Veteran Montana journalist Chuck Johnson weighs in on Schweitzer's governorship so far:
With the Legislature winding down, Gov. Brian Schweitzer has racked up a pretty hefty batting average so far. Nearly all of Schweitzer's initiatives and the bills he has backed are still alive, with most heading for passage. A tally sheet shows as of Saturday that 30 of the 34 bills the freshman governor backs are still alive, have passed both houses or already have been signed into law.
"I think we're doing great,'' Schweitzer said in an interview last week. Schweitzer was disappointed over the defeat of two pet proposals, but is figuring out how to skin these cats a different way. On a 50-50 vote, the House killed his idea to appropriate $400,000 to hire consultants to help a bipartisan commission of lawmakers and business executives ferret out $60 million in state government waste and inefficiencies. Republicans have criticized the idea as a costly re-election campaign gimmick that Schweitzer could do for nothing anyway.
"I wanted them to have an opportunity to have buy-in,'' Schweitzer said. "But they said no. Fine, we'll do it on our own.'' He's irked his ethics proposal got short shrift in a House committee. It would have prevented legislators, other elected officials and top officials from becoming lobbyists for two years after leaving office.
Schweitzer said he's strongly considering launching an initiative to put an ethics measure on the 2006 ballot. If so, he hinted it would be much broader and tougher than his bill.
A governor gets only two shots at the Legislature, which meets for 90 days every other year, barring special sessions. So a governor who advocates changes and I can't think of one who hasn't -- needs to hit the ground running that first legislative session. To complicate matters, the Legislature convenes the same day the new governor is sworn in.
A governor also has to ready to play the hand he or she is dealt in terms of legislative party makeup. Schweitzer, a Democrat, is lucky to have the first Senate controlled by Democrats since 1993. The House is evenly divided, with 50 Democrats and 50 Republicans, but it's the best that Democrats have fared there since 1991.
Schweitzer has used that Democratic majority in the Senate to full advantage, but still must persuade at least one Republican to support his bills to get them through the House -- if he can retain all 50 Democrats.
Schweitzer attributed some of his success to building relationships with individual legislators from both parties.
He said he's learned to ignore partisan attacks by some GOP leaders. Schweitzer compared it to training his border collie, "Jag,'' to pay no attention to the barking little neighborhood dog they pass as they walk to the Capitol from the governor's mansion every day.
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Still up in the air but likely to pass are proposals to provide purchasing pools and tax credits for employers offering their health insurance to their workers, to provide K-12 school funding and provide prescription drug assistance and discount programs.
Three pending controversial bills backed by Schweitzer would require ethanol mixed with gasoline for most vehicles by 2007, expand the production and use of alternative energy and crack down on tax cheating by corporations and wealthy individuals.
Horse Sense commentary
I love Schweitzer's idea for a statewide ethics referendum because it will tie in with the nationwide congressional campaign against the general stench of corruption emanating from the Republicans.