Posted by (+3157) 2 months ago
In 2016 I warned against Montanans ever putting Gianforte in the governor’s mansion. In my comments and letters to editors I warned that Gianforte is pushing the same old problematic ideology of giveaways to corporations, thoughtless elimination of regulations, and fiscal recklessness, including slashing taxes for the wealthy.
Well Gianforte and his super majority Repupublican legislature are again running us into the an economic barrow pit. I suggest anyone disturbed by the massive increase in property taxes Gianforte and his Repubican cohorts have bestowed upon us read prior governor Brian Schweitzer’s editorial in the July 9, 2023 Billings Gazette.
Schweitzer correctly points out Republican false claims of “less government and lower taxes! The political slogan from Republican candidates early and often while they are campaigning. Then comes political reality. How did the largest percentage of Republicans elected in Montana history grow government at the fastest rate in state history - and at the same time raise property taxes on your home?”
“During the pandemic years, the (federal) administrations poured federal funds into states to prop up slowing economies. Funds went directly to state governments and into businesses. Budget surpluses ballooned nationwide. Montana normally receives about $1.59 of federal funds for each $1 paid in federal income tax, more than almost all other states. One-third of Montana’s state budget is federal funds. By the time our Legislature met in 2023, the state budget surplus had exploded to a record $2.6 billion.”
“A month and a half before the Legislature met, the Montana Revenue Department warned the Legislature and governor that home appraisals had increased by 43%, and unless they took action, home property taxes were going to rise substantially. Those who own their own homes and those who rent would shoulder those rising property tax costs. The Legislature and governor worked 87 days on the budget, spending more new money than any Legislature in history- by far! They blew through the huge $2.6 billion surplus. They ate the thick steaks and drank the old whiskey provided by lobbyists and spent money on those lobbyists’ special interests. And then they raised taxes on your home.”
“Now, Republican leadership is trying to spin their blunder. They claim it’s county commissioners and cities who are raising your taxes. False!”
“State law only allows local governments to raise spending by a small percent unless voted on by local voters. Since the Legislature met, not one county has voted to increase spending or raise your taxes. * * * They claim they will send you some one-time money to partially offset your permanent taxincrease - giving you a 45-day window to file government forms to get some of your money back. Why must you file paperwork? The Revenue Department knows you own the home and where you live.”
When Brian Schweitzer was governor, he mailed the one-time checks to homeowners. No bureaucratic paperwork was required. We know the bureaucratic paperwork is to make it difficult and therefore cause some homeowners to fail to get their one-time partial refund of the increase the Republicans gave them. Brian Schweitzer didn’t raise any taxes for eight years and he has the following advice for the inept Republicans:
“Let’s assume the Republican Legislature and governor just made a mistake by raising your property taxes. It’s not too late for the governor and Republican
super majority in control to do the right thing.
The fix is easy.
1. Republican legislative leaders and the governor need to call a press conference and admit they made a mistake in raising your property taxes.
2. They need to work with the Revenue Department to craft a one-page bill (that’s all it takes) that would stop this property tax increase on homeowners.
3. Call a one-day special session, pass the bill to stop the property tax increase and go home.
Pay more, what for?”
Brian Schweitzer, Democrat, was Montana’s 23rd governor, serving two terms from 2005 into 2013, when he was term limited out.
Well Gianforte and his super majority Repupublican legislature are again running us into the an economic barrow pit. I suggest anyone disturbed by the massive increase in property taxes Gianforte and his Repubican cohorts have bestowed upon us read prior governor Brian Schweitzer’s editorial in the July 9, 2023 Billings Gazette.
Schweitzer correctly points out Republican false claims of “less government and lower taxes! The political slogan from Republican candidates early and often while they are campaigning. Then comes political reality. How did the largest percentage of Republicans elected in Montana history grow government at the fastest rate in state history - and at the same time raise property taxes on your home?”
“During the pandemic years, the (federal) administrations poured federal funds into states to prop up slowing economies. Funds went directly to state governments and into businesses. Budget surpluses ballooned nationwide. Montana normally receives about $1.59 of federal funds for each $1 paid in federal income tax, more than almost all other states. One-third of Montana’s state budget is federal funds. By the time our Legislature met in 2023, the state budget surplus had exploded to a record $2.6 billion.”
“A month and a half before the Legislature met, the Montana Revenue Department warned the Legislature and governor that home appraisals had increased by 43%, and unless they took action, home property taxes were going to rise substantially. Those who own their own homes and those who rent would shoulder those rising property tax costs. The Legislature and governor worked 87 days on the budget, spending more new money than any Legislature in history- by far! They blew through the huge $2.6 billion surplus. They ate the thick steaks and drank the old whiskey provided by lobbyists and spent money on those lobbyists’ special interests. And then they raised taxes on your home.”
“Now, Republican leadership is trying to spin their blunder. They claim it’s county commissioners and cities who are raising your taxes. False!”
“State law only allows local governments to raise spending by a small percent unless voted on by local voters. Since the Legislature met, not one county has voted to increase spending or raise your taxes. * * * They claim they will send you some one-time money to partially offset your permanent taxincrease - giving you a 45-day window to file government forms to get some of your money back. Why must you file paperwork? The Revenue Department knows you own the home and where you live.”
When Brian Schweitzer was governor, he mailed the one-time checks to homeowners. No bureaucratic paperwork was required. We know the bureaucratic paperwork is to make it difficult and therefore cause some homeowners to fail to get their one-time partial refund of the increase the Republicans gave them. Brian Schweitzer didn’t raise any taxes for eight years and he has the following advice for the inept Republicans:
“Let’s assume the Republican Legislature and governor just made a mistake by raising your property taxes. It’s not too late for the governor and Republican
super majority in control to do the right thing.
The fix is easy.
1. Republican legislative leaders and the governor need to call a press conference and admit they made a mistake in raising your property taxes.
2. They need to work with the Revenue Department to craft a one-page bill (that’s all it takes) that would stop this property tax increase on homeowners.
3. Call a one-day special session, pass the bill to stop the property tax increase and go home.
Pay more, what for?”
Brian Schweitzer, Democrat, was Montana’s 23rd governor, serving two terms from 2005 into 2013, when he was term limited out.
