Montana Governor Schweitzer lays out broad budget priorities

Gov. Brian Schweitzer gave his staff broad budget priorities Monday, stressing that they will bolster key areas like education without spending "beyond our means."

The governor had less than a month to prepare his last budget after he was elected last November, modifying work done by former Gov. Judy Martz’ staff. This time his staff is getting a head start, laying the groundwork for a budget that is not due for another year. It will be presented to the 2007 Legislature.

"We cannot live beyond our means," Schweitzer told budget and policy staffers. "We cannot have an appetite that is bigger than our wallet."

Priorities include: Building a budget that promotes economic development.

By MATT GOURAS of the Associated Press

Full Story: http://missoulian.com/articles/2005/11/28/breaker/doc438b708da6cae946784461.txt

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Schweitzer urges fiscal restraint for 2008-09 budget

By MIKE DENNISON of the Missoulian State Bureau

Gov. Brian Schweitzer told budget staffers Monday to work toward a frugal state spending plan for the 2008-09 biennium that “lives within our means,” but said he won’t abide cuts in programs serving the poor.

Schweitzer said he expects congressional Republicans and the Bush administration will push to cut federal spending on state-federal programs for the needy, like Medicaid, forcing states to “pick up the slack.”

“Are we going to cut programs for the last and the least?” Schweitzer said. “No. We won’t. Because they have nowhere else to turn.”

Budget Director David Ewer said he’ll start meeting with state agency directors in the coming weeks to talk about priorities for spending in the 2008-09 biennium. The administration’s proposed budget is due next November, in advance of the 2007 Legislature.

Full Story: http://www.missoulian.com/articles/2005/11/29/news/mtregional/news06.txt