Stimulus bill passes in the House

By MIKE DENNISON

The bill to spend Montana’s $880 million share of federal economic stimulus money sailed through the House Thursday, but not without warnings from conservative Republicans about “the demise of the republic” brought on by excessive government spending.

The House voted 64-33 in favor of House Bill 645, which is packed with one-time spending on highways, water projects, school buildings and a host of other programs, meant to jolt the economy and help those hurt by the country’s economic slowdown.

“I’ve seen our federal government spend a lot of money in a lot of ways to serve its people,” said Rep. Jon Sesso, D-Butte, and the sponsor of the bill. “I’m here to say that (this spending) is going to come the closest to helping our people, to directly helping the people we come here to represent.”

Fifteen House Republicans joined 49 of the chamber’s 50 Democrats in support of the bill; all 33 votes against it were Republicans.

The vote sends HB645 to the Republican-controlled Senate, which will consider it along with the session’s other major spending bill.

Together, the two bills will account for the vast majority of state spending over the next two years.
While the stimulus-spending bill easily passed, conservative Republicans stood up to oppose it Thursday, warning that huge government spending is the wrong way to help the economy.

“We have to seriously consider if we’re making a grievous error,” said Rep. Tom McGillvray, R-Billings. “I just have to make a point that this may be the beginning of the end of our society as we know it.”

McGillvray said the country is moving from a capitalistic society to one “where everybody has a hand out.”

Rep. Joel Boniek, R-Emigrant, read a prepared statement that said the federal dollars in HB645 are “fraudulent” and create “the appearance of wealth.”

“I have a sense that we’re presiding over the demise of the republic,” he said. “I know this is speaking to ears that will not hear but for all the Montanans who are watching this process with dismay, it needs to be said.”

Before the debate, legislative staff gave legislators a detailed overview of HB645 and its spending.

Highlights include:

• $220 million for highway projects.

• $48 million for SNAP, the program formerly known as Food Stamps.

• $60 million set aside for potential increases in Medicaid, the state-federal program that pays medical bills for the poor.

• $21 million for local water and sewer projects, and another $20 million for local building projects identified by counties and cities.

• $43 million for school building projects, with an emphasis on energy efficiency and conservation items, and another $15 million for various other school programs.

• At least $13 million for higher education, including money meant to offset possible tuition increases at state universities and colleges the next two years.

• $7.5 million for a revolving loan fund to help the distressed timber industry.

Rep. Brady Wiseman, D-Bozeman, tried several times to amend the bill to include $400,000 to help Bozeman clean up from a March 5 explosion that destroyed several downtown buildings. The House rejected his efforts, but did agree to an amendment that said the $20 million for local projects could include “debris removal.”

Sesso noted that neither Bozeman nor Miles City, whose downtown was hit by a major fire this week, received any money in HB645 for those disasters.

Many projects were left out of the bill, he said, but the Appropriations Committee tried to make sure the money was distributed fairly around the state and among many programs.

“For everyone who is disappointed, don’t think you’re alone,” Sesso said. “I can just tell you, the pieces that are before you are going to do a lot of good work in this state and help a lot of people.”