. Address the West Yellowstone incident of a tortured and murdered child who was removed from school to be home schooled. It was an anomaly, but a horrible incident that must never again occur. The trial is upcoming. Seek common county application and removal procedures including a plan to implement a successful home school experience for the child. Work with OPI and counties to increase accountability for home schooling parents.

Goal: Fund state government and schools at a sustainable level, progressive as practical with numerous circuit breakers to assure fairness. Build a system that is resistant to recession and recognizes current economic trends.

Weaknesses in current system:

1. Income tax is bracketed so that the max entry is a low income level. The system fails to recognize lower middle class income earners from high income earners. The maximum is 6.9% , about the average nationwide.
2. The system has a 2% discount for capital gains.
3. Corporate income allows carry backs that may attribute to volatility.
4. Property taxes fail to account for irrational appraisals and the impact on working age residents.
5. The system fails to significantly address the school bonding impacts of low taxable value districts and impacts on property taxes of more vulnerable owners.
6. Taxes on electronic sales are not collectable.
7. Select sales taxes capitalizing upon tourism with circuit breakers for reimbursement to residents do not exist at the state level.
8. Resort taxes are restricted to towns below 5,500 impacted by tourism
9. The Coal Trust Fund is restricted to earnings that are overly restrictive.
10. Decrease unfunded liabilities in PERS and TRS retirement systems

Modernizing the system:

I will likely support components of the Interim Revenue Committee tax study. I worked with Chairman Redfield of the House Tax Committee on the language of the study and promoted it’s passage. Can a sales tax be fair? Some legislators believe a consumption tax is the most equitable form of taxation. I don’t agree with that BUT with the inclusion of smart circuit breakers and such a tax limited to non-essentials and a sales cap to protect large ticket necessities; such a method can assist lower income Montanan’s. A substantial amount of the proceeds must assist flattening the regressive curve. Revenues should fund a bracketed earned income tax credit for lower income wage earners, a property tax reduction through the funding of a circuit breaker that refunds some taxes paid to property and dwelling owners who’s income is disproportional from their tax burden and consideration to a renters dividend for applicable Montanan’s.

The so called Amazon Tax recognizes that large out of state entities should have some skin in the game in generating income for Montana government and schools.

Cap gains should be reviewed as part of the Interim Revenue Committee’s scheduled tax credit review process. Consideration should be made for carve-outs for one time discounts for family businesses or property.

The state should consider funding the 80% base budget of public schools and the six mil levy for universities. This allows for increased property tax reduction with funds from a sales and income tax.

The Coal Trust Fund should be diversified to include additional sources of energy and or irreplaceable minerals in anticipation of the possible demise of coal mining. The earnings from the Trust should look to the New Mexico Trust for guidance in higher risk (but not risky?) investment strategies. This may require a constitutional change.

The legislature should pass a study bill to better understand the implications of two large pension systems currently funded at a 71% level. The system should be sustainable without dependency on legislative cash infusions. The committee should look at investment rates and the amortization schedules to assure a sound system for future generations of eligible state and school and university employees.

Your comments are welcome!

Kim Dudik: AttorneyGeneral

I served my two terms with Kim. She brings a wide breadth of knowledge to the position which sets her apart. When she declared early, during our last session, I immediately declared support. So here’s why: She’s an attorney with experience at the county government level prosecuting cases. Secondly, she is a nurse who went to law school. Our health care system is hardly that. It’s too expensive and there are many entities at fault. An AG with a medical background will be a significant asset to the position. Third; Kim sits on Appropriations and has knowledge on how the sausage is made. I’ll be bold in saying that less than fifty people have such knowledge. Fourth; she’s a four term legislator who has built bi-partisan relationships. She’s widely respected and very smart. I remember the day in the session that she showed up with a newly born and husband in tow, ready to work. She understands child issues. She a hard working Montanan, worthy of your support in the Democratic primary.

Mike Cooney: Governor

Mike is a Butte guy. Do I need to say more. Mike is a genuinely nice guy, very smart and articulate. He was present a lot in the hallways of the capitol. I think he served as an excellent liaison to the governor’s office. I think there could be a tendency to underestimate his political smarts, tenacity, and intelligence, because he might be perceived as a Butte glad hander. As governor, he will continue to be approachable and a consensus builder. His political resume is impressive; legislator, secretary of state, lieutenant governor.

The Republicans desperately want this position. I fear a conservative Republican in this seat will relish the opportunity to cull programs and shrink government on principal. The legislature will remain solidly GOP. We nee a candidate who can win. Mike Cooney is the best choice for Democrats.

Joe Biden; President

I hope to God he has no baggage in reference to a sexual improprieties with a staffer. Maybe it does’nt matter anymore. I wish his son Hunter had practiced extreme social distancing from Ukrainian natural gas interests. May he pick the perfect vice president candidate.

Before I inject clorox as a tonic for the Covid Blues, we must have a new president. Joe Biden will restore, as John McCain aptly suggested, a regular order to politics. We need department who believe in their missions, a balanced court and a rationale human being, a president who is presidential. This president could be removed by the 25th amendment. I don’t say that lightly. I believe President Trump is mentally unfit for office. We can do better. Joe Biden is the only alternative.

I wanted someone else for president (not Bernie). He chose not to run.

Several months ago, on a whim, I purchased an airlines ticket to San Francisco and three tickets (lower third base side), to an afternoon game (April 15), between my Boston Red Sox and Money Ball, and the always over achieving Oakland Athletics. My son and daughter-en-law agreed (didn’t take any convincing to those non-baseball fans). They are both engineers in Silicone Valley with residency in San Francisco.

Teams are vacating Oakland. The Warriors left to a new arena in San Francisco and then soon after their departure, they lost players to injury and free agency (Kevin Durant goes to Brooklyn). Immediately the once mighty Warriors turned into a group of sub-pedestrian no names, ungraciously shoved off the pinnacle of basketball greatness. We know the Raiders, after a short escape from Oakland, returning from that hiatus as a second rate tenant of the LA Coliseum some years back, once again were leaving for the greener grounds of an indoor extravaganza in Las Vegas, a new stadium, along with the NFL’s acceptance and embracement of gambling and specifically sports betting. (It should be noted that the MT legislature approved sports betting last session and I, though a little guilt ridden about turning my back to the purity of athletics, voted in favor of Senator Blasdel’s bill, money for the state). Generally, Republicans like gambling, go figure.

So what about the Oakland Coliseum? Well, it’s sort of shit hole (I’ll steal that term from PresidentTrump, like this is a game to be played in Haiti or the Congo between earthquakes and ebola outbreaks). Multipurpose stadiums (football and baseball), were mostly extinct by the early 90’s. Oakland, being a progressive hub for city commissions, was not inclined to mortgage the city for the hosting of professional sports. As of now, with an ample amount of community assets thrown into the mix (affordable housing for one), maybe a new baseball stadium will be built in a less desirable area of abandonment. As of right now, a mostly private investment will take place to build a Field of Dreams in Oakland.

Rats once inhabited the stadium. The Coliseum reminds me of Soviet style architecture, stark, practical, and unappealing. (I gotta check this place out!). Baseball aside, the aforementioned was motivation enough to attend a WEEKDAY baseball game. The Coliseum is not gentrified. In a way that’s sort of refreshing but from a business plan: spirals in only one direction, downward.

There is no baseball, high school sports, NHL or NBA. The NFL has a lockdown on speech so no one deviates from the line that stadiums will be filled in September. (True story, the NFL will fine teams for any disparaging or realistic comments).

When I was a kid I went to Fenway Park when tickets were cheap and players were underpaid. I should take no umbrage in this. I worried that I needed to coordinate taxes with game day. Now theres a three month extension and 1.25 billion coming to Montana. (I am relieved that with prudent reserves and federal intervention, we might weather the worst of storms). Sooner than later, the Coliseum will be demolished. Lacking a new stadium, expect a team in a new stadium (maybe in Montreal or the chaos of Mexico City (wouldn’t that be fun?). I’ve got no faith we’ll have baseball with spectators in 2020. and iI have little faith Oakland Progressives will welcome a new stadium despite Bernie Sanders love of the sport. Maybe Bernie will be the next baseball commissioner. Now that would be an oddity!

All Montana’s will have the opportunity to participate in the June 2 primary by mail. County by county, commissioners made the wise choice to protect voters, county staff and poll workers from what I hope will be the remnants of Covid 19.

Last weeks absentee voter and in-person primary in Wisconsin was a mockery of common sense. A Wisconsin legislator was quoted admonishing voters who feared in person participation as experiencing nothing more than picking up a to go order at one’s local restaurant. You think a three hour wait in line and a fast pick-up of dinner are comparable?! The politics of a mail ballot election weighed heavily on the majority (Republican), rulng the legislature along with court appointees. Wisconsin has been a middle of the road state (currently there is Democratic governor and the state voted for President Obama.) Simply said, legislative district lines need to be drawn to fairly replicate voter preference.

Wisconsin is a poster child for the negative effects, the winner take all mentality when gerrymandering is allowed to prevail. Republican or Democrat, redistricting can not be a solely political decision by a highly biased redistricting commission. You can’t blame the politicians. It’s like a high stakes athletic event; rooting for the home team backed by a large wager. Our Federal Supreme Court has weighed in on the matter; political gerrymandering is not unconstitutional. Minus a citizen referendum, those in power prefer gerrymandering in order to support the power structure.

Montana has a redistricting commission of four partisans and neutral fifth member to act as an arbitrator and tie breaker. Not the best set-up, but some assurance fairness will prevail. Maybe equity would comprise a commission of one computer (remember Big Blue the chess player?), a statistician, a political scientist, one Republican, one Democrat and a neutral member such as a retired judge, or university president or maybe just the computer? Who knows.

On the day of this post on April 10, it will be interesting to track the Covid 19 count in Wisconsin. Time will tell if gerrymandering equates to a life or death encounter for the voter.

It’s been a long time since my last entry lamenting the loss of my fellow legislator. These are times of great challenges, tumult and maybe a little self-discovery.

John Prine, the marvelous lyricist a multi-generational singer, maybe folk, maybe a bit of outlaw country died of complications from Covid. If you can’t recollect a Prine song, you’ve heard his songs by others starting in 1971. Search: “John Prine Lyrics” or “MetroLyrics”. Many of his songs became anthems for the plight of humanity.

“Paradise” is a small community of bucolic beauty in Kentucky that was turned into a large surface strip mine, acre by acre taken away by Mr. Peabody’s coal train.

“Sam Stone” is a powerful song recognizing the plight of a returning Vietnam veteran returning from warfare, addicted and suffering the mental wounds of war.

“Hello in There” concerns the loneliness of elderly people:

“Ya’ know old trees just get stronger

And old rivers grow wilder every day

Old people just grow lonesome

Waiting for someone to say, “Hello in there”

John Prine songs are thoughtful, witty, and critical of social norms. “The Tree of Forgiveness” is Prine’s last album released in 2018. It follows serious health setbacks which likely contributed to a compromised immune system and his take down by Covid.

Prine was an original genus, winning numerous awards and recognized by his peers as second to none. I’m glad he was with with me from last days in high school in Rhode Island to days in the Montana Legislature and all in between. He will live with me.