Diane Rice, running for 4th term, Republican from Harrison, currently Chairman of the House Judiciary Committee, former Chairman of the House Agriculture Committee Age: 57 Education: B.A. from University of Colorado major Sociology Graduate work University of Texas at El Paso in CriminologyFamily: Married to Barry Rice with 4 grown adult children and two grandchildren, one additional grandchild due in March Work experience:  I have been in business for myself all of my adult life.I have owned businesses in Bozeman and am currently owner of Rice Ranches Inc. with my husband Barry.  We raise black Angus cattle, hay, and do some farming of wheat and barley.  We also own a catering business, Barry's Montana Beef, Inc.

1)  Biggest issue facing Montana's 60th Legislative session:          

The biggest issues lie on two levels, first at the state level and secondly on a national level.  Montana has serious imbalances in age demographics and is projected to be the 2nd or 3rd oldest state in the country by the year 2030. This trend will occur all over the country, but is more prevalent in Montana.From these skewed demographics come many sub-issues:  structural imbalance of $1.3 billion in the state pension funds, declining enrollments in some of our local schools, falling populations in our eastern Montana agriculture communities, shortages of young healthcare providers in our rural areas, etc.  We simply must continue to structure our state government so that Montana will be affordable and attractive to young families.  We are competing with other states for these young people.  This will be accomplished by a permanent reduction in property taxes, complete elimination of the business equipment tax, a new funding formula for our K-12 schools and promoting our natural resource industries.         

Our country is facing many challenges nationally, and our state legislatures play and important role in protecting the rights of our people. In June, I amended the Montana Republican Party Platform to oppose the implementation of the Security and Prosperity Partnership of North America.This plan would essentially dissolve our U. S. borders and merge the United States into a North American Union with Canada and Mexico.  I am the only state legislator in the country that is trying to form a coalition of other state legislators to oppose this.   

2)  Issues relevant to my district:          

Creating a new funding formula for our K-12 schools still has not been completed by the Democratically controlled 59th Legislature.  This is a must to address our declining rural enrollments.  HB 3 from the 2005 Special session solved this problem while also giving $57 million in permanent property relief.  This bill will come forward again and I will support it.         

De-listing of the gray wolf is a top priority for our agricultural communities in HD 71.  I have been instrumental in bringing forth legislation, HJR 29 from the last session, to address this issue.  I will bring forth a legislative litigation bill next session to force de-listing.         

The Big Sky High School and incorporation bills to come forward next session could have adverse affects on HD 71 property taxpayers.  I have agreed to work with the Big Sky people to minimize impacts.         

Major funding issues for our district are:  Virginia City/Nevada long-term funding; water and sewer projects for Whitehall, Twin Bridges, and Sheridan communities; bridge projects in Madison county.  I have been very successful in receiving funding for my district projects in the past.  

3)  What bills will I carry next session:          

As stated above, a legislative litigation bill to force de-listing of the gray wolf, a re-write of the Workman's Compensation law so that it is affordable to small businesses, and clarification of the resort tax law.There are 618 bills that have already been pre-introduced, this means there will be over 2,000 bills again this session after the election.  Many of these bills will be distributed to appropriate legislators and it is highly likely, as Chairman of the Judiciary Committee, that I will be carrying some of those related bills.  

4)  What to do with the surplus:          

We have this one opportunity to solve some long-term potential state issues and it is imperative that we continue the current growth in our economy.  The senior members of the next legislature turned a $243 million deficit in 2003 after September 11th into a $350 million surplus in 2005 and a projected surplus of $900 million in 2007.  We have the correct formula in place and must continue to return money to the taxpayers so it can fuel our robust economy.