Peterson challenges Taylor for House seat

By CANDACE CHASE

The Daily Inter Lake

Democrat Denise Peterson challenges incumbent Republican Janna Taylor in the race to represent House District 11 in the 2007 legislative session.

Peterson, an attorney, places a priority on education, the environment and health care as she seeks to represent the district encompassing parts of Lake and Flathead County, including Polson.

"The economy and environment walk hand in hand in Montana," Peterson said.

She said legislators must work to protect "our way of life" while still making it possible to live and work at good jobs. Peterson said people depend on the environment and it depends on them.

She said Montanans have "a constitutional right to a clean and healthful environment." While promoting economic development, Peterson said she will provide remedies to prevent unreasonable depletion or degradation of natural resources.

She promises to sponsor, co-sponsor or promote legislation to expand alternative and renewable energy in Montana to lessen dependence on foreign oil.

Peterson would draw on her background in public utility law to help moderate electricity markets and control future electricity expenses for the public power provided to Flathead Electric Cooperative.

"I will sponsor legislation to put Montana Power's successor, NorthWestern Energy, back under full Public Service Commission regulation," she said.

According to Peterson, Flathead Electric supports this concept.

The Democratic candidate said the high cost of education now drives Montanans out of the state.

"Education is no longer affordable as it was when I was going to college," Peterson said. "We're losing graduates because they can't earn enough to pay back the high cost of education."

She plans to promote legislation to provide incentives for employers to hire graduates and forgive a portion of college debt for each year they work in Montana.

Peterson supports the Democratic plan created in the last Legislature that she said provides equitable funding for Montana's schools without raising taxes.

Incumbent Taylor said she wants to rework the education funding formula.

The Republican candidate served on the House Appropriations Committee that builds agency budgets and reviews all legislation that brings associated costs. Between sessions, she sat on the interim audit committee.

"These two committees are the best place to watch out for the interests of the taxpayers and the citizens of our area," she said.

House District 11

Taylor said that the state's projected $550 million surplus should be returned to the people who were "over-taxed."

Other parts of Taylor's legislative program include:

. Permanently reduce property taxes.

. Repeal the water tax.

. Allow a tax deduction for families that pay their own health care.

. Pass a Jessica's law to protect Montana children.

. Make Montana business-friendly to compete with neighboring states.

. Limit eminent domain to protect private property rights.

. Pass a comprehensive ethics bill.

. Protect services for veterans and seniors.

Since representative can't begin the bill process until they are re-elected, Taylor said she is working with "holdover" senators on several pieces of legislation to correct problems she perceives in Montana.

"Our hit-and-run penalties when a fatality is involved are among the most lenient in the nation," she said.

Taylor also is working on legislation to support "energy pre-approval sites" to speed up the permitting process and help lower rates. She has an ethics bill written and promises to get behind tax relief for small businesses in Montana.

"Our small businesses should not have to pay more personal property taxes than those of our neighboring states," she said. "We need jobs that keep our youth here."

Reporter Candace Chase may be reached at 758-4436 or by e-mail at cchase@dailyinterlake.com.