Senate passes plan to spend stimulus money

Republicans hold fast as Democrats
try to get more money for CHIP, K-12

By MOLLY PRIDDY
Community News Service
UM School of Journalism

HELENA – The Senate managed to pass a bill to spend nearly $880 million of federal stimulus money despite clashes over money for education and children’s health care coverage. The vote was 27-23.

The GOP-controlled Senate made few amendments to House Bill 645, the stimulus bill. Democrats attempted to increase levels of education spending and to fully expand the Healthy Montana Kids Plan, but each amendment died on party lines.

“I feel that this money that we’re talking about now has been misused,” said Senate Minority Leader Carol Williams, D-Missoula.

Williams said Republicans used their majority power to change the intent of the stimulus funds by diverting them away from education and health insurance for the poor.

Democrats wanted to give schools a 3 percent increases in their base and per student budgets, money that schools could count on being a permanent part of their future spending. Instead, Republicans voted for a 1 percent increases, but made up the difference with one-time federal stimulus funds that could disappear two years from now.

The fear, angry Democrats said, is that when the federal dollars are gone, schools will have to lay off employees.

“I’m certain during every one of your campaigns everyone said education comes first,” said Sen. David Wanzenried, D-Missoula. “My question is, does it really?”

But Republicans said schools face the same risks as every other state agency during a recession.

“If things get better, the governor can certainly propose to expand the budget next time,” said Sen. John Esp, R-Big Timber. “If things don’t get better, then schools will be on notice as Sen. Wanzenried said.”

The amendment failed 22-28.

Other failed amendments included a full expansion for the Healthy Montana Kids Plan and $7 million more for higher education.

Wanzenried said the bill was not ready to leave the Senate and go back to the House for approval because details were still emerging about funding errors and the availability of money.

“This is not a common sense approach to this, and to spend $1.3 billion without more deliberation is irresponsible,” Wanzenried said, taking into account the additional $575 million Montanans will receive in federal tax cuts under the bill.

But Senate President Bob Story, R-Park City, said the bill is passable, though it would have been nice to have more time to work on it.

“I know not everyone is happy with the way that it came out,” Story said.

Sen. Joe Balyeat, R-Bozeman, said he would vote against the stimulus bill, not because of the contents but he considers it bad national policy.

“There’s nothing but a hole in the ground,” Balyeat said. “We’re going to pass our children the greatest national debt ever imaginable.

Since the Senate amended the stimulus bill, it will need to go back to the House for approval.

It is highly likely the House will vote down the amendments, sending the stimulus bill into a conference committee of senators and representatives who will be asked to hash out a compromise.

Legislators curb bill to ban pit bulls in Montana

HELENA – A drive to outlaw pit bulls in Montana stalled Thursday after opponents told lawmakers it would not solve problems with aggressive animals.

The House Local Government Committee tabled House Bill 191, sponsored by Rep. Robyn Driscoll, D-Billings. The bill would have banned any form of the Staffordshire bull terrier. Pit bulls already in Montana could remain but would need to be registered.

Owners of suspected but unregistered pit bulls would have to prove their dog is not a pit but or turn it over to authorities to be destroyed.

Driscoll said her aim is to curb the number of dog attacks.

“This law has the potential to prevent an enormous amount of sufferings, both of the dogs and the humans and animals they attack,” she said. The breed’s unpredictable behavior and aggression, plus its high tolerance for pain, make it especially dangerous, she added.

Driscoll also argued that pit bulls are often mistreated and bred for aggressive behavior like dog fighting.

She said she knew her bill would be contentious but didn’t expect the intensity of the reaction. She read excerpts from letters from opponents who called her derogatory names and threatened her life.

Two of the bill’s three supporters were victims of pit bull attacks. Doug Ruebke said he was walking his dog in Billings when a pit bull attacked him.

“It was trying to get my face, bite my hand off,” Ruebke said.

Ruebke said he bit the dog’s ear and gouged an eye, but it kept attacking. He suffered permanent injuries to his hands.

Rep. Don Roberts, R-Billings and oral surgeon, said most of the dog-bite cases he’s seen involve pit bulls attacking children.

“Even a well-repaired facial laceration can leave a lifetime of non-cosmetic scarring,” Roberts said.

But opponents outnumbered supporters 30 to 1 at the hearing. Many said outlawing pit bulls would not solve Montana’s problems with aggressive dogs.

Dave Pauli, representing 66 animal care associations across the state, said the breed is not the problem and aggressive behaviors can be monitored.

“Any dog can be dangerous and we need controls that address all potentially dangerous animals,” Pauli said to crowd’s applause.

Troy Kechely, a law enforcement dog trainer and aggression evaluator for Think Dog Consulting, said owners should be punished, not the breed.

“This is not a dog issue. This is a human issue,” Kechely said. He blamed problems on untrained owners and pit bull abuse.

Other opponents included pit bull owners and representatives of the Helena Humane Society and Big Timber’s animal control office.

-by CNS correspondent Molly Priddy