Yesterday an e-mail came my way with a link to a report by a Missoula TV outlet concerning the conservative platform. This platform is representative of a minority in the MT. House when you include about 20 moderate Republicans (Conservative Solutions Caucus and 42 Democrats (some more progressive others resulting in a friendly slit, unlike the Republican split).
To put into one sentence the conservatives propose to Freeze the budget, cut the income tax and expand tax credits for private schools and send some of the bed tax receipts to lower property taxes.
- Freezing the budget will reduce services. Many state workers have contracts regardless of a freeze. In the personnel world of public school teachers, recalling my school board days, the contract cost the district about 2.2% annually in servicing steps and lanes, insurance and vacation and sick leaves. A budget freeze is a last and desperate act but shouldn’t be in the same discussion when a contradictory tax cut is proposed.
- The income tax: There are problems with our income tax at the state level, most obvious is the low entry point into the highest bracket of 6.9%. When the state can afford to do so we should adjust the brackets to assist people who NEED such assistance. Minus a sales tax, the current maximum rate is pretty reasonable. A question to my conservative colleagues, “Will a reduction benefit Montana with increased good paying jobs?” Likely not. Another question, “Can we afford such a cut?” Probably not.
- School Choice: It may surprise a reader to note than I’m not necessarily hostile to providing funding (tax credits), for high quality private schools or even home schooling. But lets be honest. Such an endeavor is an act of increasing school funding, not robbing public schools. Cutting the max level of 6.9% won’t get us closer to funding more students who attend private schools.
- The bed tax: The bill being proposed by my colleague, Senator Regier is contemplating the return of a portion of the bed tax to those communities with such facilities. If the idea now is reducing property taxes, it won’t be much and won’t help cities and counties who struggle under a mil growth of one half of inflation. A state wide circuit breaker; substantial property tax relief, targeted to those who’s income has lagged behind appraisals is appropriate and expensive.
- Emergency mandates. Some of Republican conservative leadership are hostile to Steve Bullock. In all honesty, I think it’s vice versa regarding Bullock’s feelings to some of the conservatives. Let’s pretend Covid goes away. Who needs a mask in Malta? I assume there will be a bill that strips away emergency powers for both a Democrat or Republican Governor, maybe a bill to strip away local control or the authority of our county health departments. The majority of the House do not buy this plan. I’m sure the solutions people were not invited and certainly we Democrats have no interest in such rubbish. Strong language, I know. I regret the thought that a Greg Gianforte administration might subscribe to the Kansas model of starving the government or the Kentucky model that actually resulted in a democrat governor.