Despite protests, House passes stimulus spending

By MOLLY PRIDDY
Community News Service
UM School of Journalism

HELENA – The House today approved a plan to spend millions in federal stimulus dollars, despite numerous attempts from Bozeman-area legislators to change or reject the bill. The vote was 64-33.

The hearing for House Bill 645, which appropriates the state’s $870 million share of federal stimulus money, lasted over two and a half hours, most of which was spent on debating the merits of particular uses for the money.

House Appropriations Committee Chairman Jon Sesso, D-Butte, said the bill was imperfect but as close as Montana would get to getting immediate financial relief.

“For everyone that is disappointed, don’t think you’re alone,” Sesso said. “But I can just tell you that the piece that is before you, the elements that are included in this bill are going to do a lot of good work in this state; it’s going to help a lot of people.”

Despite Sesso’s assertions, a delegation of Bozeman-area lawmakers tried to rearrange funding to help their districts.

Rep. Brady Wiseman, D-Bozeman, tried unsuccessfully four times to get $400,000 for Bozeman to aid in rubble and debris removal from the site of the natural gas explosion downtown.

“We’ve got a big problem in the city of Bozeman,” Wiseman said. “We have a city block lying in rubble and we can’t afford to clean it up.”

Rep. JP Pomnichowski, D-Bozeman, supported Wiseman’s amendments saying the city could start as soon as possible on the clean up and could pay the money back.

But Rep. Bill McChesney, D-Miles City, opposed the amendments. He said his city had suffered similar destruction in the recent downtown fire, but the stimulus bill was already strapped.

“In the end, the help that Miles City, Whitehall and Bozeman need is going to be there,” McChesney said. “The funding and the resources need to be found outside of the stimulus bill.”

Each of Wiseman’s attempts was rejected by the House by at least 70 votes. The one amendment to pass on the stimulus bill came from Sesso. His amendment allowed cities struck by disaster, including Bozeman, Whitehall and Miles City, to use their share of stimulus money for debris removal. It passed 90-13.

No other amendments were proposed on the bill, but several Republican lawmakers from Gallatin County expressed their distain for the stimulus package in general.

“I have a sense that we are presiding over the demise of the American republic,” said Rep. Joel Boniek, R-Livingston. “My problem with receiving fed dollars is that these dollars are fraudulent.”

Boniek also told lawmakers they were “posturing” by pretending to know how the bill would affect Montana, something he called a “poorly disguised attempt to give legitimacy” to stimulus money.

Tensions broke after Rep. Michael More, R-Gallatin Gateway, accused lawmakers of succumbing to the “call of money.”

“What god do you serve?” More asked the House. “Is this all pretense, the Pledge of Allegiance?”

More continued his speech against HB645, calling it “manna from Heaven” for the lawmakers. When asked by Rep. Dennis Himmelberger, R-Billings, if his comments were pertinent to the bill, More said they were, “If you can grasp that, Mr. Chairman.”

More was gaveled down for being out of order. He later apologized, saying he did not intend to offend anyone.

On Tuesday, the House Appropriations Committee reallocated $75 million of Gov. Brian Schweitzer’s original proposal, leaving much of HB645 intact. The bill works in coordination with the state budget bill, which is currently being considered in the Senate.

Committee backs changes in stimulus spending

By MOLLY PRIDDY
Community News Service
UM School of Journalism

HELENA – A key House panel voted 18-2 Tuesday to spend some of the state’s $870 million in federal stimulus money on cities, counties and public education instead of investing in the teacher’s retirement fund and new license plates.

The House Appropriations Committee decided to reallocate $75 million of Gov. Brian Schweitzer’s original proposal but left the rest of House Bill 645 intact.

Committee Chairman Jon Sesso, D-Butte, said the amendments to House Bill 645 were based on a level of unparalleled bipartisanship and cooperation with the state administration.

“This was truly a team effort,” Sesso said.

Sesso said the committee endorsed a “lion’s share” of Schweitzer’s proposal, and the amendments should be taken in proper perspective.

“We rearranged the deck chairs on $75 million out of $800 million,” Sesso said.

Lawmakers had no say over nearly $600 million of the stimulus money because it was allotted for specific programs by the federal government.

The $75 million reallocation included removing $43 million from the Teacher’s Retirement System, $3.5 million from the Southwest Montana Veteran’s Home, $3 million for new license plates, $2 million from the Ruby Dam restoration and $4 million for updating the secretary of state’s computer system.

The money was given to programs on a committee priority list, Sesso said.

One of the top priorities was a $20 million boost for city and county public works projects and $3 million for tribal governments. Legislators also set aside $3 million for historical restoration projects, including Traveler’s Rest near Missoula and the Daly Mansion in Hamilton.

In education, lawmakers decided to move $15 million to K-12 education and $13 million for tuition mitigation in the University System and community colleges. Community colleges will also get over $1 million for infrastructure projects.

Human services received $2 million for food banks, rescue and homeless shelters, as well as $3 million for aging services.

Rep. Walt McNutt, R-Sidney, said the committee kept the next legislative session in mind and tried to avoid creating fiscal sinkholes in the budget. He also said the committee was not contentious in the process.

“I didn’t get elected to come argue,” McNutt said.

But Rep. Dave Kasten, R-Brockway, said he voted against the stimulus bill because it creates a more bloated government.

“We are just spending way, way, way too much money,” Kasten said. “I’ve got six grandkids and we’re spending their money right here.”

Much of Schweitzer’s original proposal for the stimulus money remained intact, including the $60 million to cushion increases in the Medicaid caseload and $43 million for school facilities and infrastructure. Sesso said $35 million of that money is expected to be “on the street” upon passage of the bill.

Lawmakers expect a full House for HB 645 vote on Thursday. The bill works in coordination with the state budget bill, which is currently being considered in the Senate.