Babb heading to D.C. to push country’s foreign trade zone

By Justin Post - 05/23/2008

Walter Hinick / The Montana Standard Chief Executive Paul Babb meets in his office Thursday with Butte-Silver Bow’s Washington lobbyists Tyler Grassmeyer, left, and Thomas Keller.

In what has become a point of criticism during the local campaign season, Chief Executive Paul Babb is returning to Washington, D.C., next month to meet with a lobbying firm.

He also is scheduled to hand deliver the city-county’s application to establish a foreign trade zone at the Port of Montana n Business Development District, just southwest of Butte.

Babb said he will make a presentation to the Foreign Trade Zones Board about the city-county’s interest in the designation and its benefits to new and existing business.

On Thursday, the chief executive traveled with representatives of Butte’s lobbyist, the Russ Reid Co., to meet with members of the state’s congressional delegation in Missoula, Helena and the Mining City.

“I’ll be spending a lot of windshield time with these guys,” Babb said. “That’s when we’re going to go over our game plan for what we’re going to do in D.C.” Babb is traveling to the nation’s capital June 24-27. He is meeting with Russ Reid lobbyists June 25 and with the Foreign Trade Zones Board the following day.

The chief executive plans to meet with Montana’s congressional delegation while there.

He might also have an opportunity to meet with other congressional committees as part of the city’s pitch for federal money for major infrastructure improvement projects.

“Hopefully we can secure some appropriations for our community,” Babb said.

In February, Babb and council chairman Charlie O’Leary flew to Washington, D.C., to meet with Russ Reid and lawmakers about priority projects in the area.

Some of those are rebuilding the Big Hole River dam at Divide, health and safety upgrades for public buildings and East Butte improvements.

Commissioners voted last year to spend $94,000 in the 2008 budget for a nine-month contract with the lobbyist, which was O’Leary’s proposal.

Even so, the three challengers in the running for Babb’s seat — Dave Schultz, Mary McMahon and Eric O’Leary — have questioned the need for a lobbyist.

McMahon said in January that a better effort to develop relationships with state legislators and the U.S. Congressional delegation would have eliminated the need to spend money on a lobbyist.

O’Leary wasn’t necessarily critical of Babb, but said more could be done to improve relations with the state’s congressional delegation. He would support hiring a lobbyist, but only after he knew all other options had failed.

Schultz said he believes the city-county should have focused on projects like opening an outdoor pool before hiring a lobbyist.

The city-county has some $60 million in capital improvement projects and council chairman Charlie O’Leary believes the lobbyist will significantly reduce the amount of that tab that local residents must pay.

The council will review Russ Reid’s performance and decide whether to renew the contract.

Reporter Justin Post may be reached via e-mail at justin.post@lee.net.