What Leadership II – Thoughts From The Middle of Nowhere

A few more thoughts about Schweitzer's lack of leadership on the school funding issue. n nI keep hearing, as an excuse of his lack of leadership, that the Court said the Legislature needed to fix the issue and not the Governor so that's why he is staying out of it. What I don't understand here is that the Governor feels it is his responsibility to step up to the plate, rightfully, on the <a href="http://www.billingsgazette.com/index.php?display=rednews/2005/11/17/build/state/70-meeting-canceled.inc">Public Employees' Retirement Board</a> issue and exert his leadership to fix a problem that he sees an independent board having but he won't step up to the plate on another important issue like school funding. n nWHAT'S THE DIFFERENCE? n nAccording to Democrats both the school funding issue and the retirement issue were caused by the Republicans, and technically neither issue is the Governors to control. The courts tasked the Legislature to fix the School funding and if the retirement fund needs money that is an issue for the Legislature also since they are the ones that initiate fiance bills, not the Governor. Yet the Governor steps up and exerts his leadership on one issue and not the other. WHY? They are both going to cost the taxpayers a lot of money but he only feels it necessary to step forward on the one. I don't get it. There isn't that much difference on the two issues so he needs to exert his leadership on both, not duck one. n nI am seriously looking for answers on this. Any time I ask a question about politics nobody ever responds. Why is that? I think I ask valid questions and state my points clearly. The only thing I can figure is that everybody agrees with me. If that's the case the Governor really should listen to me. n nLeadership demands that we make tough choices. Alan Autry