Cutting Costs the Montana Way – By Gov. Brian Schweitzer

WITH the debt crisis and the weakening economy fresh on their minds, most Americans have probably concluded that government, as a rule, cannot manage money responsibly. But it can. Just look at Montana.

For six years it has been one of the only states in America with a budget surplus: this year it is a record $433 million, proportionally equivalent to a federal surplus of $858 billion. Thus we’ve been able to cut taxes, invest in education and infrastructure and keep essential services intact. We recently got our first bond rating upgrade in 26 years.

And we’re not simply riding the Western energy boom. The recession has driven unemployment to 7.5 percent, and while we’ve had a great run with oil, coal and gas, royalties from these commodities account for only 9 percent of our budget surplus.

Gov. Brian Schweitzer http://governor.mt.gov/

Full Story: http://www.nytimes.com/2011/08/19/opinion/cutting-costs-the-montana-way.html?_r=2&nl=todaysheadlines&emc=tha212