Our stunning valley is putting on her best show these days with glorious colors and premium weather. People talk about it happily everywhere I go.
What few are talking about is the upcoming election. Did you know that Ron Ehli voted for a permanent property tax reduction for Montana’s wealthiest earners? Similarly he voted to reduce Montana’s highest wage earners’ individual tax liability by 5%, and voted to lower corporate taxes, shifting the burden of balancing the budget onto the backs of middle class Montanans. I am aghast at these decisions on his part.
What if the parents with kids made decisions like that over their household budget? Oh, that’s right: parents don’t get to reduce their own property taxes, and neither do renters get to change the contract on their housing. Can you imagine your employer’s response if you requested your own tax liability be reduced by 5%. You’d be laughed right out of his office. Ehli thinks it’s a good idea for corporations!
But the frosting on the cake is his thoughtless vote on HB143 when he voted against reducing taxes for low income Montanans. He could have voted yes, which would keep more money flowing in the local economy, but he’s allied with non-human interests (i.e. corporations).
Nancy Schneider wants to put Montana families first. She supports affordable health care, businesses that bring jobs here, responsible development of natural resources that does not put populations at risk, and affordable higher education. That sounds sensible to me. It keeps money flowing in our economy, and builds for the future. She is going to work for me, my grandchildren and their kids. Let’s send her to Helena!
Star Jameson
Hamilton