Schweitzer wants to give small business a helping hand

By Leslie McCartney of The Montana Standard

Democratic candidate for governor Brian Schweitzer wants Montana to help small businesses prosper, aided by a favorable regulatory and tax environment.

He explained that

position and other stances to local Democrats at the Butte Burros Club

meeting Thursday in the Gold Rush.

In a room filled to

capacity, Schweitzer said most Montanans are employed with firms of 50 or fewer employees so it makes sense to encourage their well-being, rather than

looking for out-of-state

businesses to relocate here, he said.

"We need to grow the

businesses we already have," Schweitzer said.

Inextricably linked to business growth is the need to invest in Montana's

educational system, from kindergarten to the university system, he said. He said Montana's kids need to have access to quality education.

"We haven't done a very good job with education," Schweitzer said, drawing on a background in which his parents sacrificed to send their six children to college.

Keeping the educational system solid ties in with economic development. That's because education and other services, such as access to public lands and recreational opportunities, lure business and investment he said.

"They are not going to come here if the public schools aren't among the best in the country," he said.

Schweitzer says he'll push for straight talk and cooperation between the parties at the governor's mansion.

"We can't govern unless we start bringing people together," he said.

He plans to get to know legislators and work on

cooperative problem-solving.

"The governor's mansion should be more than just a place you sleep at night," he said.

He also wants to limit the influence corporate

lobbyists seem to exert over the state, legislators and laws.

"They shouldn't run (the state) and I think they have been," he said.

The candidate also talked about the bankruptcy of NorthWestern Energy and the devastating effect deregulation has had on the state, making it difficult for businesses to consider

relocation. Schweitzer said that if Montana-Dakota Utilities and the electric cooperatives band together to bid on the bankrupt utility, it might be a solution to the energy problem.

However, Butte-Silver Bow Chief Executive Judy Jacobson reminded Schweitzer that Butte fears it may lose jobs if NorthWestern is erased. Schweitzer said he's been told that if the consortium were to take over the company, it would keep the headquarters here.

But all of the discussion could be moot, Schweitzer said, because a Delaware bankruptcy judge — whose interest is to satisfy

creditors and not customers — will ultimately decide NorthWestern's fate.

"It's going to go to the highest bidder," he said. "We're not in control of our destiny."

Reporter Leslie McCartney may be reached via e-mail at leslie.mccartney@mtstandard.

com.