Can You See Through the Smoke?
Krayton Kerns
8.29.07
One of the secrets of surviving in the ranching or veterinary business is learning how to read animals. In 10 seconds I can usually predict the behavior of a dog, cat, cow or horse by watching its subtle movements and reactions to my presence inside their fright zone. Developing this talent is a self-study field course that is graded strictly pass-fail; there is no curve. Get it right or you get hurt. You ranch folks know exactly what I mean.
The field of politics, however, is an entirely different ballgame. Nothing is as it seems or as it is presented, and I find it challenging using my real life experiences to read the critters in the feedlots of the capitol. Skilled politicians will give you the picture they want you to see but, behind the scenes different objectives are sought. The Governor is a skilled politician.
A special session has been called to fund fire-fighting efforts across the state. You are given the picture of the destructive wildfires sweeping across our state with many Montanans losing their homes and all their possessions. Women and minorities are always portrayed as hardest hit. The blame has been placed on the republicans for removing fire-fighting funds from the Governor’s budget. He calls the session during the fire season (that timing is critical) to force the republicans to accept his plan to grow the state government even further. If they vote ‘no’, opponents will be flogged by the media as voting against fire-fighting efforts during a fire. This is an easy political win for the Governor.
Behind the scenes, here is what you must remember:
*The DNRC estimated fire costs at $20 million on August 23rd, but jumped the estimate to $35 million on August 27th. Their estimates are a SWAG.
*The state operates on a biennial budget. The DNRC still has money to pay the bills by drawing out of the ’08 fire budget. Not one house will burn down for lack of money to throw at the fire.
*The Wanzenried amendment (D-Missoula) moved $10 million out of the DNRC’s firefighting budget to the Dept. of Revenue to strengthen their ability to collect taxes.
*Governor Schweitzer has already increased state spending 40% since taking office but thought it best to invest in the Depts. of Revenue, Corrections, and Human Services.
*The Governor’s proposal requests additional funding and alters the time limits on the declaration of disasters, thereby expanding the Governor’s power in how the money is spent. The executive branch gets stronger; the legislative branch gets weaker.
*The special session is being called before the fire season is over and the cost is known because it is hard to whip the public into a fire-fighting frenzy in February. There is no political advantage when it’s 20 below zero.
As with all fires, don’t panic and try to see through the smoke.
