District 7 hopefuls want tax burdens eased

The two buzz words in the upcoming election are “jobs” and “budget,” and the treatment of those issues by candidates Randy Brodehl, Steven Thompson and Karen Reeves likely will determine the next representative for House District 7.

Realistically, both issues need to be addressed in the upcoming legislative session, current Rep. Jon Sonju said.

After serving the district for the past three terms, Sonju is running for the open seat in Senate District 4, leaving up for grabs the House seat representing the rural areas that run along U.S. 93 between Kalispell and Whitefish plus much of Evergreen along U.S. 2.

Brodehl and Thompson are vying in the June 8 primary election for the Republican nomination in House District 7. The winner there faces Reeves, a Democrat who is unopposed in the primary, in the November general election.

Early voting for the primary election begins on May 10.

Brodehl and Thompson both say they want to rein in state spending and control the budget. Reeves is more interested in supporting job growth and work-force training.

The Republican candidates tend to see things a bit differently. The Flathead is known for its hard-working people, but when businesses are saddled with heavy tax burdens to buoy the state, they can’t afford to employ those people.

“We’re stripping any revenues companies are making,” Brodehl said.

Since retiring from the Kalispell Fire Department as chief in 2008, Brodehl has run a small custom cabinet business with his wife, Joyce.

It has given him a strong lesson in economics and budgeting and has increased his distaste for the state business equipment tax. He said the tax is stripping small businesses like his own down to nothing, making it difficult for business owners to reinvest in the community.

Whether it’s hiring new workers or contributing to neighborhood causes, Brodehl said he believes that community investment is what ultimately will bring back the economy here in the Flathead.

Thompson also would like to see the equipment tax repealed. “It’s basically an anti-investment tax,” he said.

Thompson, who has spent the past eight years at Semitool (now Applied Materials), has experienced firsthand what he says is the only way a business can survive a tough economy — to rein in spending and budget within its means. And that is exactly what he wants to see happen within the state of Montana.

“The major thing is going to be not spending so much,” he said. “I think it’s absolutely imperative.”

That may mean cutting government-sponsored programs, and it also may mean cutting jobs.

“I think government is getting way too large. It’s too large to fund,” Thompson said.

Brodehl said he believes some government agencies can be consolidated or even eliminated to reduce debt load. He believes more can be done than just cutting back on Blackberries for government employees and stretching out computer replacements — two of four items Gov. Schweitzer recently released as the top ideas from the public for tightening the budget.

From his experience working with a global company and dealing with outposts overseas (where he said taxes are up to 10 percent lower than here), Thompson said he hopes the administration backs off.

“The government always thinks they have to do something to bring in business,” he said. “They just need to get out of the way.”

Increased regulations and taxes, including the business equipment tax, make it difficult to attract quality business investment. He says that repealing some of those regulations and lowering the taxes will encourage companies to invest in expansion and job creation.