[420 Girl]

Two Republicans vying in southern Great Falls House District 20 cite the need for a business friendly environment to stir job creation.

Great Falls Police Lt. Jack Allen, 50, 248 17th Ave. S., is running for the Legislature a third time. He's been an alternate to two GOP national conventions.

Private attorney Steve Fitzpatrick, 31, 3203 15th Ave. S., is a newcomer, running for the first time.

"The most important issue facing Montana is the lack of good-paying jobs," Fitzpatrick said. "Too many young and educated people are leaving Montana to find employment."

He urged policies to attract business investment, including lower taxes, reduced red tape, reducing frivolous litigation and "encouraging environmentally responsible development of our natural resources."

Allen said Montanans "need to make sure our economic climate is vibrant and growing by finding ways to encourage businesses to relocate to Montana: building bridges instead of roadblocks."

He suggested permanent property tax relief, easing the burden on key small businesses and encouraging "responsible harvesting and marketing of our natural resources, including timber, wind, coal, natural gas, oil and hydro."

HD20 generally includes Great Falls neighborhoods south of 10th Avenue South and east of the Missouri River.

The district has been represented for six years by Democrat Deb Kottel, who couldn't seek re-election because of term limits.

The GOP winner faces the leader in the Democratic contest between Lee Anne Gills and Donna M. Zook.

Here are Allen's responses to Tribune questions:

How would you deal with the potential state deficit?

I really resist increasing taxes to resolve any budget shortfall. In the face of a deficit, I would lean toward leaving taxes alone, but cut spending. But I would resist cutting education.

Perhaps we should reconsider some of the expansion of state government jobs in recent years. Education revenue can be increased through effective land management by the State Land Board. Modeling our energy efforts after Wyoming's can also result in increasing revenue.

What should Montana do to develop its energy resources?

We are a distant echo to the productivity of neighboring states. Constraints that inhibit exploration and marketing of our resources need to be reduced. The Land Board needs to aggressively negotiate energy leases on the 5.2 million acres it controls.

Potentials are all over our state, not just in coal, but also oil — especially in eastern Montana. Let's get moving on them and claim some financial independence. One exciting new emerging energy technology which could use our supplies of natural gas is Bloom Energy's fuel cells: electric production without combustion.

What changes, if any, would you make in the Montana Medical Marijuana Act?

The current hodge-podge of largely unregulated growing and dealing of a controlled substance out of neighborhood homes, hotels and cars is probably not what voters had in mind when they passed this initiative.

Ideally, this drug would be prescribed and distributed through normal channels (local doctors and pharmacists), and its use wouldn't subject others to second-hand marijuana smoke.

However, since the federal government still deems this an illegal substance, those in the medical field are limited. Legislatively, we need to build a structure that models the mainstream pharmaceutical distribution system, including licensing and inspection of manufacturing and distribution centers. The initiativemade it legal, but there's much to be done to make it sensible.

What impact will national heath care reform have in Montana?

Health care reform is necessary, but not in the current form being shoved onto states, businesses and individuals by the federal government. I support the idea of Montana joining lawsuits.

Essentially an unfunded mandate, the "reform" will further burden already strained budgets. Another consequence is that it will de-incentivize those wishing to enter the medical field. Quality of health care will suffer.

Individuals are being forced to buy something they may not want. Alternatives include tort reform, revising mandates placed on Montana's health insurance companies, allowing doctors to deduct indigent treatment as charitable and opening the market for health insurance purchase across state lines.

Here are Fitzpatrick's answers to Tribune questions:

How would you deal with the potential state deficit?

I don't favor increasing taxes to support current spending. Under the Schweitzer administration, state general fund expenditures have increased 37 percent. That is excessive and unsustainable.

It is very difficult to cut state general fund expenditures because it's concentrated in education and human services. Legislators need to take a hard look at the services state government is providing and determine whether the benefit is worth the cost.

What should Montana do to develop its energy resources?

Montana is not doing enough to promote energy development. There is great opportunity for development of renewable energy. However, renewable energy development requires transmission lines, and Montana needs to develop a way to permit transmission lines more expeditiously.

I support development of coal mines and coal-fired generation in Montana. However, coal-fired generation is capital intensive. Potential developers cannot move forward until they can be reasonably certain of their capital and operating costs. We need to make sure our statutory and regulatory framework provides more predictability.

What changes, if any, would you make in the Montana Medical Marijuana Act?

When voters approved the act, it was with the understanding medical marijuana would only be used on a limited basis and for debilitating medical conditions. That intent is not being followed.

The law should be amended to:

1. Prevent cards from being issued to felons and convicted drug offenders.

2. Protect employers from the use of marijuana on the job.

3. More clearly define the types of illnesses eligible for medical marijuana.

4. Penalize physicians for abusing the statute.

5. Develop dosage regulations so medical marijuana does not become habit forming.

6. Make it a criminal offense to misrepresent a medical condition to obtain medical marijuana.

What impact will national heath care reform have in Montana?

There are two fundamental problems with President Obama's health care legislation.

First, the legislation cuts nearly half a trillion dollars from the Medicare budget. As a result, reimbursements to health care providers will be cut and fewer health care providers may be willing to take Medicare patients. Second, the legislation implemented a series of regulations that have been demonstrated to increase drastically the cost of health insurance.

Several years ago, Massachusetts enacted the same regulatory framework. Today, Massachusetts has the highest insurance rates in the country.

I believe the constitutionality of the legislation should be determined. But, because other states have filed suit, it is unnecessary for Montana to spend taxpayer resources on the same litigation.



News Hawk: Warbux 420 MAGAZINE
Source: greatfallstribune.com
Author: Peter Johnson
Contact: greatfallstribune.com | Great Falls Tribune | Great Falls news, community, entertainment, yellow pages and classifieds. Serving Great Falls, Montana
Copyright: 2010 Great Falls Tribune
Website: GOP's Allen, Fitzpatrick square off in primary | greatfallstribune.com | Great Falls Tribune


http://www.420magazine.com/forums/in...f-primary.html