Rep. Dan Fuchs, R-Billings, says in a news release that he is in "the preliminary stages of spear heading a citizen initiative that will provide a constitutional protection while empowering the legislature to develop a fair and balanced tax structure." That means a sales tax that doesn't allow the Legislature to restore whatever other tax it replaces. Fuchs said he has been promoting a sales tax since 1994 but has voted against it because he, like other Montanans, had "fear of a future legislature bringing back the tax that was promised to be reduced or eliminated."

"Fuchs is in the process of building a coalition of interested parties across the state that can help with the financial costs associated with this type of endeavor," he says. "He is convinced that it is this type of provision that will allow Montana to finally move forward with real tax reform. To a balanced tax approach that utilizes a tax structure for the times, while providing important tax relief to those who have been shouldering the ever-increasing burden of one of this countries largest state governments.

"If you or your group are interested in helping with this endeavor either physically with signature gathering or with financial support please contact Rep. Dan Fuchs @ 395 Windsor Circle N. Blgs, MT. 59105. You can reach him at his office 252-8364 or on his cell 855-2537."