HELENA – The Montana Senate’s top Republican largely steered clear of partisan attacks in his response to the governor’s State of the State address, emphasizing the need for steady leadership in all branches of government during turbulent economic times.
In his speech following Wednesday’s address, Republican Senate President Bob Story of Park City said belt-tightening is needed at all levels of state government — and from Montanans — to weather the recession.
“Right now the economy is down, unemployment is up, and our neighbors are struggling. Money is tight,” Story said. “But we’re a sturdy folk. We know about hard times. We know about hard work. We know about hard knocks. And we know how to turn the bad times good.”
To lay the foundation for a better future, Story said, the Legislature will guard the people’s tax dollars and live within its means.
Legislative leaders have wrangled with Democratic Gov. Brian Schweitzer in recent weeks over their hesitation to vote on bills before it’s clear how federal stimulus money could impact state spending.
The governor has said the federal money will come with clear earmarks. And, in his address, Schweitzer urged lawmakers to avoid a repeat of the partisan budget battles that took place during the last legislative session.
Story, who presides over a closely divided Senate, focused on bipartisanship and a call to get more Montanans engaged in the process.
But he did tout recent Republican initiatives, such as a commission to oversee any stimulus spending and a plan to boost transparency in state government through an online database.
“We know that this process belongs to you,” Story said. “We know that this money belongs to you. We know that you have the right to know about everything done with your checkbook.”
He also took a thinly veiled jab at Schweitzer. Story said the Legislature will do more to develop energy, a favorite speech topic of Schweitzer’s.
“We will do more than talk about it — we will deliver results,” Story said.
House Speaker Bob Bergren, a Democrat from Havre, said Schweitzer’s speech seemed largely deferential to the Legislature, and appeared to recognize that lawmakers have their own work to do. Bergren said he thinks the session is going more smoothly than in 2007, which saw a historic meltdown amid bitter budget disputes.
“This is our fifth week, and I think it’s palpable that there is a sense of calm this session,” Bergren said. “These are tough times, and we must rise above politics.”