Guest Column: Workers' comp bills top agenda

Montana leads the nation in rates charged for Workman’s Compensation Insurance but help is on the way.

Landmark legislation aimed at fixing the problem is being detailed this week, and details may already have been released by the time you read this. It should hold the top story during this fourth week of the 62nd Montana Legislative session.

Two bills are being introduced, and I am very excited about the bill coming through the House. It promises to be the answer to one of the major unfair costs of doing business in Montana. I had input as the bill was being written, and I am a co-sponsor. Details were to be announced earlier this week.

Every day we are scrutinizing budgets of each part of state government. We asked them to submit a plan for 5 percent below previous expenditures. Everyone wants something reduced, just not their fund.

My main committee is appropriations, and my joint subcommittee is natural resources and transportation.

I do have a bill in the works to authorize a wolf license to be spent for killing killer wolves, restitution to ranchers losing livestock and collaring of wolves. This money was intended for these three purposes and needs authorization.

My bill probably will be combined into a bigger bill that Sen. Chas. Vincent is designing.

Duncan Livingston, high school junior from Eureka, is serving as a page this week. I was happy to nominate him and that actually was my first piece of official business as representative for House District 2. He will do a great job and learn a lot, too.

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(Republican Mike Cuffe serves District 2 in the House of Representatives).