Archive for Jobs and Economy
Courage, Not Cuts
Posted by:Nearly 500 people came to the Montana Capitol today to rally against the GOP’s unnecessary cuts to vital services such as public education, health and first responders.
These cuts are not only disturbing, they are unnecessary. The Governor has presented the legislature with a balanced budget, that fully funds these services. These cuts reflect the values of the GOP legislators, because they are unnecessary.
At the rally, a Montana firefighter spoke about the good work that our public employees such as firefighters, nurses and teachers do. These are the people that protect our communities from disaster and disease and help our children achieve their full potential. Recently, firefighters have come under fire from GOP lawmakers. He also spoke about the need for courage in our budgeting process; not cuts.
As we come closer to the half-way point of this legislature, budgetary debates are likely to heat up even more. It’s important that lawmakers know Montanans don’t support these unnecessary, devastating cuts. These cuts would hurt our economic progress now and in the long-term.
For The Love Of Montana
Posted by:Today, Montanans from across the state descended on the Capitol to talk about the importance of a clean environment. Superintendent Denise Juneau joined them to talk about the impacts of these GOP choices.
For nearly 45 days, we’ve watched the GOP attempt to gut longstanding environmental protections in the state. We’ve also witnessed as they have introduced legislation that seeks to kill jobs in the renewable energy section. These decisions would be devastating to our rivers, lakes, streams and economy.
They have:
- Embraced global warming
- Sought to amend the “Clean and Healthful Environment” clause of the Montana Constitution
- Killed proposals to increase renewable energy jobs in the state
This is only a few of the proposals they have pursued (or opposed). Rather than focusing on creating jobs and making Montana a better place to live, they followed an agenda that does neither, in fact it would kill jobs and ruin our hunting, fishing and recreating areas.
Creating Jobs Through Clean Energy
Posted by:The Senate Energy and Telecommunications Committee today heard Senator Kendall Van Dyk’s bill that would increase the amount of energy that power companies must produce from renewable sources, such as wind and solar. Currently, these companies must get 15 percent of their power from renewable sources by 2015. If this bill is signed into law, these companies would be required to produce 25 percent of there power from these sources by 2025.
This bill serves two purposes. First, it will help to maintain a clean environment in Montana, this will let Montanans keep the beautiful state they’ve come to enjoy and will help our tourism industry continue to thrive. It will also bring new jobs and businesses to the state.The initial standards for renewal energy in the state was passed in 2005. After its passage, more than 600 jobs were created across the state. These jobs served to boost the economies of Montana’s rural communities.
Sen. Van Dyk’s bill will also lead to lower costs for consumers. Under these standards, energy production companies will be able to purchase less foreign sources of energy. Instead, they’ll be able to rely more on wind and the sun. Which we have plenty of here in Montana.
This is the type of legislation that Montanans want to see from lawmakers. It has a proven track record of success. It creates jobs. It maintains the environmental quality of the state. And it does all of this, without costing the taxpayers money.
Today, the Joint Appropriations Subcommittee on Health and Human Services voted to privatize the Montana Veterans Home in Columbia Falls. All Republicans supported this action, all Democrats opposed it.
Because of this measure, the home will be run in a way that values profit over the care of our veterans. Our veterans deserve better than this. The residents of this home were willing to risk their life defending our country, and this is their thanks? Quality treatment of these veterans should be the driving factor in decisions relating to the home.
Sen. Dave Lewis (R-Helena), the sponsor of this measure, says that reducing costs of operating the home is the main reason for this decision. However, he admits that the cost savings will likely come from cuts to salaries and benefits for the employees of the home. This will make it harder for the home to recruit qualified and experienced workers to care for our veterans.
The Veterans Home employees 143 full-time employees. Because of this proposal, these jobs are all at risk.
So let’s be clear, this measure compromises the quality of care for our veterans and risks 143 jobs in the Columbia Falls area. Is this what Republican lawmakers were sent to Helena to do?
Investing In Our Future, Creating Jobs Today
Posted by:The House Appropriations Committee today heard Rep. Galen Hollenbaugh”s Capital Projects Bonds Bill. This bill provides communities with bonds to provide a jolt to their local community, by building new facilities and improving existing ones.
This bill has been widely hailed as the first major jobs bill of this legislative session. If passed, this bill would not only improve crucial facilities throughout the state in the long-term, it would also put people to work right now. In addition, it would create demand for local products.
Some project included in this bill:
- Missoula – University of Montana College of Technology: $29 million to improve and expand facilities
- Bozeman – Montana State University: $3.5 million in classroom renovations and investment in the Montana Agricultural Experiment Station
- Billings – Montana State University: $14.25 million for the science and instructional technology building
- Helena – Heritage Center: $23 million for construction of a new museum for Montana history
- Great Falls – College of Technology: $4 million for the agricultural and trade building
- Butte – Montana Veterans Home: $5 million for Silver Bow County’s Veterans Home
- Dillion – University of Montana Western: $4.45 million for renovations to the main hall
This bill has received wide-spread, bipartisan support, because this bill is a responsible use of our state’s resources. It put people to work now, to move our economy forward and helps equip our students with the education they need to keep our economy moving.
"We believe that the current budget, heading to the Senate Floor next week, unnecessarily pits Montanans against, creating winners and losers” 