State spending has skyrocketed under Bob Bergren
Editor:
The following data is from the governor's General Fund Budget Recommendations, available on the Montana government website. It shows Montana's ballooning government expenditures under Bob Bergren's tutelage.
Actual expenditures were as follows: 2002, $1.4 billion, and 2004, $1.3 billion (actual expenditures before Bob); 2006, $1.6 billion (actual by Bob); 2008, $2.1 billion (actual by Bob); and 2011, $1.9 billion (budget by Bob). Under Bob's guidance the actual expenditures and budget have expanded by 40 to 50 percent depending on the year. You have to ask yourself: Has your personal expenditures or salary increased by 50 percent in six years.
When most employees in the private sector are getting 0 to 2 percent salary increases of 10 to 25 cents, Bob is raising state expenditures by $500 million. How has your standard of living changed in Montana during this time? Is your standard of living better with these huge expenditures or not? How have these expenditures helped you live day-to-day? If Montana is flush with money, Bob is great for spending but very poor on saving. It is no wonder the governor's office is having a tough time balancing the current budget.
Of course we can blame the problem on poor economy, but whatever happened to saving during the good times for the hard times to come. Have you ever wondered how the Coal Trust Fund was to be used for the future of Montana and how it is used?
Bob is a great politician looking out for his political future. He will blame the budget problems on the economy not on his spending. Bob will puff out his chest, turn red in the face and tell you how important his legislative experience is promoting Hill County and Montana. By gosh, you just have to believe that without him in the driver's seat, Montana, Hill County and you will be lost without him. A person can be fiscally and socially responsible without these huge expenditure increases. If you want a fiscally responsible person who cares and takes action for the social welfare of those he serves, then you need to vote for a man who actually walks the talk. Vote Rollie Hutton, he truly cares about you, your future, the future of your children. Rollie will actually listen to and represent your concerns in the legislative process.
Jim Bennett
Havre
Editor:
The following data is from the governor's General Fund Budget Recommendations, available on the Montana government website. It shows Montana's ballooning government expenditures under Bob Bergren's tutelage.
Actual expenditures were as follows: 2002, $1.4 billion, and 2004, $1.3 billion (actual expenditures before Bob); 2006, $1.6 billion (actual by Bob); 2008, $2.1 billion (actual by Bob); and 2011, $1.9 billion (budget by Bob). Under Bob's guidance the actual expenditures and budget have expanded by 40 to 50 percent depending on the year. You have to ask yourself: Has your personal expenditures or salary increased by 50 percent in six years.
When most employees in the private sector are getting 0 to 2 percent salary increases of 10 to 25 cents, Bob is raising state expenditures by $500 million. How has your standard of living changed in Montana during this time? Is your standard of living better with these huge expenditures or not? How have these expenditures helped you live day-to-day? If Montana is flush with money, Bob is great for spending but very poor on saving. It is no wonder the governor's office is having a tough time balancing the current budget.
Of course we can blame the problem on poor economy, but whatever happened to saving during the good times for the hard times to come. Have you ever wondered how the Coal Trust Fund was to be used for the future of Montana and how it is used?
Bob is a great politician looking out for his political future. He will blame the budget problems on the economy not on his spending. Bob will puff out his chest, turn red in the face and tell you how important his legislative experience is promoting Hill County and Montana. By gosh, you just have to believe that without him in the driver's seat, Montana, Hill County and you will be lost without him. A person can be fiscally and socially responsible without these huge expenditure increases. If you want a fiscally responsible person who cares and takes action for the social welfare of those he serves, then you need to vote for a man who actually walks the talk. Vote Rollie Hutton, he truly cares about you, your future, the future of your children. Rollie will actually listen to and represent your concerns in the legislative process.
Jim Bennett
Havre
