I’m most pleased to say that a permanent resolution to stream access may be at hand. My bill for this purpose was killed in the contentious 2007 legislature, but I am co-sponsoring House Bill 190 in this session and hope it will pass the legislature to make Montana waters absolutely accessible to all Montanans.

  The state constitution provides that Montana waters belong to everyone. The attorney general has ruled to uphold that position, and state district judges subsequently have upheld open waters too, the last one finding in particular that fences to keep in cattle at bridge crossings cannot also keep out Treasure Staters who want to fish or recreate. Freely available fishing is a Montana tradition. I’m working hard to keep it so.        

Federal Economic Recovery Money

  The Jobs Recovery package by the Obama Administration to rescue the ailing American economy includes cash outlays to the states, and Montana has good uses for that money. We can work to build or improve our infrastructure, building for our own future. I will be recommending worthy projects for Gallatin County and Bozeman for funding. You can bank on it. 

Protection Against Identity Theft

  One of the most important bills I’ve sponsored is House Bill 155, a pro-privacy, anti-identity theft measure that requires state government to develop processes to secure personal information and to notify people if their information is ever compromised or stolen. The same security requirements followed by the private sector would apply to state government. I’m working to make sure your personal information will be secured. 

Economic Belt-Tightening 

The legislature is keenly sensitive to the state and national economic difficulties; everyone recognizes that this is a time for restraint. Ideas for legislation that merited support this past summer have since been pulled from consideration in light of the state’s fiscal belt-tightening. I’m most sensitive that our state and its services must live within its means just as every Montana household does.  

Montana is one of just a handful of states—six or seven—that is not in a terrible deficit situation. Some states, like California, are billions of dollars in debt. Montana isn’t. Our Montana Constitution requires that we pass a balanced budget every two years for the upcoming biennium. That keeps us spending only what we can afford.

  Montana has another great advantage that will serve us well through this recession: we produce food and energy, commodities which the market demands and which will keep us in much better shape than some other states or regions. 

  I am proud and honored to serve as your representative in our state legislature, and I appreciate hearing from so many of you via email, phone calls, and letters. Please contact me anytime. I’ll continue my good bipartisan work here in Helena, and I’ll always do the best I can for you and all of our fellow Montanans. 

  Call at any time to 444-4800 with your thinking on matters before the legislature. An aide will take your message and I’ll get back to you as soon as I’m out of the committee meeting or floor session. That number is answered all day and into the evening. Send mail to Capitol Station, P O Box 200400, Helena, MT, 59620. Or e-mail me anytime at pomnicho(at)montanadsl(dot)net. 

  Thank you very much for the opportunity and responsibility of serving you in our legislature. 
 
 

Best regards, 

JP Pomnichowski

Montana State Representative

House District 63, Bozeman/Gallatin County

Last changed: Feb 07 2009 at 5:56 PM