Gov. Brian Schweitzer released his state budget last week, and during its public unveiling he preempted many Republican ideas and chided them for others he didn’t agree with. The performance left one GOP lawmaker complaining that the governor had already “started waging war between the legislative and executive branches.”
If a political “war” is coming when the Legislature gathers in Helena in January, it will also be heavy on theatrics as the Democratic governor and GOP-dominated Legislature try to get along. So perhaps Schweitzer’s PowerPoint presentation was a fitting opening salvo leading to the upcoming 90-day game of one-upmanship.
Normally, Schweitzer dominates the Montana political arena, based in equal parts on his personality and platform. He can be an overbearing figure, and since lawmakers gather for just a few months every two years, he is accustomed to rarely sharing the spotlight. But with Republicans enjoying wide majorities in both chambers, they now have the clout to challenge both the governor’s policies and persona.
What’s ironic is that Schweitzer’s initial budget proposal, however provocatively it may have been proposed, is his way of compromising. In it he included a state income-tax credit for homeowners and a plan to phase out much of the business equipment tax, a move often championed by Republicans.
He also wants to cut the budgets at both the Transportation and Commerce departments and transfer $95 million from other programs to shore up a budget that he estimates will have a $129 million ending-fund balance.
At the same time, he hopes to boost school and university funding and provide a 4 percent wage hike to public employees beginning in 2012. GOP lawmakers say the math doesn’t add up and argue that the state is still spending more money than it is bringing in. They are considering holding listening sessions across the state to discuss the budget with voters.
But Schweitzer, with his proposals, is angling for the small-government mantle before lawmakers even arrive at the capitol. “I’m a conservative fiscal hawk,” he said after his presentation. “I like having money on the table, not scrambling around to cut programs and raise taxes.”
In a strange move, he then called out Republican Helena Sen. Dave Lewis, who has pitched a plan that would cut all state salaries that are $80,000 a year or more. The governor pointed out, on a pre-prepared slide no less, that Lewis made near $70,000 when working for the state nearly 20 years ago, which when adjusted for inflation is more than $100,000 today. Lewis countered that he actually took a pay cut to become state budget director and his proposal addresses taxpayers’ concern.
Schweitzer, who has played the hypocrisy card in the past, has little to gain by attempting to embarrass GOP lawmakers. Here’s why:
The makeup of the Montana Legislature during Schweitzer’s tenure as governor.
2005 Senate: Dems 27, GOP 23; House: Dems 50, GOP 50
2007 Senate: Dems 26, GOP 24; House: Dems 49, GOP 51
2009 Senate: Dems 23, GOP 27; House: Dems 50, GOP 50
2011 Senate: Dems 22, GOP 28; House: Dems 32, GOP 68
The balance of power has shifted dramatically in the fourth, and final, legislative session in which Schweitzer will participate. He will have to share the capitol stage with Republicans who, based on their sheer numbers, will be able to push bills through the Legislature with little resistance.
How the governor reacts to this check on his power will show voters a side of Schweitzer they have rarely seen before. And his reaction will determine whether the 2011 Legislature is able to responsibly balance the state’s budget.