Speech
A Bolder, Better Future for Montana Families
2002 Report to the People of Montana
State Capitol - Governor Judy Martz
1/23/2002
Lieutenant Governor Ohs, Speaker McGee, my fellow Constitutional Officers, Tribal Leaders, distinguished members of the Legislature, honorable justices of the Supreme Court, former Governor Tim and Betty Babcock, members of my Cabinet, my husband Harry, my family, and my fellow Montanans:
Good evening. Thank you for joining us here in the distinguished chambers of our House of Representatives.
[MONTANA STANDS BETTER, BOLDER AND STRONGER]
Montana and her people have seen the face of adversity over the past year, but I am proud to report that with courage, optimism and resilience, we stand BETTER, BOLDER, AND STRONGER.
No one dreamed that 2001 would witness such personal and national tragedy. The horrific events of September 11 have affected the lives of virtually every American and have tested the mettle of every level of government, every elected official and every American family. But we will move forward prepared. That's why I have established Montana's Homeland Security Task Force.
Yes - we have faced challenges in the past year - but together, we must learn from them and move forward, rather than dwell on the past.
We must all learn from the heinous acts against our nation that Americans - and Montanans - are at our best when we are united.
Will you please join me in a moment of silence in memory of the many individuals who have lost their lives, and also for the brave soldiers like those of the 279th Engineering Detachment based in Missoula, who are serving our nation's call. [pause]
Thank you, General Prendergast, and thanks to our veterans and our military and emergency personnel for your service to our country, and to your families for the sacrifices they make.
[OUR SHARED BELIEFS]
Our Montana way of life is one worth fighting for. It is the common sense of purpose that unites us.
Harry, Justin, Stacy, thank you for sharing that way of life with me.
It is with that sense of purpose that we are building a bolder, better future for Montana families.
Our new Montana will be built neighbor by neighbor - FAMILY BY FAMILY - based on our shared beliefs.
First and foremost, our shared belief that families are the foundation upon which Montana is built.
Our shared belief that government must be responsive and accountable - doing more with less for the people we serve.
Our shared belief that our children should not be penalized in the quality of their education by where they live or by decreasing enrollment in their schools.
Our shared belief that Montanans of all ages should have access to quality, affordable healthcare and that none of us should pay a penny more than the market demands to heat our homes and to power our computers.
And, our shared belief that hardworking Montanans should not, and must not, be required to sacrifice their paycheck for their quality of life.
It is on these beliefs that we are continuing to create an economy to match our quality of life.
I could talk to you this evening about each and every accomplishment that our administration has achieved over the past year, but I don't want to keep you here for four hours....
That is why we have provided for you this evening a written Report to the People of Montana, and a copy of our Economic Development Framework. They are also available on our web site at discoveringmontana.com.
My partner in this administration, Lieutenant Governor Karl Ohs, has played an active role in our economic development efforts.
Karl, our efforts began well before either of us had thought about taking on the positions in which we now serve. Twelve years ago, we partnered to provide a better economy for agriculture, and I am proud that we continue that partnership today as Governor and Lieutenant Governor.
Karl, for your commitment, your service, and your friendship -- I thank you.
[THE PROMISE OF BETTER JOBS FOR MONTANA FAMILIES]
Karl and I pledged to Montana families that we would promote the entrepreneurial spirit that creates good paying jobs to keep our young people under the Big Sky - to realize their own hopes and dreams.
We promised. We led. And we are delivering.
This isn't just about better paying jobs. A strong economy enhances funding for education, healthcare, and human services.
That's why our first priority is to strengthen Montana's economy.
We worked with the legislature to reorganize government. We created the Governor's Office of Economic Opportunity, we hired a Chief Business Officer, and hired the state's first Chief Information Officer to ensure that state government uses all available technology to be both efficient and responsive.
As promised, we've included Native Americans in our pursuit of economic growth by traveling to every reservation, and initiating quarterly meetings to better understand their needs and goals.
We will not leave any Montanan behind.
We did each and every one of those things because we believe that every Montanan who wants a good paying job right here at home should get one.
Because we're delivering a business friendly environment, Montana families are better off today.
Last year, nearly ten new jobs were created in Montana - EVERY SINGLE DAY.
That's thirty five hundred Montanans with new jobs; contributing to their communities, and building a stronger, better Montana for our children.
And they are better-paying jobs.
Private sector wages were up eight point three percent last year. Folks, that's the largest single increase on record.
That increase is due directly to the efforts of people like Montana Chamber Association President Webb Brown and Chamber board chair Susan Knedler (needlur). Thank you, Webb, Susan, and all of the chamber members who have joined us this evening for your friendship, your partnership, and for promoting good paying jobs for our families.
While Newsweek Magazine reports that forty other states are in or near a painful recession, Montana's economy continues to experience growth - and our consumer confidence remains high.
Do you know why? Because ten more Montana families - EVERY SINGLE DAY - have a paycheck they didn't have the day before.
Our state's unemployment rate, at four point five percent, is more than one full point better than the national average.
Ten new jobs a day is good news, but our young people are still leaving our state for higher paying jobs.
That's why we won't stop there. This is a monumental effort that will require us to remain focused and vigilant. But I commit to you that, together, we will continue building a better, bolder future for Montana families.
We're implementing an economic strategy that is designed to help and promote businesses in communities throughout Montana - the people who have the ideas and talent to keep our young people here.
Just like those Olympic athletes who will meet in Salt Lake City next month. They’re going to Salt Lake to break records - and to bring home the gold. They’re competing in the same events, they’re just doing those same events better. They are living proof that individuals with the drive and desire to do so can succeed. They don't listen to the cynics - neither did the Grizzlies when they won the national championship - and neither do we.
Our economic framework is a challenge to create a better Montana. It is a guide to economic expansion, and a platform for creative initiatives.
My approach is different from those that have come before, because we have placed the full force of my office behind our economic development efforts.
That's why I'm using my experience as a businesswoman to implement an economic strategy that is designed to help and promote businesses in communities throughout Montana.
This is the people's document. You’re helping us write it. We'll need the help of each and every one of you to implement it - and we expect you to hold us accountable. If we do our job right, we will all benefit.
No one will benefit more than our children. If we want better-paying jobs for them, we need excellent schools for them.
I'm going to do everything I can for education. I pledge to work with Superintendent of Schools Linda McCulloch to achieve our goals.
Harry, remember when we were preparing Justin and Stacy for their first day of school? The anticipation. The preparation. It's the same for every Montana family. Education is a key strength in our state.
[THE PROMISE OF BETTER SCHOOLS]
Our administration pledged to Montana families that our students will continue to receive the highest quality education possible - an education that prepares them to compete in a global economy.
We promised. We led. And we are delivering.
Last year, I approved a budget that dedicated fifty-five percent of every general fund dollar to education - nineteen million dollars more than called for in the original budget.
And I believe our system is producing some of the world's finest students.
Last year, our state's eighth graders ranked first in national science testing, and our sixth graders ranked second.
In fact, Montana students top the charts in most subjects.
We must keep it that way.
That's why we worked with the legislature to establish a K-12 Education Funding Reform study.
The advisory council did an excellent job, and I have forwarded their report to the Legislature's Interim Education Committee.
We won't stop there. We will continue building a better, bolder future for Montana students.
Once we have the critical input of Montanans, we will send a bill to the next session that reforms the way we determine how money is allocated to our schools.
Not one Montana family should face the possibility of an inferior education for their child just because fewer students are attending their school.
We will continue to recognize that every level of our educational system has a key role to play for the future of our children - not just our elementary schools, high schools, universities and tribal colleges, but ALSO our colleges of technology, and our vocational and career development programs.
Together, we will create a future for our young people - like those FFA leaders who have joined us here this evening - all of whom are receiving their college education right here in Montana.
We will continue to strongly encourage key partnerships between business, labor, and education - to ensure that our students are prepared for the twenty-first century workplace.
Workforce development is a key component of our economic development plan. We have a great workforce - it is incumbent upon all of us to ensure that they continue to be prepared for the jobs of the future.
I am pleased that the Board of Regents has recognized that a strong economy is key to their mission, because it benefits our students.
Like most Montanans, our insightful regents understand that education is one of the greatest beneficiaries of a strong economy.
Our students ARE worth the investment.
Students like our daughter Stacy, who attends college year after year... after year... after year....
If we are truly committed to making more money available for our students, our teachers, and our schools, we must do everything in our power to help small businesses expand and thrive in Montana. And a key component of those efforts is affordable, reliable energy.
Even though Montana Power's electricity rates have been frozen since 1997, I recognize that people are nervous about higher utility rates. Especially people on fixed or low incomes - who, in the winter, just want to stay warm.
[THE PROMISE OF AFFORDABLE ENERGY]
We pledged to the people of Montana that we would fight for affordable, reliable power, and I have testified before Congress with that message.
We worked with the legislature to pass new laws that modernized our siting requirements, and gave incentives so that power plants can be built and brought on line faster.
We initiated key energy conservation efforts in state government, and challenged all Montanans to do the same. We provided incentives for alternative energy development.
We forged a lasting partnership with the utility Northwestern, and just last fall we broke ground on a two hundred and forty megawatt facility in Great Falls - the first major power plant to be built in over two decades.
Thank you, Northwestern, for stepping forward to help Montana, and for being a responsible corporate citizen.
This facility is not only going to help secure affordable, reliable power, it's creating many good paying jobs and will provide additional revenue that can be used for schools.
We won't stop there. We will continue building a better, bolder future for Montanans.
We are working to ensure Montanans won't have to worry about fluctuating prices in the energy market by using our immense resource base to our advantage.
And in my position as vice-chair of the Western Governors' Association, I am working to enhance power and transmission capability right here in our state and throughout the Pacific Northwest.
Our families are depending on us - and we won't let them down.
[THE PROMISE OF RESPONSIBLE RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT]
We pledged to Montana families that, under our watch, our state's natural resources would be just that - resources for our responsible use.
We promised. We led. And we are delivering.
We're working to sustain and create jobs in areas like the Bitterroot - for families who have lived through the devastating effects of mill closures and unreasonable lawsuits against timber sales.
We've taken the lead in restoring the health of our state lands by the timely removal of dead and burned timber. We generated over five million dollars for schools from sales on the 2000 Bitterroot fires.
And we’re demanding that Washington bureaucrats and our federal courts do the same.
I have testified in Congress twice about the importance of healthy forest management practices - and my message is always this: it's time to stop tying the hands of forest professionals and start letting them do the job they were trained to do.
This is not just an economic decision. It is critical to the health of our forests and the safety of our residents that we remove burned timber from public lands.
In Montana, that's just plain common sense.
We won't stop there. We will continue building a better, bolder future for Montanans.
I am pleased to announce tonight that we will hold a Governor's Timber Summit to bring all stakeholders to the table to address critical forest management issues on state and federal lands, while ensuring the best return for our schools.
We're fighting for Montana ranching families whose incomes depend on raising livestock. That's why we're joining with Idaho and Wyoming to keep predators like grizzlies and wolves at bay.
We're fighting to protect the health of our families, the health of our livestock, and the safety of our food supply. That's why we demand that the federal government manage Yellowstone Park bison - to preserve our thirty-five year brucellosis-free status.
We're fighting for Montana families whose livelihoods depend on tourism by working to keep cleaner, quieter snowmobiles in Yellowstone National Park.
We're fighting for job creators who responsibly develop and process our resources.
Job creators like Cream of the West in Billings. This year, with our help, they have gone beyond marketing their own products to partner with Innovative Marketing Solutions as they work to transport, market, and deliver over one hundred seventy five Made in Montana products directly to store shelves.
[THE PROMISE OF A HEALTHY LIBBY]
But we also pledged that jobs for our Montana families would be created in a quality environment - an environment that ensures the safety and health of Montana families.
We promised. We led. And we are delivering.
I grew up in Butte - in the shadow of Berkeley Pit. My community was always concerned for the safety of our water and the health of our children. That's why I understand the deep convictions of the people of Libby.
I understand the conviction of Libby residents like Les Skramstad. Les, who is suffering the effects of asbestosis, has worked closely with me on this issue. I'd like to recognize Les, who has joined us here this evening.
I am proud to call Les my friend. Even though he and I have disagreed - strongly at times - he has always treated me with respect and civility. Thank you Les, for your honesty, your input, and your advice.
Like Les, I recognize that Libby families deserve a clean, healthy town.
That's why I supported a Superfund designation for Libby.
More than that, the known risks of today far outweigh the unknown risks of tomorrow.
That is why I decided to use Montana's ONE AND ONLY Silver Bullet.
Let me be perfectly clear. I will not tolerate businesses that ruin our environment or harm our people.
Les, we won't stop there. We will continue building a better, healthier future for the families of Libby - families who need quality healthcare.
That's why I will aggressively seek public and private funds to take care of their medical needs.
And I want to thank Conrad, Max and Denny - our Congressional Delegation - for their help and support on this key issue.
I have written to tell them that we're going to need their continued involvement to ensure that the families of this tremendous community are cared for, and that Libby truly is 'open for business.'
But, the needs for quality healthcare go far beyond the families of Libby.
[THE PROMISE OF AFFORDABLE HEALTH CARE FOR MONTANA FAMILIES]
We pledged to work for quality, affordable healthcare for every Montana family.
We promised. We led. And we ARE delivering.
We successfully gained federal approval to provide better healthcare for our rural families. With our leadership, additional funds will be transferred to Montana's rural hospitals. And we've asked our congressional delegation to ensure it continues.
We're partnering with the healthcare community to provide quality healthcare for all Montana families through the creation of a blue ribbon task force to address critical workforce shortages in the healthcare industry.
Tonight, I am announcing that this spring, we will hold a Governor’s Summit on Healthcare, to address key issues such as workforce shortages, preventative measures, and the rising costs of healthcare coverage, service and prescriptions.
We have established a drug prevention task force in partnership with Attorney General Mike McGrath. This important task force will bring together representatives from prevention, treatment, and law enforcement - to eliminate meth labs, and to build stronger, safer, drug free communities for our Montana families. Thank you, Mike, for joining with us in this effort.
As we work to create better paying jobs, we recognize the critical importance of maintaining a safety net for needy families. That's why we're continuing to provide assistance to those in need.
Balancing the wants and needs of Montana families with our available resources is an ongoing challenge, and I appreciate the dedication and commitment of our cabinet and staff to address that challenge in a responsible, compassionate manner.
[THE PROMISE OF RESPONSIVE GOVERNMENT AND FAIRER SIMPLER TAXES FOR MONTANANS]
We pledged that we would deliver efficient government services at the least possible cost to government's owners - the people of Montana.
We pledged to hardworking Montana families that we will continue to oppose tax increases, and that we will do everything we can to ensure that our citizens keep more of what they earn.
We promised. We led. And we are delivering.
Regardless of what you may hear about the level of budget surplus in the state's coffers, when the legislature reconvenes next session, our general fund balance is projected to be one hundred sixteen million dollars. All but about sixteen million dollars of that is already committed or is one-time money.
A year ago, the budget that we were handed proposed forty five million dollars in increased taxes, and over sixty million dollars in increased spending. With the legislature's support, I am proud to say that we held the line on new spending and tax increases.
And every single tax increase that was proposed - was rejected.
And because of that, Montana is one of only four states in the nation that has a positive fund balance, while forty-six other states are facing a deficit.
Because we want businesses to expand their operations, creating higher paying jobs for our families, we made sure the tax we place on business equipment remains competitive.
We won't stop there. We will continue building a better, bolder future for Montana taxpayers.
I have directed my economic team to meet with the people of Montana to address our state's tax concerns.
They will have on my desk a comprehensive tax reform package to send to the next legislature - a package that gives small business-people the incentive to turn their dreams into jobs -- their visions into realities.
Our proposal will ensure that Montana will no longer have the highest stated income tax rates and the highest marginal capital gains tax rates in our region.
We will ensure that Montana is ‘open for business.’
In Ronald Reagan's first inaugural address, he said, "It is not my intention to do away with government. It is rather to make it work - work with us; not over us; stand by our side; not ride our back. Government can and must provide opportunity, not smother it; foster productivity, not stifle it."
My fellow Montanans, WE MUST DO THE SAME.
[A BETTER, BOLDER FUTURE FOR MONTANA FAMILIES]
It is time to look at our government, our resources, and our opportunities with a common sense of purpose - with a commitment to make a better life - for us and for our children.
As we approach the upcoming Lewis and Clark Bicentennial, I am reminded that theirs was truly a journey into the unknown.
With limited resources, they boldly changed a nation, charting a new territory, a new direction, a new future for this country.
As your Governor, I know we must do the same.
We must decide, are we bold enough to change? Are we bold enough to chart a new direction for this state?
My fellow Montanans - we ARE bold enough - and together we will deliver a better future for Montana.
Thank you, good evening, and may God Bless Montana.
-end-
