How About Spending That Money on a Fence?

Every news story about the two escaped
inmates from the state prison makes me wonder if the money spent
paying a Communications Director wouldn't have been better spent
on say, another fence or guard. I don't know how much he makes
now, but when Bob Anez took the job at Corrections,
he was being paid $67,500, a pretty decent salary for sending
out press releases and dealing with the massive media here in
Montana.

It's an odd phenomenon that I really don't understand. How many
state agencies really need a communications director or
spokesperson in a state with so few media outlets? Even a staunch
small government advocate like our esteemed Secretary of State
found room in his budget to pay for a spokesperson. I know Brad
wants to be in the paper or in taxpayer funded advertisement every
day, but the reality is that the media just doesn't pay that much
attention to public officials or agencies in Montana. These are
largely wasteful, political jobs, and we don't need them.

Is it too much to ask that our elected officials and agency heads
talk to the public without the filter of a press agent?

Article by Don Pogreba

Don is an English/Debate teacher and debate handbook author who lives in Helena, MT, and who can't imagine living anywhere other than this glorious state. Much of his writing happens late at night and he is unlikely to respond to your comments during the day.