Montanans are watching as the budgets for public school classrooms and care for the elderly and disabled are slashed even as the state has a $300 million surplus.  As the Missoulian reports:

“This is really unnecessary,” said Rep. Trudi Schmidt, D-Great Falls. “It’s too soon to make any drastic cuts. It’s premature. …

“Why this, when we have a balanced budget (proposed by Schweitzer)? It is unbelievable. If you were concerned about the citizens of this state, you wouldn’t be doing this.”

With the total lack of logic going into the GOP’s budget cuts, people are worried–and they should be.

But for those who are looking for something to be hopeful about but also for inspiration, for the knowledge that even if they’re doomed–there are Montanans out there who are totally unaffected by any of the cuts. Take heart. Many a low-income senior will be weeping tears of joy into his can of cat food today, as he learns that yes, lobbyists for the Montana School Boards Association can still find lucrative six-figure salaries denying unemployment benefits to victims of domestic violence right here in Montana.  And their funding comes from dues paid to them by local school districts, with your money.

You were probably pretty worried about the Republican lobbyist/ex-school administrator/think-tanking class all going unemployed once the Republicans slashed school budgets–it has been a rough three weeks since the session started.  Likely some at the MTSBA had to dip into the strategic gold reserves that they have hoarded in their basements — but you will be happy to know that they’re all going to be fine, just fine.

So go out and tell those worried about kids, seniors, and the disabled to stop being such Debbie Downers.