Montana Governor Delivers State of the State: Optimistic about Montana’s Future

1/29/2009 -- (HELENA) – Montana 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.

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Schweitzer continued, “These are serious times requiring thoughtful leadership. I know it is hard for families who have just lost a job or are trying to make an already tight budget stretch farther.”

He also outlined 5 new proposals that the Administration is supporting this legislative session:

Sequestration standards for carbon dioxide, sponsored by Sen. Ron Erickson (SB 66)
Eliminating the business equipment tax for 90% of filers
Fully fund the Healthy Montana Kids Program, SCHIP, sponsored by Rep. Chuck Hunter (HB 157)
Clarifying the stream access law, sponsored by Rep. Kendall Van Dyk (HB 190)
Montana Energy for Education Act or E Squared sponsored by Rep. Kendall Van Dyk (HB 388)

The Governor closed the address by saying: “We have some difficult decisions to make together. These decisions are not about money – they are about people.

“Let us resolve this evening to never forget who we work for. The farmer, the teacher, the single mom with a disabled child, the student, the young family, the oil driller, the miner and the truck driver.

“To help us remember our common hope and optimism - I close with these words first said by others:

The moral test of government is how that government treats those in the dawn of life, the children, those in the twilight of life, the elderly, and those in the shadows of life, the sick, the needy and the handicapped.”

Source: Montana Governor