As new year begins, Schweitzer touts state’s financial condition

By CHARLES S. JOHNSON Missoulian State Bureau | Posted: Saturday, January 2, 2010 6:45 am 

HELENA – Looking back at 2009, Gov. Brian Schweitzer said he’s proud that Montana state government has stayed in the black financially at a time when most states are drowning in red ink.

“It gives us a great deal of pride that when 48 states zigged, we zagged,” the Democratic governor said in a recent interview. “We were certainly not visionaries, but when times were good, we put money aside to get through this current downturn.

By CHARLES S. JOHNSON Missoulian State Bureau | Posted: Saturday, January 2, 2010 6:45 am 

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HELENA – Looking back at 2009, Gov. Brian Schweitzer said he’s proud that Montana state government has stayed in the black financially at a time when most states are drowning in red ink.

“It gives us a great deal of pride that when 48 states zigged, we zagged,” the Democratic governor said in a recent interview. “We were certainly not visionaries, but when times were good, we put money aside to get through this current downturn.

“Do we have enough money set aside to get us through this current downturn? I don’t know. I think so. I hope so, but I know this: We did a better job than 48 other states.”

Schweitzer remains optimistic, but added: “In this particular case, I’m going to wear suspenders and a belt. So I’m going to continue to look for money that we can keep in the bank.”

Another area of pride, Schweitzer said, is the growing wind power industry in Montana, both wind farms and transmission lines.

“We did start with no wind power on the day I was elected, less than 1 megawatt, and we’re growing our portfolio at the fastest rate in the country,” he said. “I just got back from the Western Governors (Association) meeting, and it was clear among wind developers that the place they all want to go, the place that’s most active, the place that’s got the most projects is Montana.”

Schweitzer is finishing the first year of his second term and the fifth year of his governorship. He has three years remaining.

His biggest disappointment in 2009 was a personal one, the death of his father, Adam, 89, on Dec. 4.

“You know, he had a good run,” Schweitzer said. “The last few years were tough with Alzheimer’s. It’s never easy to bury a parent. That has nothing to do with government, but I can’t divorce myself from between who I am and who I serve, so that has to be the biggest disappointment.”

Next on his disappointment list was the University of Montana football team’s 23-21 loss to Villanova for the NCAA Football Championship Subdivision title. Although Schweitzer said he’s a Montana State University Bobcat backer at heart because he received his master’s degree there, he becomes a Grizzly fan during the football playoffs.

“I think that Bobby Hauck is the best coach in the history of the state, and I just wish they had another field goal,” Schweitzer said of the UM coach, who is the new head coach at the University of Nevada Las Vegas. “They deserve to be the national champions, but as far as I’m concerned, they’re still the champions.”

Looking at the state’s general fund budget, Schweitzer said even with the Legislative Fiscal Division projections of reduced tax collections, the state is expected to wind up with a general fund balance of some $40 million by mid-2011. That’s the target that some legislative sessions aimed for in the past, he said.

Schweitzer, whose administration has found about $6 million in budget cuts in recent months, said he isn’t done.

“I’m going to root around until I find as much as possible,” he said. “I promise you this, that it’s become a passion of mine right now, and I’m going to continue to hunt and peck and find ways of saving money.”

Schweitzer eliminated five rural development officer jobs in the Commerce Department, four of which were filled. More layoffs may follow, he said, if he finds two agencies delivering the same services.

Looking to the 2010 elections, Schweitzer said he believes Democrats “have a pretty good story to tell.”

“I think they can say if you like good fiscal management, if you like the new energy development, if you like investments in health care in the past, you’re going to like it in the future,” he said.

Voters ought to worry if Republicans control the Legislature, he said, because most of them opposed his proposals.

Schweitzer said he’ll support those Democratic lawmakers who have backed his agenda and who pledge to do so in the future, but questioned whether it matters much. Voters decide based on the individual candidates, not endorsements, he said.

“I’m not up for election, so it might be that in an off-year election like this, I might be able to spend a little more time fishing and hunting,” he said. “Jag (his dog) is anxious to get out more. Frankly, he’s tired of politics.”

Although Schweitzer faces his fourth and final regular legislative session in 2011, he suggested he doesn’t want to burn up the clock, but was mum on the details.

“I think there’s some long passes left in the Schweitzer administration,” he said, adding he hopes to be a fourth-quarter administration like the Grizzlies’ football team often was this season.

Missoulian State Bureau reporter Charles S. Johnson can be reached at (406) 447-4066 or at chuck.johnson@lee.net.