Invest
in renewable energy technology and keep Montana a national leader in wind
energy production.
Develop
natural resources responsibly – including coal, oil and natural gas.
Use tax
incentives to promote clean and green energy technology.
Increase
heating and energy assistance programs for Montana families.
Support
production of bio-diesel and ethanol to create jobs and reduce our dependence on foreign oil.
Affordable and Accessible Health Care for Montana
Providing affordable and
accessible health care to all Montanans must be one of our top
priorities. The Legislature can take steps to improve the health care
system in Montana:
Support the I-155 ballot initiative to provide all
Montana children with health care, giving our kids the start they need
to succeed in school and grow into healthy adults.
Work to lower our prescription drug costs and look at initiatives to join with other states to negotiate lower prices.
Support preventative health care programs like screenings and exams to save us money in the long run.
Increase access to affordable dental care across the state.
Expand the Insure Montana program to help more small business provide health insurance to their employees.
Fiscal Responsibility
Fiscal responsibility is a basic duty of state government. Spending taxpayer money responsibly must always remain our highest priority.
Live Within Our Means: We balance our checkbooks at home and the state legislature must do the same.
Tax Increases are Unnecessary: Montanans are concerned about the rising costs of energy and groceries. We must keep cost of living down for Montanans.
Stop Shifting the Burden: Every time the legislature cuts property taxes for corporations the burden gets shifted to homeowners. It's time to put homeowners first.
No Tax Increase Due to Reappraisal: Every home will be reappraised and new values will be put on the tax roles January 1, 2009. The legislature must cut rates tax rates so there will be no net tax increase from the new taxable values.
Put Montana's Priorities First: Priorities like health care and education need to be first on our list, not tax cuts for corporations and the wealthy.
Smart Tax Policies that help Montana Small Business
Protecting our small businesses, employers and employees is critical in keeping the Flathead economy strong.
We need smart tax policy that helps Montana businesses, not large out of state corporations.
We should increase the Business Equipment Tax exemption to exempt up to the first $250,000 of equipment, eliminating this tax for all small businesses.
Additionally, we have to ensure that this increase in the exemption does not negatively impact our local schools. We will have to weigh our budget decisions carefully at the Legislature and make sure that our schools receive the funding they need.
