Montana Speaker of the House Austin Knudsen, AKA Mr. Fabulous, has one bad idea after another.
It starts with his decision to toe the party line in the Missoulian today, although from the number of times he referenced his caucus, I’d say they’re the ones calling the shots.
And when I say caucus I mean Wittich and Essman, two perennial Montana losers.
Knudsen’s ignorance shines through for all to see when he talks about the following issues:
Let’s get into these and see if we can decipher any of his doublespeak.
It starts with his decision to toe the party line in the Missoulian today, although from the number of times he referenced his caucus, I’d say they’re the ones calling the shots.
And when I say caucus I mean Wittich and Essman, two perennial Montana losers.
Knudsen’s ignorance shines through for all to see when he talks about the following issues:
- Infrastructure;
- Schools;
- Taxes.
Let’s get into these and see if we can decipher any of his doublespeak.
On the infrastructure front, Mr. Fabulous makes it plain that he doesn’t want a $350 million surplus and would rather give that back to taxpayers in the form of permanent income tax breaks. The $400 refund that went out to thousands of Montanans in 2007? That was a “gimmick,” which anything that helps common people is.
Remember, Knudsen is the kind that gets pushed around by his oil bosses. He has no cojones of his own.
Getting to infrastructure again, Knudsen does feel that paying cash is better than bonding, and I will agree with him on that – if we’re not going to have a surplus it’ll damn well be because we invest in infrastructure for oil companies, not direct stimulus to thousands of Montana businesses by consumers when they get that check in the mail.
Now, I do feel that income tax rebates will help the rich out, so there is that.
Back to infrastructure, Knudsen points out that his hometown of Sidney can easily spend $50 million a year on shit, he just needs the go-head. In that regard, he’s quite similar to that Democrat in Podunk waiting for funding on the butterfly farm and that Democrat in Nowhereville waiting on funding for that rainbow net – he wants government to do what private businesses or individuals should do, but won’t. So…he wants handouts.
This really shouldn’t come as a surprise – Knudsen couldn’t exist without handouts. I mean, how many thousands of dollars does he get from the feds each year to prop up that farm? Oh yeah, sorry – hobbyist ranch. Or is he a gentleman farmer? I’m just not sure when you’re only playing around for appearances and not really relying on that for a living. (And it was $700,000 in government handouts that Knudsen took, by the way – what a flaming hypocrite).
But back to infrastructure, I’m not sure if we can afford to give the oil companies such a break when we’ve got countless thousands of families struggling each day. Perhaps one more parent could work if they had daycare, daycare that didn’t cost $500 to $1,500 a month. And let’s not talk about the $1,288 the $8.05 will give them each month – I mean, do we need to go back to first grade for math too? I’d like some in the Chamber of Commerce to.
Remember, Knudsen is the kind that gets pushed around by his oil bosses. He has no cojones of his own.
Getting to infrastructure again, Knudsen does feel that paying cash is better than bonding, and I will agree with him on that – if we’re not going to have a surplus it’ll damn well be because we invest in infrastructure for oil companies, not direct stimulus to thousands of Montana businesses by consumers when they get that check in the mail.
Now, I do feel that income tax rebates will help the rich out, so there is that.
Back to infrastructure, Knudsen points out that his hometown of Sidney can easily spend $50 million a year on shit, he just needs the go-head. In that regard, he’s quite similar to that Democrat in Podunk waiting for funding on the butterfly farm and that Democrat in Nowhereville waiting on funding for that rainbow net – he wants government to do what private businesses or individuals should do, but won’t. So…he wants handouts.
This really shouldn’t come as a surprise – Knudsen couldn’t exist without handouts. I mean, how many thousands of dollars does he get from the feds each year to prop up that farm? Oh yeah, sorry – hobbyist ranch. Or is he a gentleman farmer? I’m just not sure when you’re only playing around for appearances and not really relying on that for a living. (And it was $700,000 in government handouts that Knudsen took, by the way – what a flaming hypocrite).
But back to infrastructure, I’m not sure if we can afford to give the oil companies such a break when we’ve got countless thousands of families struggling each day. Perhaps one more parent could work if they had daycare, daycare that didn’t cost $500 to $1,500 a month. And let’s not talk about the $1,288 the $8.05 will give them each month – I mean, do we need to go back to first grade for math too? I’d like some in the Chamber of Commerce to.
Bullock wants $37 million for early childhood education, and all the experts point to this helping the states that do it and the people and the businesses and just about everyone, everyone that is but Knudsen. Does he have kids…oh yeah - he'll fund charter schools to take care of his little angels. Wouldn't want to sully them with your kids, after all.
But let’s get back to infrastructure…or let’s not. I’ve gotten a bit worked up talking about all this, and I’m not sure infrastructure is really the most important thing anymore.
I don’t need any, but the Montana Petroleum Association and several mega-rich oil companies that don’t want to pay to better the lives of their workers do. Because you know what, I won’t apologize for not wanting to build infrastructure that oil companies themselves don’t want to build.
Oh, they say they do, but we know money talks and bullshit walks. How much money are they putting in on this deal…they do stand to benefit the most, don’t they?
Why don’t we just look at the taxes. If they’re only taxed, say, 30%, then they should pay 70% of the infrastructure costs and the state can pay the rest.
Or else I’m inclined to just tell you to go fuck yourself, er…use my veto pen. Because you know what? As someone sitting in poverty in Missoula, this helps me not at all, you know it, and I know it. Don’t bullshit me – don’t bullshit Montana.
But let’s get back to infrastructure…or let’s not. I’ve gotten a bit worked up talking about all this, and I’m not sure infrastructure is really the most important thing anymore.
- First of all, it costs a damn lot – all that we’ve got and more!
- Next, it helps, what…3% of the residents in the state, 5% maybe? Shit, how many people does this help? Because right now the state ain’t helping me at all, and I don’t expect blowing their wad on this will change that.
- Finally, when was the last time you drove over to eastern Montana? How many shacks do we need, leaning structures, empty concrete slabs, and abandoned school houses?
I don’t need any, but the Montana Petroleum Association and several mega-rich oil companies that don’t want to pay to better the lives of their workers do. Because you know what, I won’t apologize for not wanting to build infrastructure that oil companies themselves don’t want to build.
Oh, they say they do, but we know money talks and bullshit walks. How much money are they putting in on this deal…they do stand to benefit the most, don’t they?
Why don’t we just look at the taxes. If they’re only taxed, say, 30%, then they should pay 70% of the infrastructure costs and the state can pay the rest.
Or else I’m inclined to just tell you to go fuck yourself, er…use my veto pen. Because you know what? As someone sitting in poverty in Missoula, this helps me not at all, you know it, and I know it. Don’t bullshit me – don’t bullshit Montana.
