Natural Resource Development, Jobs and Business in Montana

Due to a positive tax structure put in place from the mid 1990’s to mid 2005, the job market has greatly improved in Montana. Yet each session the Democrats propose to repeal the business and job friendly tax cuts of the past. We cannot let that happen. As we look across our Southern border to our Wyoming neighbors we see a very different approach to resource development, jobs and the economy. In order to relieve the burden on property tax payers, Wyoming develops their natural resources. In Montana, we tend to sue to keep our resources in the ground. In Wyoming, regulators work with businesses to make sure they are following the laws. If a problem with compliance comes up, the regulators show the business how to comply. In Montana, there is a tendency to try and close down the business. It is a completely different philosophy.

Consequently, Wyoming has huge surpluses and it is going into teacher’s salaries and new schools. They are tearing down any school over 20 years old and building brand new state of the art schools. Montana could easily be doing the same.

With all the talk about coal and energy development from the Governor, has anything happened? The only new wind or generation plants built in Montana were all approved under the Martz administration and construction was well underway when he took office. Any other generation has been opposed by the Schweitzer administration. The people he has appointed to the regulating boards such as the Board of Environmental Review will never approve any new projects. We had a tremendous opportunity to get on the ground floor of one of the most intriguing energy projects in recent memory. The Federal Government went out for proposals from the States for their “Future Gen Project”. This was a multi-billion dollar state of the art, zero emission, coal fired power plant research project. Illinois, Wyoming, Texas and several other states put in proposals to have the plant built in their states. You would think that Montana, which sits on the largest reserves of high quality, low sulphur coal would have an excellent chance of landing such a project. You would think that it would be a great opportunity to solve both the energy problem and the emissions problem with such a project. Well, that might have been the case but unfortunately the Schweitzer administration decided not to even submit a proposal for the project.

The highest paid jobs in the state are in the natural resource industry. Yet our forests are left to burn and even the harvesting of burnt timber is fought in the courts. This has to change if we truly want more money for our schools, our universities and vital human service needs. Roy is an eternal optimist. We all know there are some very smart people in this state that can find ways to develop these resources without harming the environment. Roy’s administration will work with businesses to get the job done while protecting our way of life and provide the jobs we need for the future.

Finally, the best way to insure a positive business climate is the elimination of the onerous business equipment tax. With all the states around us having little or no tax on business equipment, this tax is a huge disincentive for business to come to Montana. The consumer ends up paying more for their products due to this tax so let’s just get rid of it.

Please check back for a more detailed plan.