Campaign 2012

Bullock releases jobs plan; calls job creation key issue in election

Posted: Jul 17, 2012 11:50 AM by Drew Trafton-Q2 News
Updated: Jul 17, 2012 4:40 PM

BILLINGS-Democratic candidate Steve Bullock and running mate John Walsh set the tone for the race to become Montana's next governor by declaring job creation, specifically at the small business level, as the top issue concerning Montanans as they choose the next top executive of the state.

Bullock and Walsh held a conference Tuesday morning at The Billings Times, a business with 3 employees, to announce what the campaign is calling the first installment of a job plan series which highlighted how Bullock believes government can help grow small business.

"We live in a state where 80 percent of the businesses have less than 9 employees, 97 percent have less than 50," said Bullock. "There are some great things going on in Montana. There really are. But we need to make sure also that as they want to grow and expand that there are some great opportunities."

Bullock says he believes despite a tough economic climate, Montana has weathered the storm (as one of only two states to maintain a budget surplus and unemployment rate 2 points lower than the national average) and is now ready to thrive economically under the right leadership and development of business opportunities.

Bullock and Walsh told a gathering of small business owners they believed the growth could be accomplished by supporting Montana's small businesses, ensuring state and local governments provide an opportunity to facilitate job creation, investing in Montana's infrastructure, supporting traditional industry and innovation of new business, investing in renewable energy development and supporting the workforce by investing in education.
Bullock said part of the plan to support small business wil be fulfilled by creating a ‘Main Street Montana Task Force' if elected.

"In a state like ours, 140,000 square miles, we have essentially 8 or 9 different economies," said Bullock. "And what's going to work for Billings isn't necessarily the same thing that's going to work for Libby. By and large though, I don't think that we've looked at our state as-- sort of-- regional clusters. So, what we're proposing is building resource teams. Economic development doesn't just come from Main Street and it certainly doesn't come from Helena."

The task force would examine incentives Montana currently provides to small businesses and report on their effectiveness compared to successful programs in Montana and other states.

According to Bullock, the task force would be responsible for determining whether economic development functions would be more efficient and effective consolidated within one agency and assessing how state and local agencies could better serve the job-creating community.

In addition to the task force, Bullock he and Walsh would head ‘Invest in Montana' teams, to help funnel the various and diverse economic development strategies as they relate to individual regions and communities within the state.

In Bullock's first phase of his job creation plan, he also says he would create an executive level small business ombudsman position which would be responsible for receiving and responding to complaints received by the state from small business.

According to the jobs plan, the ombudsman would make recommendations to the Main Street Montana Task Force based on those complaints and potential solutions to those problems.

That plan also included specific tax breaks which Bullock believes would help funnel money back into the state's economy.

Bullock says his administration would eliminate the Business Equipment Tax for companies with less than $100,000 in business equipment-a move which the candidate says would exempt 10,000 Montana companies from the tax.

Another tax break Bullock proposes would come to Montana homeowners.

Bullock says he wants to give a $400 rebate to any homeowner who has a primary residence in Montana.

In Bullock's first phase of his job creation plan, he also says he would create an executive level small business ombudsman position which would be responsible for receiving and responding to complaints received by the state from small business.

According to Bullock's plan, the ombudsman would make recommendations to the Main Street Montana Task Force based on those complaints and potential solutions to those problems.

Bullock also specifically mentioned that he believed Montana needs to reform the workers compensation system, as Montana workers have an injury rate between 150 percent to 180 percent higher than the national average and that an essential part of growing business in Montana in the 21st Century will include the ability to bring broadband internet to remote Montana communities.

Bullock also targeted Montana's current requirement that at least 50 percent of workers on any construction project in the state which is funded by state or local tax dollars be Montana residents.

Bullock says he believes there are too many loopholes being exploited in the system, and through reform he wants to bring that proportion of Montana workers on state and locally funded contracts to 75 percent.

If you're curious how Bullock's plan stacks up to GOP gubernatorial candidate Rick Hill's stance on how to improve Montana's economy, click here.