Archive for January, 2009
Contributed by Senator Kim Hansen (D).
Health care costs in the United States are twice what they are in any other country, yet almost 1 in 5 Montanans is without health insurance. And for Montanans in rural areas, lack of insurance is secondary to the lack of available providers. I recently introduced legislation seeking the formation of a Legislative Health Policy Council. The committee will be bipartisan and composed of four members from each chamber. It is my hope that the committee members will engage not only in meetings, but research, and working in conjunction with the appropriate state agencies to develop legislation and/or strategies for improving health care in Montana. Read More→
Spotlight on Montana’s uninsured
Posted by:Lawmakers pitching in to help aide after fall
Lawmakers here are taking up collections to pay the medical bills of one of their own employees who broke her arm over the weekend, but doesn’t qualify for state health insurance and doesn’t make enough money to buy coverage on the open market. Full story by Jennifer McKee in the Missoulian here .>>
House aide’s broken arm puts face on uninsured
Jenn Phalen looked into buying health insurance, but the $300 monthly premium was too much to cover with the wage she makes as a part-time assistant to the speaker of the House. Full story by Daniel Person in the Bozeman Daily Chronicle here .>>
George Lane photo
Governor Brian Schweitzer tonight delivered the State of the State Address before the 61st Legislative Assembly in the House of Representatives Chamber. The Governor presented an optimistic tone, saying Montana is in better shape than much of the country but also acknowledged the hardships many Montanans are experiencing, “Montana’s state budget is in better shape than almost every other state, but we have much work ahead of us,” he said.
Click here to hear the address
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HB14 finds unanimous public support
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HB14, sponsored by Rep. Bill Nooney, (R) of Missoula proposes that Montana purchase critical lands put up for sale by Plum Creek Timber Company. HB14, titled “An act authorizing the creation of state debt through the issuance of general obligation bonds,” would provide authorization for the state to purchase Plum Creek lands in order to generate educational revenue, while providing for timber livelihoods and recreational access. Montana DNRC director, Mary Sexton, termed HB 14 a true “Montana bill.”
Support for HB14 ranged from logging companies to environmental nonprofits and private citizens to governmental agencies. At stake are critical lands now owned by Plum Creek Timber Company that the state of Montana has an opportunity to purchase. By purchasing lands from Plum Creek, the state could secure thousands of acres of land that not only would help to stimulate local economies and educational revenues, but also would provide a wealth of new lands for recreational access.
The hearing room was overflowing so many interested parties watched the committee hearing from the halls of the Capitol. Support like this makes clear the importance of traditional economies here in Montana, yet also the strong public desire for increased state land holdings as a mechanism for funding public education and providing for recreational access.
HB 14 has not been transferred to the Senate as of yet.
State Auditor Monica Lindeen
State Auditor Monica Lindeen says one of the first lines of defense investors have before forging a relationship with a new investment adviser is calling her office.
“When somebody does have an issue with an investment or an investor, and they think that there’s been wrongdoing or fraud the state auditor’s office is the office to call, and we can be a resource for them, not only in terms of if there has been potential fraud in their investments, but also on the front end. When people are making their investments, they need to utilize this office as well.”
"I think that it’s going to all work out, with the changes that we have agreed to. It’s not as much (spending for some programs) as I would’ve hoped, but apparently it’s more than other people wanted. As usual, we are trying to find the middle.” 
"[On term limits:] You empower the executive, you empower the lobbyists and that's not good for the system because then we lose what the citizen Legislature brings.” 