Tussing Anouncement Speech, February 28, 2008

RALPH DIXON BOUGHT HIS HOME WHEN HE MOVED TO BILLINGS IN 1961. HE PAID $13,000 AND SOON BROUGHT HIS LOVELY BRIDE HERE TO SPEND THE NEXT 46 YEARS IN THIS SAME HOME. HE PLANTED THIS SPRUCE TREE WHEN IT WAS KNEE HIGH. THEY PUT SOME NEW SIDING ON A FEW YEARS BACK AND THEY EXPECT TO CELEBRATE RAPLHS'S 80TH BIRTHDAY LATER THIS SUMMER.

IN THE PAST TEN YEARS OR SO, RALPH'S ELECTRIC BILL HAS ALMOST DOUBLED. HOW MUCH WAS YOUR ELECTRIC BILL FOR FEBRUARY RALPH? BACK IN THE 90'S IT WAS $61. AS FRUGALLY AND AS CAREFULLY AS THEY MANAGE THEIR RESOURCES, RALPH AND PAT ARE NOW AT THE MERCY OF DEREGULATED UTILITY MARKET. LOOK AROUND THIS NEIGHBORHOOD AND ALL ACROSS MONTANA; MONTANANS ARE BEARING THE BRUNT OF THE DEBACLE KNOWN AS DEREGULATION.

OUR CURRENT REPRESENTATIVE ON THE PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION COSPONSORED THE DEREGULATION BILL IN THE MONTANA HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. THEN LEGISLATOR BRAD MOLNAR, EITHER BY DEFECT OR DESIGN, PUT RALPH AND PAT AND ALL MONTANANANS AT THE MERCY OF A DEREGULATED UTILITY MARKET. HE NOT ONLY VOTED FOR DEREGULATION, BRAD MOLNAR COSPONSORED DEREGULATION AND TWICE REFUSED TO VOTE FOR SPECIAL SESSIONS TO RECONSIDER THIS MISTAKE.

UNLIKE SENATE MAJORITY LEADER, JOHN HARP WHO HAS SINCE APOLOGIZED FOR HIS PART IN THE DEBACLE WE NOW KNOW AS DEREGULATION, BRAD MOLNAR HAS NEVER APOLOGIZED FOR THE DAMAGE AND UNCERTAINTY HE SET INTO MOTION. INSTEAD MOLNAR TRIED TO COVER HIS SHAME BY BRINGING A FRIVILOUS LAWSUIT THAT WASTED MORE TAXPAYER MONEY. THAT SUIT WAS RECENTLY DISMISSED BY THE MONTANA SUPREME COURT.

JUSTICE NELSON WROTE A CONCURRING OPINION IN WHICH HE SAID THE COURT SHOULD, ON ITS OWN MOTION, ASSESS ATTORNEY'S FEES AGAINST MOLNAR. JUSTICE NELSON WROTE, "THERE IS NO REASON TAXPAYERS AND RATEPAYERS SHOULD HAVE TO FUND THE DEFENSE OF THIS NONSENSE AND THERE IS NO REASON THAT THE COURTS SHOULD HAVE TO DEAL WITH IT.

WHY DOES WHAT HAPPENED IN 1997 MATTER TODAY? IT MATTERS FOR SEVERAL REASONS.

FIRST, BECAUSE MONTANA LOST THE BENEFITS OF HAVING AMONG THE LOWEST RATES IN THE NATION TO NOW HAVING THE HIGHEST RATES IN THE NORTHWEST. THE EFFECT ON OUR CITIZENS AND OUR ECONOMY HAS BEEN DEVASTATING.

THANKS TO DEREGULATION, THE DAMS ON OUR RIVERS AND THE COAL PLANTS OF EASTERN MONTANA WHICH USED TO PROVIDE US AFFORDABLE AND RELIABLE POWER WERE SOLD TO A HUGE ENERGY CONGLOMERATE, PENNSYLVANIA POWER WHICH CHARGES MONTANANS AS MUCH AS THEY CAN POSSIBLY GET TO SEND TO THEIR CORPORATE OFFICES IN ALLENTOWN PENNSYLVANIA.

THANKS TO DEREGULATION, THE MONTANA POWER COMPANY'S LINES AND WIRES WERE SOLD TO NORTHWESTERN ENERGY, A SOUTH DAKOTA BASED COMPANY WHO'S GREATEST SINGLE ACCOMPLISHMENT HAS BEEN TO DRIVE ITSELF INTO BANKRUPTCY. AND NOW WE FIND OUT THAT WE ARE THREATENED WITH RATE HIKES TO COVER THIS COMPANY'S ILL- ADVISED INVESTMENTS. NOT ONLY WERE THESE INVESTMENTS ILL- ADVISED, BUT, ACCORDING TO CONSUMER COUNSEL ROBERT NELSON, THESE INVESTMENTS WERE ALSO ILLEGAL BECAUSE THEY EXCEEDED MANDATORY INVESTMENT LIMITATIONS SET IN ITS BANKRUPTCY AGREEMENT. TOUCH AMERICAN DÉJÀ VU. WE REMAIN IN A PRECARIOUS, DESTABLIZED POSITIONS VICTIMIZED BY RATE HIKE AFTER RATE HIKE URGED BY AN ENERGY COMPANY THAT HAS GONE THROUGH ONE BANKRUPTCY ALREADY.

AND WHILE RATE HIKES FOR THE DIXONS KEEP COMING BEFORE THE PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION, THE PROFITS MADE BY THIS COMPANY ON THE BACKS ON MONTANANS LIKE RALPH AND PAT GO TO PAY IMPRESSIVE EXECUTIVE PAY PACKAGES FOR CEOS AND BOARD DIRECTORS. ACCORDING TO MIKE DENNISON OF THE GAZETTE STATE BUREAU, NORTH WESTERN ENERGY'S TOP FIVE EXECUTIVES RECEIVED SALARY, STOCK AWARDS AND OTHER BENEFITS WORTH MORE THAN 4 MILLION. RAISE YOUR HAND IF YOUR PAYCHECK LAST YEAR WAS FOUR MILLION DOLLARS. THEY MIGHT NOT BE RAISING THEIR HANDS BECAUSE THEY'RE AFRAID I'LL ASK FOR A COMPAIGN CONTRIBUTION BUT I DOUBT IT. IN FACT, NORTHWESTERN'S BOARD OF DIRECTORS RECEIVE COMPENSATION RANGING BETWEEN $188,000 AND $362,000 - THAT'S MORE THAN TWICE AS MUCH AS THE SALARY RANGE PAID BY NEIGHBORING STATES.

HONESTLY, DON'T RALPH AND PAT DESERVE BETTER?

EINSTEIN SAID, "WE CANNOT BEGIN TO SOLVE OUR PROBLEMS WITH THE SAME LEVEL OF THINKING THAT CREATED THEM."

THE MAN WHO DESIGNED THE VEHICLE OF OUR CURRENT DISASTER, IS EVEN NOW CONTINUING TO STEER US OFF THE PATH WE NEED TO BE ON, ONE THAT WOULD TAKE US TOWARD CLEANER, GREENER, RELIABLE, SUSTAINABLE ENERGY THAT WE CAN AFFORD. OUR CURRENT REPRESENTATIVE ON THE PSC HAS OPPOSED DEVELOPING WIND ENERGY ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS. MOLNAR VOTED AGAINST THE JUDITH GAP WIND FARM WHICH PROVIDES US WITH ELECTRICITY AT A COST OF 4.16 CENTS A KWH AND MUCH NEEDED ECONOMIC STIMULUS.

MR. MOLNAR WAS OUT OF STEP WITH THE NEEDS OF RALPH AND PAT DIXON IN 1997 WHEN HE SPONSORED DEREGULATION AND HE REMAINS OUT OF STEP WITH OUR COLLECTIVE DESIRE AND NEED TO DEVELOP ALTERNATIVE, CLEAN AND PLENTIFUL ENERGY SOURCES SUCH AS WIND IN 2008.

THERE IS NO LONGER A MONTANAN TODAY WHO CAN SAY WITH CONFIDENCE THAT THEY HAVE A RELIABLE AND AFFORDABLE SOURCE OF POWER FOR THE FORESEEABLE FUTURE. BEFORE DEREGULATION, ALL MONTANANS COULD SAY THAT.

MONTANA POWER WAS OUR STATES ONLY FORTUNE 500 COMPANY AND THE SOLE MONTANA COMPANY LISTED ON THE NEW YORK STOCK EXCHANGE. MONTANANS COULD BE ASSURED THAT THROUGH THE PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION AND THE LEGISLATURE, WE COULD RELY ON A HEALTHY BALANCE OF POLITICAL POWER, ASSURING AN AVAILABLE AND AFFORDABLE SOURCE OF ELECTRIC POWER.

BUT NOT ANYMORE. OUT CURRENT COMMISSIONER WAS OUT OF STEP WITH THE NEEDS OF THE AVERAGE MONTANAN WHEN HE SPONSORED DEREGULATION AND HE'S OUT OF STEP TODAY. PUTTING THE GODFATHER OF DEREGULATION ON THE PSC WAS LIKE PUTTING THE FOX IN CHARGE OF THE HEN HOUSE.

FOR THESE REASONS, I HAVE CONSULTED WITH SEVERAL POLITICAL LEADERS AT THE LOCAL AND STATE LEVEL, CITIZEN ADVOCATES, NEIGHBORS, FRIENDS AND FAMILY. I HAVE DECIDED WITH THEIR ENCOURAGEMENT AND BLESSING, THAT I WILL SEEK TO REPRESENT THIS DISTRICT ON THE PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION.

AS MAYOR OF MONTANA'S LARGEST CITY, I HAVE HAD THE UNIQUE OPPORTUNITY TO REPRESENT AND TALK TO MANY MONTANANS FROM ALL WALKS OF LIFE. SINCE BEING ELECTED AS MAYOR, I HAVE HAD A CHANCE TO ADVOCATE AND VOTE FOR MANY ISSUES THAT WILL AFFECT OUR GROWTH AND PROSPERITY AS MONTANA'S ECONOMIC CENTER. I HAVE CELEBRATED THE OPENING OF MANY NEW BUSINESSES LED BY COURAGEOUS AND INSPIRED ENTREPRENEURS. I HAVE HAD THE DISTINCT PRIVILEGE TO BE INVOLVED WITH GROWTH AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT THAT PROPELS BILLINGS INTO A PROMISING FUTURE, WHICH, AS MONTANA'S MOST POPULATED CITY, CONTRIBUTES IN A SIGNIFICANT WAY TO MONTANA'S FUTURE. I CREATED THE BILLINGS ENERGY AND CONSERVATION COMMISSION THAT IS LOOKING AT AND HAS ALREADY PROPOSED WAYS TO SAVE RESOURCES, ENERGY AND DOLLARS - FOR YEARS TO COME - NOT JUST FOR A FEW HOURS.

YET WITH OPPORTUNITIES COME CHALLENGES. WE CANNOT, WE MUST NOT CHARGE AHEAD FOR GROWTH AND DIVERSIFICATION WITHOUT KEEPING A MINDFUL EYE ON THOSE IN OUR COMMUNITY WHO ARE THE MOST VULNERABLE, THOSE ON A FIXED INCOME LIKE MANY OF MY FRIENDS HERE TODAY. WHATEVER CHANGES WE EMBRACE MUST NOT COMPROMISE THE FRAGILE BALANCE OF CITIZENS LIKE THE DIXONS WHO AT THIS POINT IN LIFE HAVE LIMITED INCOME BUT A LAUDABLE GOAL, A PRECIOUS GOAL WORTH PROTECTING - TO REMAIN INDEPENDENT AND ABLE TO AFFORD TO LIVE IN THEIR OWN HOMES AS LONG AS POSSIBLE.

THE PRESIDENT'S PLAN TO CUT THE LOW INCOME HEATING AND ENERGY ASSISTANCE PROGRAM FUNDING BY $540 MILLION OR 22% HAS THE POTENTIAL TO TAKE MORE THAN 1 MILLION LOW INCOME FAMILITES AND ELDERLY PEOPLE OFF THE PROGRAM ENTIRELY OR CUT EVERYONE'S ASSITANCE BY 22% OR SOME COMBINATION. SOME OF THOSE PEOPLE ARE OUR NEIGHBORS HERE IN MONTANA. ALL THE MORE REASON WE NEED SOMEONE ON THE PSC WHO WILL FIGHT TO PROTECT THEM. AS YOUR PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSONER, I PLEDGE TO MAKE EVERY DECISION AGAINST THE GRID OF THESE CORE PRINCIPLES.

IF IT'S NOT GOOD FOR RALPH AND PAT DIXON, IT'S NOT GOOD FOR MONTANA. THIS MEANS, DECISIONS I MAKE AS A PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSIONER MUST NOT PUT MONTANANS LIKE RALPH AND PAT AT AN UNREASONABLE INCREASED FINANCIAL RISK SO SOME CEO CAN BUY A BIGGER YACHT.

MUST NOT PUT MONTANANS AT AN UNREASONALBE SUPPLY RISK MUST NOT COMPROMISE THE HIGH QUALITY OF MONTANA'S AIR, WATER AND SOIL AS GUARANTEED IN OUR CONSTITUTION.

WE MUST ENCOURAGE THE DEVELOPMENT OF CLEAN, GREEN RELIABLE, SUSTAINABLE ALTERNATIVE SOURCES OF ENERGY THAT ARE GOOD FOR BOTH THE ENVIRONMENT AND THE ECONOMY. MUST ENCOURAGE MORE AFFORDABLE OPTIONS IN TELECOMMUNICATIONS AND ENERGY. IF IT'S GOOD FOR RALPH AND PAT DIXON, IT'S GOOD FOR MONTANA.

IF BRAD MOLNAR HAD FOUGHT FOR THESE PRINCIPLES IN 1997, HIS DEREGULATION BILL WOULD HAVE NEVER GOT OFF THE DRAWING BOARD. NOW IT IS UP TO US TO MITIGATE THE DAMAGE THAT HAS ALREADY BEEN CAUSED AND LIMIT FUTURE DAMAGE AND DEMAND ALTERNATIVES THAT WILL ASSURE RALPH AND PAT DIXON THEY CAN STAY IN THEIR HOME AS LONG AS THEY ARE PHYSICALLY ABLE.

WITH THESE PRINCIPLES FIRMLY IN MIND, I WILL FILE WITH THE MONTANA SECRETARY OF STATE TO BECOME A CANDIDATE FOR THE PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION REPRESENTING DISTRICT 2 FOR SOUTHEASTERN MONTANA COMPRISED OF THESE COUNTIES: CARBON, YELLOWSTONE, BIG HORN, TREASURE, ROSEBUD, CUSTER, PRAIRIE, POWDER RIVER, FALLON AND CARTER. AND I ASK FOR YOUR SUPPORT.


ACCORDING TO STATE STATUTE 13-35-225 (3) I AFFIRM THAT TO THE BEST OF MY KNOWLEDGE THE ABOVE STATEMENTS ABOUT MY OPPONENT'S RECORD ARE TRUE AND ACCURATE. RON TUSSING