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It was good to see a compromise bill guaranteeing that anglers and floaters can reach streams from public bridges get off to a strong start.
House Bill 190 by Rep. Kendall Van Dyk, D-Billings, passed the House Fish, Wildlife and Park Committee last week by a 16-2 vote. Read More→
Sesso: Budget Process Proceeding
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Rep. Jon Sesso (D-Butte) said last week that Montana lawmakers must continue the ongoing state budget process while preparing for potential federal job-recovery funds. Sesso chairs the House Appropriations Committee.
Sesso stressed that potential economic recovery dollars – in any amount – are one-time-only funds that can’t be considered a cure-all to a challenging state budget. Read More→
State Pay Plan Includes Two-Year Freeze
Posted by:HB 13, the pay plan for state employees, was heard on January 21st in Appropriations. The bill is sponsored by Chuck Hunter (D). It freezes the pay of state employees for both years of the biennium, funds the increased cost of health insurance so health benefits can be maintained at the current level and provides a one time $450 payment to employees whose salaries are below $45,000 per year. The $450 payment does not permanently increase the salaries.
The pay plan was negotiated by the Schweitzer administration and state employee unions and was ratified earlier this month.
“Democrats are taking the first step in bringing forth a fiscally responsible, balanced budget,” said Speaker of the House of Representatives Bob Bergren (D-Havre). “This is the responsible thing to do in order to protect jobs and maintain services to Montanans.”
“Democrats are taking the first step in bringing forth a fiscally responsible, balanced budget,” said Speaker of the House of Representatives Bob Bergren (D-Havre). “This is the responsible thing to do in order to protect jobs and maintain services to Montanans.”
“This agreement is fair to the taxpayers and reasonable to our state workers,” said Montana Gov. Brian Schweitzer. “I wish it could have been more, but these are difficult times.”
HB 13 has been passed by the legislature.
Senate Leaders Announce Session Priorities
Posted by:In a press event Wednesday Jan. 21, the minority leadership of the Montana Senate announced priorities for the 2009 session. In her remarks, Minority Leader Carol Williams said “The Senate Democrats are committed to broad-based economic recovery that extends from my hometowns of Butte and Missoula to Wibaux.”
More specifically:
- Increasing the affordability and accessibility of health care
- A property tax reappraisal that puts homeowners and small businesses first, and ensures no statewide net increase in property taxes
- Lowering energy prices and increasing energy production in Montana
- Supporting both rural and urban schools to provide all children with the best education available, and work to increase teacher pay and facilities funding and
- Legislation to spur economic recovery in Montana, and working to create better-paying jobs with benefits, and working to provide training programs for new and displaced workers in order to create a workforce ready for emerging jobs.
Rep. Williams was joined by Minority Whips Kim Gillan (D-Billings) and Trudi Schmidt (D-Great Falls) and Sen. Mike Cooney (D-Helena).
"I think that it’s going to all work out, with the changes that we have agreed to. It’s not as much (spending for some programs) as I would’ve hoped, but apparently it’s more than other people wanted. As usual, we are trying to find the middle.” 
"[On term limits:] You empower the executive, you empower the lobbyists and that's not good for the system because then we lose what the citizen Legislature brings.” 