Speech
Made In Montana Food & Gift Show Governor's Reception
Remarks of Governor Judy Martz
Great Falls
4/4/2003
***Check Against Delivery***
Good Evening. Thank you for joining us here at the 6th Annual Made In Montana Food & Gift Show. What an incredible show it is.
The Made In Montana program began in 1984 with approximately 25 companies. Now, the program features more than 2,000 companies who have attached more than 23 million Made In Montana logos to their products. These companies have truly recognized the value of the logo as both a sales opener and sales clincher.
Made In Montana offers additional marketing tools as well. The program provides full-time marketing assistance, the culmination of which is the annual Made In Montana Food & Gift Show.
Again, let's thank our generous sponsors, who have made this show possible and have contributed so much to its success:
Bonneville Power Administration
The City of Great Falls
The Small Business Development Center
The Montana Chamber of Commerce
U.S. Bank
Your participation, along with the support of these sponsors, enables this show to be a very effective means in promoting Montana businesses.
I would also like to recognize the hard work of Becky and Angie as the co-coordinators, and all of the staff at the Department of Commerce and Department of Agriculture who collaborated so well to put this great event together.
This year, more than 400 individual buyers from Montana, New York, Wyoming, Oregon, Washington, and Alaska are registered to attend the show. More than 20 of those buyers are from Montana's museums and parks, which are often tourists' first link with Montana's heritage and bounty.
Buyers were introduced to more than 500 products at this year's sold-out show including salsa, cereals, pasta, chocolates, lotions, candles, jams & jellies, blankets, jewelry, pottery, clothing, wood items and western art.
I was fortunate enough this afternoon to have the opportunity to visit with some of you as I toured the show and, I have to say, I am more impressed each and every year with the quality of products and participants at this event.
You, as small business owners, are truly the backbone of Montana's economy.
Because of that, I’d like to share with you a few of the things that we are working on in Helena on your behalf during this legislative session.
As you know, we proposed a one-time transfer of $93 million in the coal trust fund to cover our short-term budget shortfall. This has been an uphill fight, to say the least, because it requires a three-quarters vote of the legislature.
Some legislators from both sides of the aisle have proposed a variety of compromises that include use of at least $29 million from the coal trust fund, which is a very positive step compared to where we were earlier this winter. I encourage you to talk to your legislators – the option still exists for a compromise, and I look forward to one coming to my desk.
I also want you to know about our tax reform initiative for economic development. We worked closely with the Montana Chamber of Commerce, many agriculture groups, and other businesses and organizations to ensure that the voice of the business community was clearly heard as we developed the plan.
Our plan cuts income and capital gains rates on hardworking Montana families and small businesses, so you can keep more of what you earn.
It replaces that revenue with a limited sales tax on goods that tourists purchase more frequently. Our goal was to ensure that Montana families receive a tax break, balancing that with a tax that allows tourists to share in supporting our infrastructure and other government needs.
Our plan does just that. Montanans pay a full 93% of our income tax, but would pay only 54% of our proposed limited sales tax. And, all classes of Montana taxpayers would receive a reduction in their taxes.
Although it has been amended, I am hopeful that we can get this plan closer to its original form and that the legislature will pass it before they adjourn.
I firmly believe that our plan is right for Montanans, and that this is the right time to accomplish such reforms. Working together, we can accomplish true tax reform that will benefit the bottom line of small businesses, employers and ultimately, Montana families.
There are also a number of other tax bills, including some focused on sales taxes. We will have to look at the sales tax bills – and if any one of them reaches my desk, we will determine our position at that point.
However, as they currently stand, I have several concerns with these proposals, as Montanans will pay more federal taxes, and they increase Montana taxes on our hard-working families as well.
As you know, we have also developed our economic strategy – called the “Roadmap for A New Economy”. The legislative pieces of that roadmap are moving forward in a timely manner, thanks to the work of many individuals here this evening.
As we continue to address economic development, tax reform and the budget in final weeks of this session, I hope you take the time to talk with your legislators, and let them know where you stand on these key issues.
I also need to mention our Montana men and women who have been deployed to protect us in the war against Iraq. As business people who employ the troops, as family members and as neighbors, it’s up to all of us to keep them and their families in our thoughts and prayers. And, when they come home, it is up to us to show them how much we appreciate what they’re doing for us and these United States.
Again, thank you for the work you do. Thank you for making Montana strong – for our communities – and our families.
Thank you for joining us this evening, and best wishes for a successful show.
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