Archive for State Budget
Budget Slashed by GOP
Posted by:The House Republicans today confirmed their desire to unnecessarily cut vital services that were paid for under the Governor’s budget. The GOP gave initial approval to their version of the state budget. Final approval for the bill will likely come tomorrow.
During the course of the budget discussions over the last few months, the GOP has made it clear, they are more concerned with pursuing their deep and unnecessary cuts. These cuts have targeted funding for K-12 schools, the Montanan colleges and universities, prescription drug assistance for seniors and children, just to name a few.
One high point of the recent budget debates was when Democrats were successful in their attempts to refund a veteran’s home in Columbia Falls. The GOP had previously voted to privatize the veteran’s home as a means to save state dollars. Unfortunately, this GOP policy would sacrifice the quality of care for our veterans who have bravely served our country. In addition, this GOP policy would likely have eliminated the jobs of 150 Montanans, only to replace them with lower paid and less skilled workers. This would have been detrimental to the Montana and Columbia Falls economy.
The GOP cuts also largely targeted university funding. Unfortunately, these cuts were not undone. This means if this budget is signed into law, college students throughout the state would see higher tuition rates. This, in turn would lead many students to seek their higher education elsewhere.
Once this budget receives final approval from the House, it’ll go to the Senate for their input.
Budget to Move to Full House Debate
Posted by:The House Appropriations Committee, today voted along party-lines to approve the GOP budget proposal that would devastate our public education system and universities, hinder our public health system and raise tuition on Montana university students.
The tragedy of the Republican party’s proposed cuts is that they are totally unnecessary. Governor Schweitzer presented Republican leaders with a budget that is fully paid for, without raising taxes on Montana families.
Unfortunately, the GOP has chosen to stick their collective head in the sand regarding our state’s economic recovery in an attempt to justify their drastic cuts. The GOP has refused to acknowledge that revenue coming into the state is increasing. They also refuse to acknowledge the devastating impact their cuts would have on our economic recovery.
Governor Schweitzer has made it clear that the money to fund our state’s vital services is there and the cuts the Republicans are making to schools and hospitals is a reflection of their values.
Even the Helena Independent Record has called the GOP out for the games they are playing with our state’s budget.
The budget is slated for a full House debate later this week. Montanans are urged to contact their legislators and ask them to restore the Governor’s budget, and pay for the vital services that Montanans depend on.
Ending the GOP Budget Games
Posted by:Today, in a meeting with Sen. Peterson and Rep. Milburn, the GOP leaders, Governor Brian Schweitzer called out the games the Republicans are playing with the state budget.
The Governor took the Republican leaders to task for their efforts to bury new data showing the Montana economy is strong and getting stronger.
Over the past few weeks, scrutiny over revenue estimates that show the amount of money the state is taking in has increased. Democrats contend that the state economy is on the rebound and therefore the Governor’s budget should be fully funded, to provide for adequate funding for schools, hospitals and other vital state services.
The Republicans on the other hand have attempted to bury new data on the state’s economic status in order to justify their drastic cuts to necessary state services. Thus far, the GOP has gutted education and health and human services funding, just to name a few of their targets.
The GOP has made these cuts without any consideration of their long-term effects. For example, the drastic cuts to our education system will not give businesses pause before expanding into the state, it will also hurt our long-term economic prospects, as we will not have the well educated workforce necessary to fill the business needs of tomorrow.
The Governor has made it clear that he expects a budget that is responsible and funds the necessary services for Montanans. If he is not willing to accept anything, then we should not be either.
GOP Continues Their Unnecessary Cuts
Posted by:Despite all the facts, Republicans in the legislature have continued their false claims that the Montana economy is in shambles, and they’ve used these claims to justify their unnecessary cuts to Montana’s schools, hospitals and other vital services for the state.
This morning though, Lee Capitol Bureau reporter Mike Dennison called out the GOP claims. In his article, Dennison made it clear that Montana’s economy is improving and if the GOP seeks to legislate responsibly they should take an honest look at the current state of the economy.
The GOP has made it clear they have no interest in putting forth a responsible budget though. Democrats have pushed for the legislature to adopt an official revenue projection so they know exactly how much money the state has to fund these vital services. Unfortunately, Republicans have opposed these measures every step of the way. The Republican actions are the equivalent of a business owner only looking at their expenses and not the money they’re taking in. It doesn’t make sense in business and it doesn’t make sense in government.
The fact remains, the Governor has proposed a budget that is paid for and doesn’t cut vital services to Montanans. He was able to do this because of responsible stewardship of the state economy for the past few years.
Today, during a meeting of the House Appropriations committee, when Democrats pushed to hold off on cuts to the Governor’s budget until current revenue estimates were available they were rebuked by Republicans on the committee. Republicans know that there is no justification for their drastic cuts based on the current economic situation in the state.
Courage, Not Cuts
Posted by:Nearly 500 people came to the Montana Capitol today to rally against the GOP’s unnecessary cuts to vital services such as public education, health and first responders.
These cuts are not only disturbing, they are unnecessary. The Governor has presented the legislature with a balanced budget, that fully funds these services. These cuts reflect the values of the GOP legislators, because they are unnecessary.
At the rally, a Montana firefighter spoke about the good work that our public employees such as firefighters, nurses and teachers do. These are the people that protect our communities from disaster and disease and help our children achieve their full potential. Recently, firefighters have come under fire from GOP lawmakers. He also spoke about the need for courage in our budgeting process; not cuts.
As we come closer to the half-way point of this legislature, budgetary debates are likely to heat up even more. It’s important that lawmakers know Montanans don’t support these unnecessary, devastating cuts. These cuts would hurt our economic progress now and in the long-term.
"We believe that the current budget, heading to the Senate Floor next week, unnecessarily pits Montanans against, creating winners and losers” 