Who’s He Trying to Fool.

Gov. Brian Schweitzer is trying to pass the buck yet again but this time I don't think it's going to work.<br />n<br />n<a href="http://www.billingsgazette.net/articles/2006/07/05/news/state/38-water-rights.txt">Schweitzer proposes suspending water-rights fee</a><br />n<br />n<blockquote><a href="http://governor.mt.gov/governor/govbio.asp">Gov. Brian Schweitzer</a> said Wednesday that he wants to repeal the so-called "water tax" and issue refunds to those who have paid it in sums under $400.<br />n<br />n….<br />n<br />nThe Democratic governor blamed Republicans for the water fee, passed last year by the Montana Legislature. Republicans appointed a study committee in 2003 that helped advance the fee proposal. But it was a Legislature largely controlled by Democrats that passed the 2005 fee measure, to fund what supporters hoped would be the eventual resolution of backlogged water-rights claims.<br />n<br />nSchweitzer said he did not veto the bill, because it emerged from the Legislature with overwhelming support.</blockquote><br />n<br />nSo, the Democratic controlled Senate and the split House both supported and sent him a bill to add these fees and he signed the bill into law, but the Republicans are to blame for this. What, did they twist his arm and put a gun to his head and tell him to sign the bill into law, or did he sign it on his own? I thought so, the Governor signed it on his own so he is just as guilty on this one as all the rest of those assholes in Helena that passed it.<br />n<br />nNow for the part that really frosts my ****s and this is Schweitzer's doing all by himself with no help from anybody. <br />n<br />n<blockquote>People who paid less than $400 in fees should get refunds, he said. If they are approved by the Legislature convening in January, then people due money likely would get it in October 2007, Schweitzer said.</blockquote><br />n<br />nSo, the fee on this whole fiasco was supposed to be capped at $400 for people with multiple water claims. So, if you paid $400 or got charged more than $400, like I did, you get screwed by the Governor's so called "Square Deal." Why, may I ask, if you paid less than $400 do you deserve to get the money back, but if you paid the same or more than than the legally allowed amount you are going to get screwed over and not get anything back? This is a "Square Deal?" Can anybody answer how this works out to be a "Square Deal?" I know nobody will be able to since the Schweitzer sycophants can never seem to answer such simple questions that I pose. They just keep fawning all over him and ignore such things.<br />n<br />nGee, thanks for nothing Schweitzer. Screw me over in violation of the law and then don't offer to give me the money back when you plan on giving it back to other people. What a "Square Deal" it is. I'm sure it will feel real good getting screwed over again by you. <br />n<br />n<strong>But I see where I've screwed up big time – I see things that I could have done differently and had a lot more successful ride here. But of course, hindsight is 20/20. Ray Stevens</strong>