Montanans protest Republican assault on working families, environment #p2

HELENA, Mont. - Montanans from Helena and across the state assembled at the State Capitol here on President's Day to reject the ultra-right state legislature's assault on working families.

Among what are considered the worst pieces of legislation to be introduced this session are bills to privatize veterans' homes, roll back public employee salaries to 2005 levels, criminalize abortion and prohibit its coverage by insurance plans, cap state employee salaries, slash budgets for the Montana university system, gut state environmental law, repeal incentives for renewable energy - and even declare global climate change to be beneficial for the state.

With Republicans in Montana's legislative bodies going to town on the State budget with what the protestor's categorize as reckless abandon, it would be easy to assume that the state was in the midst of a financial crisis. However, Montana has over $350 billion in the bank, a luxury previous governments secured by not deflating surpluses through handouts for the rich. Furthermore, Gov. Brian Schweitzer, a Democrat, has proposed a budget that maintains funding levels for public programs and still allows the government to live within its means.

The Republican attack on Montanans brought people from all walks of life, and from all around the state, to Helena, beginning with an assembly on the Capitol lawn under a banner reading "For love of Montana", and featuring a spirited crowd of environmental activists. Conservationists, hunters, families and concerned citizens of all types gathered to join in song and discussion within view of the lawmakers who were debating these bills.

Speakers denounced what they say is a false dichotomy presented by the Republican-led state House and Senate, whose ultra-right members are attempting to pose environmental regulation, green energy investment and conservation as threats to job creation.

"It doesn't have to be one way or the other," argued Ed Gulick, architect from Billings and chairman of the Northern Plains Resource Council, as he explained how projects to make buildings more energy efficient have driven demand for workers in various trades. "We can have jobs where our people live, in our towns and cities. Jobs for general contractors, carpenters, window installers, insulation installers, architects, engineers, electricians, plumbers."

As the rally drew to a close, busloads of public employees and their allies began to gather before the Capitol building steps for another rally against the Republicans' cuts. Throughout the afternoon, speakers underscored the importance of public employees.

rest at http://peoplesworld.org/montanans-protest-republican-assault-on-working-families-environment/