A MOTTO 1st, you will find a poll on the left sidebar.  With the Legislature in its final weeks,what of the remaining issues will survive and be passed this session?  MOTTO has  chosen 5 significant and important issues

• Full time Kindergarten
• Square Deal - $400 Tax Rebate
• Handshake - Permanent Property Tax Reduction
• Tuition Freeze
• The budget bills as a group of 8

More than one item can be selected. 

I have not met many of the bloggers whose sites I visit on a daily basis.  I communicate regularly with several bloggers from around the state.  With the exception of one (whom I occasionally have lunch with locally) I have no idea what they look or sound like, but I sure feel I know them, and I certainly can say I like them and enjoy their company.  While that might seem rather odd, they seem like old friends that I shoot a line of text or two a week at to see how they are.  Occasionally I'll forward an article that I might think they'll find interesting.  I worry about those I haven't seen post in a while and haven't responded to the "how are you doing?" email.

Now these folks aren't ideologically in lock step with my views.  There is some common ground, most probably wonder why the heck I am so liberal/conservative on one issue and such an asshat on another.   The commonality lies in putting thoughts on a variety of issues on line for a small group of people to read or entertain.  I can disagree with any one of my colleagues, but I certainly respect him/her.  We have all heard that "respect is earned" speech from a parent, teacher, friend or mentor.  It certainly is in this atmosphere. 

While respect is earned, it can be difficult to see when it is delivered.  One of my life lessons has been that it needed not be stated, spoken, or written.  Whether a post makes me think, or angry, or thoughtful, or sad, or enlightened, or dumbfounded, you have earned my respect. 

The 8th and final budget bill has failed to pass the House, 7 additional passed to the Senate.  Over the same two week period, the competing tax relief bills are in the others control (handshake with the democratic controlled Senate, square deal with the GOP controlled House).  Now lets raise a question, which is more important to the republicans, a non-unified budget or permanent tax relief?  Senate Leadership says permanent tax relief while House republicans are threatening Senate bills with contingent voidness language if budget is unified. 

Which is it?  As MOTTO has stated before, permanent tax relief may be possible if the two sides can move closer together, however, any movement would most likely include a unified budget.  A unified budget is certainly something the republicans can bring to the table in the quest for permanent relief.   A unified budget is one of the tools in the R's arsenal, but not for much longer.   

Do the democrats have to move at this point or come to the table?  Probably not.  If they don't, a number of Senate bills will be killed and the session will yield very little, but it would yield 1x tax relief.  Politicians know some relief (money in hand) has a political life.   But I think democrats would be missing a golden opportunity to move past the partisanship. 

One last try from MOTTO: R's bring HB2, D's bring a permanent tax cut proposal.  As stated earlier this session, benefits may trickle down to other issues, such as K-12 and Higher Ed.  Let us see if we can make it work.  At the very least, it would be refreshing to hear in unison "after days & hours at the table, together we......"

Earlier this month MOTTO posted a article on the Progressive Democrats of Montana (PDooM).  In it, I wondered aloud, why?  Why is it necessary to have this division and single out moderates as something other than democrats.  Why do we need to proclaim progressives are true democrats, so on and so forth.  In a later post, I listed a number of my more conservative traits for which some may call me anything but a democrat, and certainly wouldn't hear the term progressive.  Which leads to today's post, progressives in the eye of the beholder.  Progressive politics.  There certainly can't be politics in something as wholesome and grassroots as the progressive movement?

 Dave Sirota can be described as a leader in the progressive movement.  He co-founded the Progressive States Network and is certainly a critic of moderate minded elected officials & their respective positions on various issues (aka Baucus).  I think its safe to say those in the progressive circles would say Sirota is a champion for the progressive movement.  Here is what Sirota had to say about Governor Schweitzer during a discussion on PDooM (after bashing Pres. Clinton).

In working two statewide campaigns in Montana for one of the most progressive politicians I know, Brian Schweitzer, I found that some people purporting to attack Democrats in the progressive name were really just pissed off that they personally were not getting enough attention or love and that their complaints weren't actually based on anything even vaguely approaching ideological or "progressive" differences  

Now,  Sirota made these comment when discussing reasoning for why PDooM may have been developed.  He called the Governor "the most progressive politician" he knows.  This is high praise from a champion of the progressive movement who most likely knows many progressive officials & has worked for the likes of a Ned Lamont.    

In the Bison debate, the Governor has challenged the Federal gov't to provide real help, or step aside in order to maintain a brucelosis-free status, critical to our state's agricultural economy.  The discussion at LITW brought this discussion and the following subsequent comment. 

Brian, Like Lange he used to be a Demo (0.00 / 0)

Who is this Gov. of Montana, where did he come from and what does he stand for?  He isn't a democrat, we know that.  The Bison idea is a bad one, one of many bad ideas this republican governor of Montana has had.  Won't matter though with the air quality we can look forward to, thanks to his other brilliant let's do the coal thing idea, in about 10 years no Bison will survive in the debris infested air, oh and the mobiles in the park will probably be armed with semi auto's just to make the slaughter fun. Brian is not to be trusted, Brian is not a Democrat, Brian will destroy everything Montanan's hold dear, Brian is accountable to no one.  Who is this republican and which companies are giving him kick backs....?? Hunting in the park goes against the very mission of the Park.  If I was confused about his agenda I am no longer.  Brian is as out of touch with Montana as Rehberg.  Republicans must love their undercover mascot.

The commenter, Fred A., certainly feels the Governor isn't progressive enough, at least with bison, coal, and automatic weapons.  So when is a progressive a progressive, and still a democrat? At what point or issue does a progressive ideology conflict with a, say, democratic ideology?  At what point does that conflict affect their status as an elected official for that party? Which ideology has precedence over the other?  Is one Senator's stand for agricultural economics different that a Governor's stand for agricultural economics? 

Politics, regardless of party, is in the eye of the beholder.  How many PDooMs will we eventually need? 

The potential statewide candidate sidebar at LITW has gradually grown over the past few weeks.  The list is interesting and starting to get crowed, at least on the (D) side.  MOTTO appreciates Matt maintaining the rumor file.

Here is a quick update of the most interesting additions in three of the Statewide offices:

US Representative

• Dennis Rehberg (i-R)
• Dennis McDonald (D)
• Jim Foley (D)
• Bill Kennedy (D)

Superintendent of Public Instruction

• Denise Juneau (D)
• Holly Raser (D)
• Sam Kitzenberg (D)
• Don Ryan (D)
• Elsie Arntzen (R)

Secretary of State

• Brad Johnson (i-R)
• Linda McCulloch (D)
• Paul Tuss (D)
• Hal Harper (D)
• Dorothy Bradley (D)

Again, H/T & Nod,  Mr. Singer.   

Kilgore has a diary at LITW which deserves to be promoted to the main page, if for no other reason than containing the best line I've read in a long time "hippies will never be a majority".  Kilgore reflects on a peace rally on campus that was apparently more radical than it needed to be

 If you really want to destroy any credibility that you have, just invite a conspiracy theorist to speak at your rally. I like folk singers but I don't think they are the best way to connect with college students.

One must give Kilgore credit for pointing out the obvious, radicalism doesn't always help ones cause.  

Young people are turned off when they think about their parents for any reason.  Staging a hippy-style rally complete with folk singers, strange speakers, and the bizarre is the exact opposite way to get young people involved in the anti-escalation movement. We need to provide arguments against the current plan, not talk about why Bush is the devil"

Aside from the second best line (Young people are turned off...parents for any reason) Kilgore make a valid point, serious issues deserve serious scrutiny and debate.  I would much rather engage in a discussion/debate about  Iraq with Kilgore than some goofy radical who blames 911 on Bush.  He stands a much better chance of changing my mind and gaining respect for his position.     

Jay at 4 & 20 listed the Politician Perfection post on his links segment as "applauding the (energy) bills" .  I commented the piece was about the Governors  political savvy, not the content of the bills, which in turn the question was posed, what do I think about the bill.  

The bill is still not available as of the writing of this post, as it was not available yesterday.  What is available is the information released at the Governors press conference and subsequent reporting.    

Under the proposal, new coal-to-fuel plants that "sequester" the greenhouse gas pollutants will receive property tax cuts of 50 percent - from a rate of 3 percent of the taxable value to 1.5 percent. There currently are no such facilities in the state.

So-called "renewable" energy sources such as wind, solar and bio diesel facilities and equipment would also see the cut to 1.5 percent.

Pipelines for ethanol, bio diesel and fuel from clean-coal technology would get a 75 percent property tax cut - from a rate of 12 percent to 3 percent. Similar cuts would go toward electricity lines carrying clean power.

and the car incentive

It would give people who buy a new car that meets the mileage requirement two years of free auto licenses.

Should the bill emerge as presented, the tax incentives are worthy of consideration and a much needed step in both the development of alternative energy solutions and promotion of emerging clean coal technologies.  The licensure portion of the bill is pure silliness, and politics at its finest, the point of the previous post. 

It is reminiscent of the Heineken Guinness beer commercials

We need an energy plan that includes coal and ag related alternatives such a bio-diesel and ethanol, Governor.  Are we ever going to see a bill?

Heres an idea, we'll give you 2 years of free license fees

Brilliant!!

Indeed.   

The Governor knows how to play politics.  He is clearly the most politically savvy Montana elected official in recent memory.   Take for example his latest proposal, his energy bill.   In the midst of the legislative implosion on the budget and GOP criticism for timing and tardiness of the anticipated energy proposal, the Governor is able to squash all negativity without breaking a sweat.  

The Governor's proposal includes tax incentives for alternative energy and clean coal technologies.  Additionally, he has added a 2 year license fee exemption for certain high mileage cars.  Finally, the Governor has tapped Senator Jesse Lasolvich to shepard the bill, one of the most respected, well-liked legislators currently serving.

Damn.

Butte, USA's newspaper, the Montana Standard, has certainly brought a bit of today's technology to one of Butte's most cherished celebrations, St. Patricks day.  They have streaming video from the M&M.  Now MOTTO assumes other Butte landmarks and events will also be showcased through St. Patty's day.  The paper will be scrolling web cam events under the main heading and the link can be found on the left of the home page.  Thanks to the Standard, everyone can enjoy part of the Mining city's March tradition.  Cheers!

Members of the Montana House of Representatives were elected and sent to Helena on behalf of the people of Montana.  They swore an oath to uphold the constitution.  They voluntarily entered into a fellowship unlike no other.  Montana Representatives hold many titles, among them, Honorable.

The recent budget controversy is challenging the credibility of that fellowship.   The esteemed House is set to allow one person to dictate arguably the most important piece of legislation the House must steward, the State budget bill.

Comments this week from GOP leadership included, (paraphrasing) 'it will be fixed in the Senate, as it always is' 'we just need to move it through the process'.  Respectfully, that is not the case.  It is not honorable to abrogate your duty.   Waiving one's legislative responsibility is not honorable.  

A majority of democrats and republicans can fashion and pass a budget.  This majority may not include the far right who believe there is to much spending & gov't or the far left who believe it may not include enough to help specific populations or causes. 

For the sake of Montana, honor must be restored to the House.