Opponents differ on view of government in HD 8 race
By JOHN STANG
The Daily Inter Lake
Both Randy Kenyon and Craig Witte want to tinker with state government.
Republican Witte wants to shrink it.
Democrat Kenyon thinks some programs can be expanded without increasing taxes.
The two square off Nov. 7 to replace Rep. Tim Dowell, D-Kalispell, who is stepping down because he reached the four-term limit for the Montana House.
Witte takes his stance on smaller government literally, wanting to introduce legislation to cut Montana's state senators from 50 to 40 and its House members from 100 to 80 after the 2010 federal census figures come out. Montana's Constitution allows 40 to 50 senators and 80 to 100 representatives.
On education, Kenyon wants the legislature to examine and change the property-tax structure used to finance schools, to make taxation of homes steadier over years and less dependent on major fluctuations in property values.
Meanwhile, Witte wants to make it legal for school districts to accumulate surplus funds at the end of their budget years, and carry that money over for big-budget items. He also wants to consolidate many school system administrations - especially with smaller districts - into fewer districts to cut overhead costs statewide.
Kenyon is targeting health care for reform - saying many Montanans are underinsured and that backlashes on the state's economy. He believes the state should help subsidize health insurance for low-income children. He also believes state government should increase the number of small businesses that it helps subsidize for health insurance.
Witte contended that increasing state subsidies for health insurance for small businesses might backfire in that those small firms might be encouraged to cut back on part-time employees to meet the state's thresholds to be eligible. He speculated that the state could give some type of tax credit for small businesses providing health insurance to their employees.
Witte also is pushing for some property-tax rebates or cuts since the state expects a potential $500 million surplus when the current budget biennium finishes in June 2007. He also wants to abolish the state income tax and replace it with a 4 percent sales tax. And he wants to abolish the state's tax on business-related equipment .
Kenyon is taking a more wait-and-see approach - if elected - before mapping out his broader agenda in the legislature.
Both candidates support Gov. Brian Schweitzer's push to create more energy-production sources in Montana. Kenyon contends alternative sources should be aggressively explored, especially wind power and biomass energy production.
With almost seven years on Kalispell's City Council, Kenyon contends he is more ready than Witte - who has never held an elected government office - to step into the state legislature. However, Witte cited his experience as a business owner, saying he would be responsive to the taxpayers' interests.
Reporter John Stang may be reached at 758-4429 or by e-mail at jstang@dailyinterlake.com