Newly elected district leaders make initial statements

SEELEY LAKE - Respective House and Senate winners Mike Hopkins and Shannon O’Brien talked about the upcoming legislative session, their priorities during their time in office and what committees they would like to be a part of during the monthly Seeley Lake Community Council meeting on Monday, Nov. 9.

Hopkins is the Republican District 92 State Representative. He said his primary concern going into office was the state’s economy and budget which were hit hard after the lockdown due to a stall in income taxes. The last four years, legislators were anticipating a recession, however they were not expecting one to come in the form of a pandemic.  With security in the state budget comes the ability to fund essentials like education, health, human and disability services.

Hopkins said in the last legislative session he had brought a bill that would extend a senior homeowner tax credit by an extra $700. He also said during the last session that they had made a big step forward for Montana’s infrastructure.

The idea is that a capital improvement account will receive one percent of Montana’s general funds every year with the intention of having it build up to a significant amount over time to be used for infrastructure projects. Currently the state funds the majority of its infrastructure projects from interest earnings from the coal severance tax trust fund. According to Hopkins, this trickles down to about 15 to 20 different programs not all of which have to do with infrastructure. He said while that revenue source can be “really helpful,” it does not meet the state’s needs given the total infrastructure portfolio. 

In addition to infrastructure bills, Hopkins intends to work towards pushing a property tax credit bill, a free speech bill for college campuses which needs reworking, as well as tax increment financing reform which would not heavily impact Seeley Lake.

Hopkins and O’Brien will go to Helena on Nov. 18 to elect their caucuses’ leaders. Hopkins said caucus leadership will ultimately decide which committees he will be a part of, but he hopes to remain on the Appropriations Committee where the state’s budget is built, as well as maintain his position of chair for the Long Range Planning Committee which takes care of infrastructure.

Hopkins said he is excited to take on the role because he feels like it is a way to give back to his home state. 

“The ability to interact with state government and have a part in putting together a $10 billion budget, which affects darn near every facet of life, that’s a pretty big thing to me,” Hopkins said.

O’Brien is the District 46 Democratic Senator. She said she is new to the Senate however she did serve as Education Policy Advisor for Governor Steve Bullock as well as Dean of Missoula College.

While she was campaigning, an issue she consistently heard from both liberal and conservative precincts was regarding property taxes. She believes the housing situation requires more attention and will be prioritized with upcoming discussions. She also intends to address issues of rural accessibility to modern necessities like broadband, health care, education and job training.

O’Brien also showed interest in improving relations with tribal governments. For that she has been working with a group of political science students from the University of Montana who suggested naming a highway after a local Native leader.

She said it is too early to decide on which bills she would like to see go through. However through her discussions with the students, she has shown interest in college affordability, specifically for career technical education. She said it is “fundamental” that those 50 and older improve at listening to younger perspectives to meet the needs of the students and develop a good workforce.

Looking at the economy, she hopes to find creative ways to balance the state’s natural resources and tourism while simultaneously making sure people have jobs. 

As far as committees, O’Brien is hoping to serve on the Education Committee due to her background in the educational field. She also has interest in the Business and Labor Committee.

She said she was excited to enter the role so she can engage with the local democracy.

“I think that it’s critically important that we all are aware of our role in this republic ... in order for our democracy to work ...,” she said. “I think it’s critically important that we all understand the concept of engagement, and that we all need to be informed … and have a dialogue with others and we get to vote. It’s an honor and a privilege and it’s a responsibility.”

O’Brien encourages residents to reach out to her for questions or ideas at (406) 274-3805 or shannonformontana@gmail.com. 

Following the legislative presentations, Seeley Lake District Ranger Quinn Carver gave an update on the U.S. Forest Service’s Westside Bypass fuels project. He said so far they have conducted 70 burn piles and landings mostly in the Rice Ridge area. If given smoke approval they will soon begin burning piles in Big Larch.

Carver said soon a half a million dollars will be coming in from the great American Outdoors Act that will come into the district largely for deferred maintenance on trails and campgrounds.

The Council meeting for December is canceled. The next meeting will be Jan. 11 at 6 p.m.