Desperate in searching for treatment, Ron Clem sold his home in Kalispell to get his middle daughter, Carren, off methamphetamine several years ago.
The retired police officer and his family ended up shelling out $112,000 for a lengthy treatment regimen in another country. His daughter, though, is still sober and off the streets.
"I would pay twice that," Clem told the Senate Taxation Committee on Friday. "My daughter is alive today; she's in recovery. But gentlemen, that is no thanks to Montana."
Now what would you think this story is about. Lack of treatment centers in the state or an attempt to increase the beer tax? If you choose the beer tax, you're right. But what does treatment for an addiction and a beer tax have to do with each other? "No thanks to Montana." Did Montana get her started? I have nothing against treatment but where is Montana's responsibility in this and why target beer for this? Why not tax diapers to pay for this? It makes as much sense.
Then the question becomes will Governor BS support it. You all remember he pledged not to raise taxes.
So, were going after smokers and now beer drinkers, who's next on the agenda? Noisy kids?
Taxes are the chief business of a conqueror of the world. George Bernard Shaw
