I watched with amazement on March 13, as the Montana House of Representatives killed House Bill 440, a bill which would have allowed a legislator or a committee to request a fiscal note explaining the effect a piece of legislation would have on small business. In Montana, over 90 percent of the jobs are created by small business (20 employees or less). Generally, these owners are too busy trying to keep their businesses operating that they do not either have the time nor the money to spend in Helena, unlike the larger businesses and state government, which can afford lobbyists. House Bill 440 was killed on a party line vote, with all the House Democrats falling in line after their leader, Speaker Bob Bergren, in a speech, called the bill "egregious" (conspicuously bad or offensive). I really don't understand how a simple bill which would allow an examination of the effect that a piece of legislation might have on the small businesses could be labeled "egregious." It's unbelievable, to use a popular overused word, that all of the House Democrats, including those in the Helena area, would apparently rather vote with their leader than to give even a little support to the interests of small businesses, the economic backbone of Montana.

My question is: Wasn't it the action of the House Democrats that was "egregious"(conspicuously bad or offensive), as well as partisan?

Bob Marks

40 Ohio Gulch Road, Clancy