SQUARE DEAL OR NO DEAL?

The event is organized, the audience is prepped, the cameras are ready, and the star takes the stage to thunderous applause. Oh wait – it’s not Howie Mandell and twenty-six gorgeous models – it’s Brian Schweitzer and Margie MacDonald and the Montana Democrats’ version of the latest hit TV show – Square Deal or No Deal.

Ok Montana – what’s in the case held by the lovely, albeit slightly frumpy, Ms. MacDonald? Could it be the fortune that will change your life? Could it be enough to pay off the car and take the kids to Disneyland? Could it be enough to help you make it to the end of the month for the next couple of years?

Open the case, Margie.

It’s a $400 one-time property tax rebate. Yea! Clap, clap, clap!

Wow – Mr. and Mrs. Montana $400!!! Of course, it’s a one-time only thing, and it’s only for your primary residence, and only if you are a full-time resident of Montana. And it’s a rebate – so you’ll have to pay income taxes on it. But hey, call it $325; it’s money, right?

Oh – you’re a renter? Sorry. Your landlord won’t be getting this rebate on his rental unit, so there’s no hope you’ll see anything from it.

What? You have a couple of acres up in the Flathead that you’ve lived on and paid higher and higher property taxes on for thirty-some years and now your property is worth a little over $500,000. Oh – too bad. Nothing for you. Just because you’re living on a small pension and social security – you’re too rich to deserve a break on your property taxes.

Hmmm… you’ve got a ranch out in eastern Montana. Dang – that’s agricultural property, not residential. You don’t qualify either. Nada, zip, zilch!

Let’s see. The Democrats are offering maybe about half of the state’s taxpayers a one-time $400 (well almost, sorta) bribe to get your vote for local legislative candidates.

Whaddayasay Montana — Square Deal? Or ……….

NO DEAL!!!!!!!!!

Well, Governor Shyster, I mean Schweitzer, Montanans are smarter than you give them credit for. They’ll see through the hoopla and realize that the Republican’s Handshake with Montana is a commitment to significantly reduce property taxes permanently for all Montanans.

That’s a REAL DEAL.