Contributed by Legislative Information Office <leginfo@mt.gov>,Internet:
NEWS FROM THE MONTANA LEGISLATIVE BRANCH
For immediate release
Feb. 24, 2009
Contact: Kevin Hayes, Session Information Center Supervisor, 406-444-1364
Gayle Shirley, Legislative Information Officer, 406-444-2957
Montanans Contacting Legislators in Greater Numbers
Montanans inundated a legislative message center with calls this month, a sign that more and more citizens are actively participating in the legislative process.
In the first half of the 2009 session, the Session Information Center received close to 13,000 calls from people wanting to leave messages for their legislators, according to Kevin Hayes, center supervisor. That includes more than 2,800 calls in one week - the week of Feb. 9 - when citizens left more than 20,000 messages indicating their support or opposition to various bills.
"That week was remarkable," Hayes said. "I've never had a week even remotely approaching that, and I've been doing this since the 1997 session."
By comparison, the message center got a total of 12,284 calls during the entire 2007 session.
Another 32,000 people have used an online message form to contact their legislators in the first half of this session. That compares to a total of 46,324 messages in all of last session.
Hayes attributes the increase in calls and messages to a number of factors.
"I think there's a renewal in interest in politics since the fall election," he said. "I don't really have any statistics to base that on. It's just a gut feeling based on observation."
He also believes that "people are more connected than they've ever been." He noted that some of the more than 100 people who showed up to testify against a bill banning pit bulls said they had received text messages alerting them to the public hearing.
"Lobbying groups are getting more organized about spreading the word to their members," he suggested, "and technology is making it easier."
Legislative leaders are delighted by the apparent trend.
"For our system of government to work, citizens have to get involved," said Rep. Bob Bergren, speaker of the House. "If people aren't engaged, then we can't be responsive to their needs, and the system doesn't work."
"Montanans elected us to represent their views," added Sen. Bob Story, president of the Senate. "So they need to let us know their views, and we need to listen to them."
To send a message to your legislator using the online message form, visit www.leg.mt.gov/message.
To contact your legislator through the Session Information Center, call 406-444-4800. Be prepared to provide:
* your name and address
* the name of the legislator(s) or committee for whom your message is intended
* the number of the bill you wish to support or oppose
* a brief explanation for your position on the bill
You may leave messages for as many as five legislators or one legislative committee at a time. The service is available Mondays through Fridays from 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Saturdays from 8 a.m. to adjournment, while the Legislature is in session.
The Session Information Center does not accept anonymous messages.
"We also don't do blanket messages to all legislators," Hayes said. "It's most effective to contact members of a committee that is holding a public hearing on a bill or the legislators who represent your House and Senate districts."
If you aren't sure who your legislators are, contact your local elections office or visit the legislative website at http://www.leg.mt.gov/ and click on "Find a Legislator."
________________________________________
A service of the Montana Education Telecommunications Network - METNET
A division of the Montana Office of Public Instruction
Free E-Mail for certified Montana teachers
http://www.metnet.mt.gov/
Tuesday, March 3, 2009
Stimulus Law Contains Community Pharmacy Provisions
Stimulus Law Contains Community Pharmacy Provisions
The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009-Public Law 111-5, the $787 billion stimulus bill enacted Feb. 17-contains a number of provisions that will have a significant impact on independent community pharmacy in addition to the ones that affect all citizens and taxpayers.
Now and in the coming weeks, NCPA will be drilling down into the law's fine print, analyzing any proposed regulations needed to implement various sections, and combing the FY '10 budget released Feb. 26 for potential benefits and landmines. NCPA will roll out this valuable information in a number of ways, but only to NCPA members.
"If you know someone who isn't a member, urge them to join NCPA now," said Bruce T. Roberts, RPh, NCPA executive vice president and CEO. "Our Web site contains a wealth of information on legislation and regulation freely available to anyone, but the members-only section is much more detailed and is going to grow even more robust. I personally believe that the NCPA Digest, sponsored by Cardinal Health, and the searchable archive of America's Pharmacist articles back to 2005 alone are worth the price of membership, and they are only a couple of our many member-only benefits."
Here are some of the general changes in tax law affecting small businesses contained in the new stimulus law:
Increases temporarily for 2009 the Section 179 expense deduction from $128,000 to $250,000 and offers a 50% depreciation allowing for half the cost of capital expense.
Expands from two years to five years the ability of firms to carry back operating losses for companies with $15 million or less in gross operating revenues (Section 172 of the IRS Code).
Modifies work opportunity tax credit (Section 51 of the IRS Code).
Temporarily reduces the recognition period for S corporation built-in gains tax (Section 1374 of the IRS Code).
Published each Tuesday by the National Community Pharmacists Association100 Daingerfield Road, Alexandria, VA 22314p: 703.683.8200 f: 703.683.3619 info@ncpanet.orgCopyright © National Community Pharmacists Association. All Rights Reserved.
The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009-Public Law 111-5, the $787 billion stimulus bill enacted Feb. 17-contains a number of provisions that will have a significant impact on independent community pharmacy in addition to the ones that affect all citizens and taxpayers.
Now and in the coming weeks, NCPA will be drilling down into the law's fine print, analyzing any proposed regulations needed to implement various sections, and combing the FY '10 budget released Feb. 26 for potential benefits and landmines. NCPA will roll out this valuable information in a number of ways, but only to NCPA members.
"If you know someone who isn't a member, urge them to join NCPA now," said Bruce T. Roberts, RPh, NCPA executive vice president and CEO. "Our Web site contains a wealth of information on legislation and regulation freely available to anyone, but the members-only section is much more detailed and is going to grow even more robust. I personally believe that the NCPA Digest, sponsored by Cardinal Health, and the searchable archive of America's Pharmacist articles back to 2005 alone are worth the price of membership, and they are only a couple of our many member-only benefits."
Here are some of the general changes in tax law affecting small businesses contained in the new stimulus law:
Increases temporarily for 2009 the Section 179 expense deduction from $128,000 to $250,000 and offers a 50% depreciation allowing for half the cost of capital expense.
Expands from two years to five years the ability of firms to carry back operating losses for companies with $15 million or less in gross operating revenues (Section 172 of the IRS Code).
Modifies work opportunity tax credit (Section 51 of the IRS Code).
Temporarily reduces the recognition period for S corporation built-in gains tax (Section 1374 of the IRS Code).
Published each Tuesday by the National Community Pharmacists Association100 Daingerfield Road, Alexandria, VA 22314p: 703.683.8200 f: 703.683.3619 info@ncpanet.orgCopyright © National Community Pharmacists Association. All Rights Reserved.
State Auditor Monica Lindeen alerts Montanans to new scam targeting the State
Contributed by Jessica" ,Internet:
CONSUMER ALERT
March 3, 2009
State Auditor Monica Lindeen alerts Montanans to new scam targeting the State
Helena- State Auditor Monica Lindeen warns consumers to keep a watch out for a new scam. Montanans are receiving fake invoices from School Booster Co., a company from Kennewick, WA, which appear to be bills for a community high school activities calendar.?
Lindeen says "School Booster Co." has no affiliation with Montana public schools and none of the revenue generated by the company supports Montana schools in any way.?
"The invoice is fake, but the victim might not know it until they had already sent a payment," said Lindeen. "That's why we're trying to get the word out that this is a scam."
Businesses in Lewistown and Missoula have reported receiving the fake invoices.
"Montana businesses are very supportive of local schools, and so they may think this letter is legitimate," warns Lindeen. "But that is just a scam artist tactic, consumers need to investigate before they send money."
People who have been contacted by potential scam artists or may have information concerning scams or fraud are urged to contact the Investigations Unit at the State Auditor's Office at 1-800-332-6148.
Consumer alerts are posted on the State Auditor's website at http://sao.mt.gov/ under "Latest News" in the lower right corner of the site. ?
###
Media Contact:
Jessica Rhoades
406-444-3152 office
406-422-8817 cell
Jessica Rhoades
Communications Director/Policy Advisor
Montana State Auditor's Office
444.3152 o
422.8817 c
JRhoades@mt.gov
________________________________________
A service of the Montana Education Telecommunications Network - METNET
A division of the Montana Office of Public Instruction
Free E-Mail for certified Montana teachers
http://www.metnet.mt.gov/
CONSUMER ALERT
March 3, 2009
State Auditor Monica Lindeen alerts Montanans to new scam targeting the State
Helena- State Auditor Monica Lindeen warns consumers to keep a watch out for a new scam. Montanans are receiving fake invoices from School Booster Co., a company from Kennewick, WA, which appear to be bills for a community high school activities calendar.?
Lindeen says "School Booster Co." has no affiliation with Montana public schools and none of the revenue generated by the company supports Montana schools in any way.?
"The invoice is fake, but the victim might not know it until they had already sent a payment," said Lindeen. "That's why we're trying to get the word out that this is a scam."
Businesses in Lewistown and Missoula have reported receiving the fake invoices.
"Montana businesses are very supportive of local schools, and so they may think this letter is legitimate," warns Lindeen. "But that is just a scam artist tactic, consumers need to investigate before they send money."
People who have been contacted by potential scam artists or may have information concerning scams or fraud are urged to contact the Investigations Unit at the State Auditor's Office at 1-800-332-6148.
Consumer alerts are posted on the State Auditor's website at http://sao.mt.gov/ under "Latest News" in the lower right corner of the site. ?
###
Media Contact:
Jessica Rhoades
406-444-3152 office
406-422-8817 cell
Jessica Rhoades
Communications Director/Policy Advisor
Montana State Auditor's Office
444.3152 o
422.8817 c
JRhoades@mt.gov
________________________________________
A service of the Montana Education Telecommunications Network - METNET
A division of the Montana Office of Public Instruction
Free E-Mail for certified Montana teachers
http://www.metnet.mt.gov/
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