The race for House District 6 is a familiar one as incumbent Republican Bill Beck takes on Democrat challenger Scott Wheeler for the third time. The 990-square-mile district encompasses much of Flathead County’s west valley and Whitefish Lake.
Despite the political déjà vu, each candidate says this race is different as the next Legislature will surely face an austere session. Having held the seat for two terms, Beck said his priorities in Helena would concern the budget and states’ rights.
Beck noted that the state would most likely have an estimated revenue shortfall of $400 million to $500 million, which will affect current and future government programs.
“There’s not going to be much money available,” Beck said. “It’s going to be very critical.”
To cut spending, Beck wants to take a hard look at current state departments and will be wary of any new programs.
“Probably many of them will never make it,” he said.
Beck would also like to eliminate the business equipment tax and cut back on some government red tape so businesses are not overregulated. Responsibly developing the state’s natural resources would also provide jobs and revenue, he said.
States’ rights and personal freedom are high on Beck’s list as well, and he said the Legislature should take steps to ensure those rights are protected.
“I feel that the federal government has deliberately and without conscience attempted to dilute these constitutional rights,” Beck wrote in an e-mail interview.
Beck also said there is not currently a good policy for government transparency, and he thinks a website that shows government expenditures would be a good start.
As for education, Beck said school districts should have more control over their discretionary spending, though they should spend money wisely. He also added that a money saving solution could be through district consolidation.
“I’m for education 100 percent, but at the same time, I’m a fiscal conservative,” Beck said.
As the Democrat challenger, Wheeler said he entered the race because he does not feel the district has been represented well in the past two sessions.
“We lack the leadership and we lack the representation we need in the West Valley,” Wheeler said.
Having spent 30 years in various leadership positions in the Army, Wheeler believes he can bring the kind of guidance and solutions HD 6 needs. He also said he would work across party lines without fear of party retribution as long as the solution benefits residents in his district.
Wheeler’s priority is education and making sure state education funds don’t end up paying the bills for other programs. Consolidation would not work in HD 6, Wheeler noted, because the schools there are already almost at full capacity.
There are also many residents who qualify for the state Children’s Health Insurance Program, Wheeler said, though he is worried the program will be targeted for cuts in the upcoming session.
To help the state increase revenue, Wheeler proposes eliminating the business equipment tax, something he criticized Republicans for talking about but never accomplishing.
He also would like to end corporate royalty tax breaks when it comes to energy development.
Medical marijuana and worker’s compensation will provide opportunities for both parties to work together, Wheeler said, because good ideas will come from both sides of the aisle.
Wheeler believes the problems facing Montana should be approached the same way he approached problems in Vietnam, Germany and while teaching history at the United States Military Academy at West Point: identify the issue, consider possible options and craft something positive for the affected people.
“There are solutions to really tough problems if you’re willing to study the issue,” Wheeler said.
The general election is Nov. 2. Mail-in ballots are available until noon on Nov. 1.
BEACON ELECTION 2010 CANDIDATE QUESTIONNAIRE: House District 6
1. How should the state revise the reappraisal process, if at all?
2. How, specifically, should the state deal with a predicted budget deficit?
3. How should the Legislature handle the funding shortfall facing schools when one-time stimulus money runs out next year?
NAME: Bill Beck
PARTY: Republican
OCCUPATION: Retired
YEARS IN THE VALLEY: 20 years
1. Montana can have a system that is affordable and equitable for all Montana property owners and a predictable, stable source of revenue for the state. Montana could implement for class 3 and 4 a refined model similar to the Michigan Property Tax system, such as the 100 Percent Market Value Reappraisal could be adjusted by tax rates and exemptions and taxes not to exceed a 3 percent increase per year. Reappraise every two years commencing in 2012. This would reflect more accurately the current changes in the economy.
2. With predicted shortfalls in revenue estimates going as high as $400 million to $500 million at the start of the next legislative session, it will be imperative to closely scrutinize the base budget the Executive Branch proposes to the Legislature. There will be NO expansion of state government and services. New programs requiring additional funding for employees and services will not be looked on favorably. The state will have to tighten its belt by cuts in spending and concentrate on growing the state’s economy by doing what the state should be doing and that is supporting our small businesses and employers.
3. When the stimulus money was accepted, which I did not vote for, it was well understood that this was only a temporary fix that the state would have to deal with eventually. Already there is talk of consolidation to some point which may be a reality. The state budget for schools including higher education already demands more money from the state general fund than any other state agency. The schools will have to be innovative with their budgets as well. The state is required by statute to fund the schools to a large degree but as to
NAME: Col. Scott Wheeler
AGE: 63
PARTY: Democratic
OCCUPATION: Historian; retired military
YEARS IN THE VALLEY: eleven continuous; My Grandfather lived in Lakeside, 1935-57, and we live on land we bought starting in 1977.
1. I favor a system similar to California’s Proposition 13, which limits annual increase to about 1.5%. The valuation of a property for taxes would change with the sale of the property, and should be based on the actual sale price.
2. I think the governor is right in saying we will not have a deficit going into the session. We need to keep the budget balanced without raising income or property taxes.
3. The state must fill the gap from the general fund. Education is a primary state responsibility. The state should pay for the additional costs of special education children, rather than shifting this to the school districts.