Does The State Budget Surplus Mean We Were Overtaxed??

There was a great letter to the editor in yesterday's Missoulian regarding Tester's campaign ad that brags about the $500 Million budget surplus.

The writer states that a budget surplus equates to the citizens being over taxed. I agree with him! When can we expect to get some of our money back?

Tester, Schweitzer support overtaxing

I was amused with the new Jon Tester radio ad. In it, Gov. Brian Schweitzer talks about how he and his good friend Tester worked to save and lower Montana's taxes, and now “we,” the residents of Montana, have over $500 million in the bank. Folks, if Brian, Jon and the rest of Montana's elected officials have $500 million in the bank, they overtaxed you and me.

I don't know about you, but $1 million is a lot of money, so if there are 940,000 citizens in our great state, do the math. My calculator only goes to $50 million, so I hope the math is correct: That would be about $531 per Montanan. Now, if there are two children per family, that doubles this to $1,062 per taxpayer, so that's close to $100 a month in excess taxes to live in the great state of Montana. Good job, Brian and Jon. By the way Mr. Schweitzer, in one of your first budgets, you put $350,000 away in case the motor in the governor's jet went out, and Jon, you approved that budget. Where is the money? Do you have a new motor in the jet?

Please, before you cast your vote, check the voting habit of your candidate. Tester's voting record was partially recorded in the Oct. 3 Missoulian's editorial page. Please check it out. Your vote could put a serious dent in your wallet. Know what the conservative Republican Party stands for and what the liberal Democratic Party stands for, both morally and fiscally.

Think Montana!Tim Orr, St. Ignatius