After listening to about 2 hours or so of testimony from DPHHS administrators, chronicling the dire outlook for the economic well-being of the hundreds of thousands of needy souls who will wander through the portals of the state’s various social welfare offices during the next two years and plaintively whining about the worsening situations facing a dramatically increasing number of poor Montanans, freshman senator Rowlie Hutton (R-Havre) hit the proverbial nail smack on the head.

Senator Hutton respectfully queried the gentleman from DPHHS about how they could be projecting such a significant increased demand for social services when the governor’s office is telling the legislature that the state’s economic future will be brighter than a neon flamingo.

Oops. Cue the deer-in-headlights, jaw-drop look by said administrator. Hadn’t thought that one through. Which is it Governor — a robust, healthy, growing economy that will magically fill the state’s coffers to practically overflowing with abundance – or a bleak biennium beset by burgeoning demands of a continuing downturn?

Maybe the administration ought to decide what tune they want to sing and make sure the whole choir has the same music.