January 6, 2009

from the Missoulian
By JODI RAVE of the Missoulian

Editor's note: The Missoulian continues a nine-part look at the Indian legislators serving in the 2009 Montana Legislature.

Rep. Margarett Campbell, D-Poplar, who holds a top leadership position in the Montana Legislature, expects the state budget to dominate much of her time as lawmakers propose, debate and pass bills during the 90-day session.

“We will be practicing fiscal restraint,” Campbell said. “We don't have the revenue we anticipated and we still need to put money away. It's going to be really important that the bills that are introduced are bills that are absolutely essential.”

Campbell, an Assiniboine, was elected by her legislative peers as House Democratic floor leader. Her position allows American Indians to have a strong presence in the Legislature. In 2009, nine Native lawmakers comprise 6.6 percent of the Legislature. An all-time high was reached in 2007 when 10 Natives held elected posts. Montana has ranked among the top three states in the country who send Natives to the Legislature, including Alaska and Oklahoma.

As Democratic floor leader, Campbell will have a dual leadership role among Native lawmakers and the entire legislative assembly. The returning veteran of the Native caucus said she welcomes the “vibrant, new members” who will round out the Native team. “It's real important as an Indian caucus that we meet and support each other and really become allies on issues that are important to the tribes,” she said.

The caucus has already met to discuss matters important to all Native communities. “By starting out early, even before the session begins, will give us time to bond on our issues and think about the issues that are important to tribes across the state versus, for example, what's important to the Fort Peck Tribes,” Campbell said.
The more caucus members “support each other, the better chance we have at getting important policy issues passed,” she said.

Especially during a year when the No. 1 issue among state legislatures across the country is to close budget gaps. Meanwhile, programs for “struggling homeowners, the working class and unemployed,” may be difficult to fund, according to the National Conference of Legislatures.

Overall, Campbell said her leadership role would require her to make sure “we all practice fiscal restraint and that we stick together and that we really look to the other side of the aisle to gain support for meaningful policy issues.”

As a lawmaker, one of her bill priorities will be to create “language in the law of the 6-mill levy,” a voter-supported tax that will add some $13 million annually to operate the Montana university system during the next 10 years.

Like many, Campbell expects a tough year for legislators introducing bills with price tags attached. Gov. Brian Schweitzer revised the state's general fund budget in December, cutting $144 million over the next two years.

“I just don't see a lot of bills passing on either side of the aisle,” Campbell said. “It's probably not going to be a year of a lot of new, creative ideas, but whittling away at some of the existing programs - hopefully not. The governor sounds like he wants to keep them whole. But the cuts the governor has made were based upon the revenue forecast.”

Reporter Jodi Rave can be reached at 1-800-366-7186 or jodi.rave@lee.net. Or read her blog at www.buffalopost.net.
 
Margarett Campbell
District: House District 31
Political party: Democrat
Home: Poplar
Committees: Rules
E-mail: mcampbell@fpcc.edu

Published in the Missoulian on January 6, 2009.