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by 1. 2, HOLMES AP Capital Writer Montana's Democratic party, after nearly six hours of full scale debate, came up Saturday with a replank campaign plat fait that supports annual legis lative sessions and flatly rejects 4 general sales tax. The annual session proposal, which the platform says Iwill Make the state more responsive to the needs of government in the '70s, sparked heated argu ment. “Ts ashamed of us,” said House Minority Leader John C. Hall, Great Falls, after several delegates warned that nbicies would be gained from the public by supporting a plan to double the cost of making [awa. Hall drew applause by insist ing the platform express party helleis later than be declared to simply win votes for Demo cratic candidates. ‘The call for annual instead of biconial legislative assemblies is in the state government plank which also urges voter approval Nov. 3 of a constitutional con vention. ghtighting debate on the tax ation plank, In which Democrats reaffirm their long-standing op position to a general sales tax, was the removal of wording some delegates considered sacri legious. As originally proposed, the party would have pledged to ful ly finance the school foundation program, “God and the Republ can willing.” One Objection The reference was erased de spite one delegate’s objection “to taking God out of the platform. ’ As adopted, Democrats simply promise they “will endeavor to fully finance the foundation pro gram. ” Their lax plank asserts that “in the past two years, the un controlled inflation of the Nixon administration has cost the state of Montana over $15 million.” I adds that state republicans “scama have abandoned even the appearance of offering the voters a revenue program” and Suggested six methods of reform ing the existing tax system. The methods: inching holl national aid state banks in the corporation tag; adapting the double-barreled system of cor porate taxation; eliminating the federal income tax deduction in computing state income taxes; determine the state tax by using a percentage of the federal tax, review service, serverance and license taxes; and continue ef forts to have out-of-state proper ty owners pay their fair share of state taxes, took Full Time rhe 2a voling delegates worked their way through the committee proposals right up to the tine they had to vacate the meting team vna Melera motel 80 J could be prepared for the closing @ pm. banquet. At the dinner, highlighted by Senate Majority Leader Mike Mansfield's remarks on crime and fhe economy, State Demo cratic Chairman Robert M. Saunders noted it has been 32 yearsince Montana fad a Pommeratic governor and an alle Tamoceal congressional delega tion. Mansfield, introduced by Sea lee Metcalf, said thas despite talk to the generaty, inflation and light money or lotay as they have hea pful year” He tals sucl it vill take more than talk to combat crime, 10 ith violence and drug traffic and to end the spread of filth and pornography. n for the Goo, Bal News, Bartier Saturday, (Inal day of the dwotlay platform meeting, Rep. Arnald Olsen gave the dele gates what he called both goo and bad news. The favorable report was the reminder that the parky holds all four of the state's congressional posts for the first time since: 4060. His unfavorable report was the assertion that Richard Nixon was President or vice president in two latest periods of high tine deployment — now and in the early 1950s, Rep. Jett Melcher, the east ern district cangragsman, Ad dressed a luncheon meeting of the convention Friday. Controversial Think One of the more controversieal planks dealt with hyghways, Delegates beat down a pen posal for a statewide daytine Speed Limit but recommended an implied consent law for the state. That type of law author izes chemical tests for blood-al cohal content of persons suspect ed of driving while Intoxicated. Notedexd was the committee proposed statement that Mon tana's Highway Department has been doing a commendable job of construction and maintenance, eplaying that approach was praise for the efforts of Gov. Terrest H. Anderson and the alile’s congressional delegation to improve Montana's approach to highways. There was, fawever, candidlar able support voiced on the door for the good job being done by the state's road agency.
Newspaper Details
Independent Record
Helena, Montana, US
Sun, Sep 13, 1970
Page 28
Full Page
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USA 06 Feb 2026
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