LETTER: Candidate disputes writer's assumptions

In his letter to the editor in the Inter Lake on May 24, Mr. William G. Burns Jr. presented statements that have some facts mixed with misguided fiction and vague generalities.

He is correct when he said that I was part of Republican leadership in the last legislative session, but he is wrong when he said “nothing has really been accomplished while Regier held a leadership role in the House.” It was the governor that was an obstacle to accomplishment when he vetoed 70 bills that the House and Senate put on his desk.

Even with those vetoes there was much accomplished last session. With Republican leadership, the governor’s plan to spend tens of millions to build a mental health facility at Warm Spring was replaced with a much less expensive community-based mental-health plan. This allows patients to stay in their hometown for treatment, and supports local health providers.

Because of Republican leadership, DUI laws were strengthened, making our roads safer and getting treatment to those with addiction problems. With Republican leadership, K-12 funding was passed early in the session with an inflation adjustment. This allows schools to set their next year’s budget in a responsible time frame.

Because of Republican leadership, the overworked state crime lab added an Eastern Montana office in Yellowstone County. This will help reduce the backlog of cases and get quicker information to the courts.

With Republican leadership, the state budget was passed with an increase for inflation.

With Republican leadership, about $90 million for infrastructure projects throughout the state was passed in several different bills. Included in these bills was money for Kidsports in Kalispell as well as irrigation districts, some roads and streambed restoration.

Because of Republican leadership, Whitefish received a $500,000 Treasure State Endowment grant in HB 11 for wastewater treatment.

Because of Republican leadership, income-tax reduction and tax simplification bills were put on the governor’s desk. These bills would have left more money in hard-working people’s pockets. The governor vetoed them.

Just because government didn’t grow doesn’t mean nothing was accomplished in the 2015 Montana legislative session.

—Keith Regier, Kalispell, Republican candidate SD3