Senate Demos vow to support federal stimulus bill

HELENA – Democrats in Montana's Senate promised today to help the new Obama administration enact a $825 billion federal stimulus package, much of which is expected to be funneled through the states.

“Getting Montanans back to work is the Senate Democrats' top priority,” said Sen. Mike Cooney of Helena, who added that the Legislature needs to put regulations in place to allow some of the federal money to be used in Montana.

Senate Minority Leader Carol Williams, D-Missoula, said Montana needs to have a “healthy, well-trained workforce” when the recovery package comes to the state. She promised legislation to spur economic recovery, but said the bills will not be ready until the federal bills are passed. Williams said they should be ready within 10 days.

Williams said lawmakers are working with Montana's congressional delegation to figure out how much federal money the state would get and when it would arrive. If the money comes after the Legislature ends, Williams said interim committees should be capable of handling it and a special session should not be warranted.

The Democrats said the recovery package will spur the infrastructure industry, creating new jobs for Montanans.

Williams also said Republicans and Democrats will need to work together with the federal government. Her comments were directed at House Minority Leader Scott Sales, R-Bozeman, who said earlier this week in a televised interview that Montana should not accept help from the federal government.

Gov. Brian Schweitzer submitted a $3.1 billion list of “shovel-ready” projects to the Obama administration earlier this month. Obama's stimulus plan has been introduced in the U.S. House of Representives.

-by CNS correspondent Molly Priddy