Since the early days of his administration, Gov. Brian Schweitzer has repeatedly denounced and demeaned the Legislative branch of state government at every opportunity. And, for a guy who loves to hear himself pontificate to the press, he’s never been at a loss for opportunities. While many have chalked this up to partisan politics and/or to the gov’s bombastic personality, it may be time to cast a more critical eye on not just the attacks, but the effects of those attacks on the Treasure State.
From the early days in the 2005 session where witnesses still shake their heads when they recall his famous “silver bullet” tantrum and the scars from the Kitzenberg conspiracy are still visible, to the blatant hypocrisy of Schweitzer’s recent condemnation of bills that he termed unconstitutional attempts at nullification coming on the heels of his own threats to ignore the mandates of the REAL ID Act, the Medicaid drug purchasing requirements, as well as the Endangered Species Act, Montana may be enduring more than a flamboyant gasbag. Brian Schweitzer may be a far more destructive force than anybody realized. And the effects may be felt around here for years to come.
For the last six years, Montana’s governor has carried on a concerted assault against the legislature on every front open to him. Some of his attacks have been just this side of libelous – calling legislators “the biggest bunch of boozers” (ignoring his own well-established affinity for a drink or seven)- to a far more insidious stealth campaign undermining the appropriation authority of the legislature. Even his unprecedented, unnecessary and completely unsuccessful lawsuit against the 2009 appropriations bill ended up with the legislature more bloodied than the administration. Montana’s legislature is truly a citizen body. They meet for 90 days every other year and are paid very little for the time and sacrifice that they make to serve. I don’t agree with every bill that’s being debated and I have to admit that some of them seem to be, if not frivolous, at least very unlikely to become law, given that they have to pass two houses and a veto-happy governor. But, IMHO, every single one of these bills has been requested by a duly elected representative of a legally constituted district of this state and therefore is inherently due the respect of a fair hearing and vote as provided by the rules. Whether or not anybody agrees with or likes a particular bill is irrelevant – it deserves its place in the process and if it survives and becomes law, that’s what the system is all about – and screw anybody who has a problem with that! Yet as we have seen year after year, Brian mounts a full-scale attack on individual legislators, and the legislature as a whole, to discredit them and confuse the public about what’s really going on in the law-making body of government.
As we enter the “meaty” part of the 2011 session where appropriations take center stage, the narrative has already been dictated by the Executive Branch – “Montana has a surplus – no need to cut essential services.” Anybody who has paid attention over the last six years knows that this administration has been every bit as fiscally irresponsible as the one in Washington DC. But the governor’s office has played a such a concerted shell game with the budget numbers, especially recently, that many Montanans – and the national media – believe that the state is running in the black, unlike most of the rest of the country. Listening to (or reading, if you have a weak stomach) Judy Woodruff’s lovefest interview of Mitch Daniels and Brian Schweitzer is enough to gag a maggot.
It’s only as a result of financial games that the governor can tout a budget surplus going into the next biennium: Raping and pillaging various “savings accounts” for one-time money to increase the revenue side of the ledger; Using a short-term trend line showing an uptick in state revenues as a guaranteed forecast of revenue growth; Heralding a “4% raise” for state employees that’s structured to minimally impact the biennial budget by having the largest share – 3% – take effect in January 2012 – so only six months of the raise is actually in this budget; and playing other games with the fiscal calendar and major state purchases that will cause humungous headaches for the next administration. (Could this be why there aren’t any credible Democrats willing to enter the race – they know they’ll be walking into a budget ambush worse than anything Custer ever imagined?)
Brian Schweitzer has proven to be a master at defining the debate. His colorful style appeals to a liberal media that wants to appear “fair and balanced” and is a willing accomplice to his “independent” schtick. He knows how to tell people what they want to hear – even if they know better. Despite the recent report from the non-partisan Center on Budget and Policy Priorities showing Montana as one of 45 states facing a budget shortfall for the 2012 – 2013 biennium, Governor BS continues to claim that our budget is totally balanced. And guess how much the CBPP says expected shortfall is? About $307 million – right in line with what the Legislative Services Division projected.
But you watch – starting next week, the governor will come out at every opportunity to castigate the members of the legislature for every unrelated, irrelevant, and even dead bill in order to change the storyline into one that undermines the legitimacy of the legislature. And that’s not a good thing for the State of Montana, because, while Brian advances his agenda and probably his political career, the people of Montana will be stuck with the tab.
What’s sad is that a big part of the cost will be the credibility of the branch of government that is closest to, and most responsive to, the will of the people. Our elected legislators deserve far more respect and deference from the Administrative branch of state government.
A wise man once said, “The most important leg of a three-legged stool is the one that’s missing.” Governor Schweitzer seems to be dedicating his best efforts to cutting off one of the three legs of state government. I hope the people of Montana are smart enough to take the ax away from him sooner rather than later.
