Biodiesel champ featured in Missoulian
However, Michele never forgot her rural roots. In the 2007 legislature, she sponsored several renewable energy bills, including the tax credit to jump start Montana's fledgling biodiesel industry. Unfortunately, the Governor vetoed the bill when he was not presented with a complete budget at the end of the regular legislative session. Farmers, ranchers, and biodiesel advocates hope Rep. Reinhart presses to pass the credit again in 2009. Today, the Missoulian is featuring Rep. Reinhart's excellent track record in Helena.
Rep. Michele Reinhart (D-Missoula)
Freshman legislator Michele Reinhart grew up in windy Livingston, Montana. After graduating from Carrol College, she took a position lobbying the state legislature in Helena on behalf of farmers, ranchers, and rural businesspeople as a staffer with the Northern Plains Resource Council.
After graduate school at the University of Montana, Michele was elected to the Montana House of Representatives from House District 97 in Missoula at the young age of 25.
However, Michele never forgot her rural roots. In the 2007 legislature, she sponsored several renewable energy bills, including the tax credit to jump start Montana's fledgling biodiesel industry. Unfortunately, the Governor vetoed the bill when he was not presented with a complete budget at the end of the regular legislative session.
Farmers, ranchers, and biodiesel advocates hope Rep. Reinhart presses to pass the credit again in 2009. Reinhart and Republican Senator John Bruggeman, also a young legislator, are two of the Montana League of Rural Voters' rural champs.
Today, the Missoulian is featuring Rep. Reinhart's excellent track record in Helena:
“I feel really good about the legislation that I personally passed for increased parks and space, for managing noxious weeds, for water conservation and for just some basic good-government measures for people,” Reinhart said.
She still sees a need for better collaboration from both sides of the aisle and a decrease in “the harsh rhetoric.”
“People don’t want to see us fight,” Reinhart said. “They want to see us deliver results.”
