SQUARE DEAL OR NO DEAL?<\/p>\n
The event is organized, the audience is prepped, the cameras are ready, and the star takes the stage to thunderous applause. Oh wait \u00e2\u20ac\u201c it\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s not Howie Mandell and twenty-six gorgeous models \u00e2\u20ac\u201c it\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s Brian Schweitzer and Margie MacDonald and the Montana Democrats\u00e2\u20ac\u2122 version of the latest hit TV show \u00e2\u20ac\u201c Square Deal or No Deal.<\/p>\n
Ok Montana \u00e2\u20ac\u201c what\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s 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?<\/p>\n
Open the case, Margie.<\/p>\n
It\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s a $400 one-time property tax rebate. Yea! Clap, clap, clap!<\/p>\n
Wow \u00e2\u20ac\u201c Mr. and Mrs. Montana $400!!! Of course, it\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s a one-time only thing, and it\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s only for your primary residence, and only if you are a full-time resident of Montana. And it\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s a rebate \u00e2\u20ac\u201c so you\u00e2\u20ac\u2122ll have to pay income taxes on it. But hey, call it $325; it\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s money, right?<\/p>\n
Oh \u00e2\u20ac\u201c you\u00e2\u20ac\u2122re a renter? Sorry. Your landlord won\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t be getting this rebate on his rental unit, so there\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s no hope you\u00e2\u20ac\u2122ll see anything from it.<\/p>\n
What? You have a couple of acres up in the Flathead that you\u00e2\u20ac\u2122ve 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 \u00e2\u20ac\u201c too bad. Nothing for you. Just because you\u00e2\u20ac\u2122re living on a small pension and social security \u00e2\u20ac\u201c you\u00e2\u20ac\u2122re too rich to deserve a break on your property taxes.<\/p>\n
Hmmm\u00e2\u20ac\u00a6 you’ve got a ranch out in eastern Montana. Dang \u00e2\u20ac\u201c that\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s agricultural property, not residential. You don\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t qualify either. Nada, zip, zilch!<\/p>\n
Let\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s see. The Democrats are offering maybe about half of the state\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s taxpayers a one-time $400 (well almost, sorta) bribe to get your vote for local legislative candidates.<\/p>\n
Whaddayasay Montana — Square Deal? Or \u00e2\u20ac\u00a6\u00e2\u20ac\u00a6\u00e2\u20ac\u00a6.<\/p>\n
NO DEAL!!!!!!!!!<\/p>\n
Well, Governor Shyster, I mean Schweitzer, Montanans are smarter than you give them credit for. They\u00e2\u20ac\u2122ll see through the hoopla and realize that the Republican\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s Handshake with Montana is a commitment to significantly reduce property taxes permanently for all Montanans. <\/p>\n
That\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s a REAL DEAL.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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 \u00e2\u20ac\u201c it\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s not Howie Mandell and twenty-six gorgeous models \u00e2\u20ac\u201c it\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s Brian … Continue reading