Day208 Friday 03/25/11

ran 3.0 miles

• Montana was the forty-first state to join the union on November 8, 1889, three days before Washington and six days after South Dakota.

• Population, as of 2010, is 989,415.

• Senators are Max Baucus (D) and Jon Tester (D).

• Representative is Dennis Rehberg (R).

• Montana has three electoral votes. Historically, the state has voted red since 1952 except for two democrats. Leading up to 1952, Montana had voted blue five times in a row. Montana is one of seven states with a minimum three electoral votes. John McCain defeated Barack Obama 50% to 47% in 2008.

Heading south for a moment, Arizona is very close to passing a “flat tax” bill to rewrite their state individual income tax. It was surprising to stumble upon that news today. We always hear chatter about flat taxes implemented at state or federal levels but for it to actually materialize is something to think about. This action is certainly a sign of the times. On the surface, this bill sounds unfair and few to none are ever supportive of tax increases, which is what this is for a vast majority of Arizona’s population. Incomes below $100,000 account for 88% of state income filers and they will have their taxes increased the most, while top earners pay less. Here’s where it gets really strange---the people of Arizona seem to be at least somewhat supportive of this measure, or they are at least not protesting or vandalizing their capitol building.

The bill is projected to produce an additional $50 million in annual revenue for the state. Like many other states, Arizona’s budget is at a growing deficit and this is one approach their state’s legislature deems necessary to keep the state afloat and in less debt.

This “flat tax” is not law yet but it will be interesting to see what the people of Arizona’s ultimate response to it is. I don’t fully understand the “flat tax” enough to form a solid opinion of it at this point, but if it is critical to the well-being of an entire state and its future, then perhaps it is necessary.

Between news like this out of Arizona and what has been going on in Wisconsin, both Republican led efforts, combined with an economy that is not soaring upward by any means, I can easily see the 2012 presidential election filled with ugly accusations about one side raising taxes and attacking unions and the other side proclaiming that tough decisions are absolutely necessary to make right now. Can you guess which side is which?

1,484.7 miles to go.