Stimulus and responsibility

Inter Lake editorial

Montana lawmakers, who are migrating to Helena for the start of the 61st Montana Legislature on Monday, are likely to discover that their hands are tied in terms of expanding government programs and spending.

Or will they? Back in Washington, D.C., the incoming Obama administration is cooking up an economic stimulus package that is expected to disburse somewhere in the neighborhood of $800 million mostly to state and local governments for the purpose of creating 2.5 million jobs.

States have reportedly already identified $136 billion in so-called 'shovel-ready" projects that can be launched within 120 days of being funded. It will be interesting to see how the Montana Legislature and Gov. Brian Schweitzer pursue this pot of money.

And Montana may be in a position to get more than its fair share, with an ace up the sleeve named Sen. Max Baucus, chairman of the Senate Finance Committee. From that powerful position, Baucus could steer federal funding to Montana, if the state can muster a roster of worthy, shovel-ready projects.

If there aren't worthy projects, however, we hope that Montana's political leaders can show restraint and avoid the temptation of putting their hands out for a dollop of pork just because 'someone will get the money if we don't."

We're hopeful that Barack Obama will hold firm on recent statements demanding accountability in stimulus spending.

"If we're building a road, it better not be a road to nowhere," he said last month at a meeting with governors in Philadelphia. And if we're going to get change, let's start with change in the way government does business with the taxpayer's money.

Under the current conditions, everyone has a right to expect more responsible spending on both sides of the aisle.

"Taxpayers are in no mood to have a single dollar wasted, but it's not yet been explained how their tax dollars will be protected," said Senate GOP leader Mitch McConnell this week.

The Democratic controlled Congress is poised to act quickly, with House Speaker Nancy Pelosi saying she hopes to have stimulus legislation ready for the new president by Jan. 20 - just as the Montana budgeting process will be in full swing.

With such a fast-track schedule, it appears that restraint and accountability will have to come from leaders at the state and local levels, as well as the national level. Here's hoping that our elected officials are up to the task.