By Ron VandenBoom
Republican Rep. Dennis Rehberg, Montana's only Congressional representative, will be meeting with State Sen. Sam Kitzenberg, R-Glasgow, on Monday, March 5, to discuss Kitzenberg's proposed four-lane highway project.
Rehberg said he would meet with Kitzenberg while in Helena to address a joint session of the State Legislature.
Kitzenberg's bill, SB-3, passed the Montana Senate several weeks ago and according to a statement delivered by Kitzenberg to Havre area residents last Friday, is expected to reach the floor of the House of Representatives for debate shortly after the legislature reconvenes on Wednesday, Feb. 28.
The bill would allow for the creation of more than 600 miles of a four-lane highway extending from the North Dakota border across the Hi-Line to Idaho. The project is expected to cost about $1.2 billion and take as much as 20 years to complete.
Kitzenberg expects the construction will be paid for with federal funds.
Rehberg, who said Sunday that he approves of the project, sits on the House Transportation Committee and on the Highway Subcommittee that would review the projects need for funding.
But Rehberg, a freshman congressman with only 45 days seniority under his belt, made it clear that his position is in no way a guarantee the project will receive a favorable vote from the committee.
"I don't want to give hope or promise and I'm not going to kid anybody," Rehberg said. "It's going to be very difficult."
Rehberg said there are arguments for other projects in Montana that are also in need of funding and Kitzenberg's four-lane highway idea is very expensive.
"I want to work with Sam on this project," Rehberg said. "Kitzenberg is thinking outside the box and you can count on Sam to do that. He is an outstanding representative for his constituency."
Rehberg said he would work on any project that will improve opportunities for economic development in Montana.
Included among the projects Rehberg expects to be working on, are two pieces of legislation he said will benefit agriculture both are related to value added products.
The first will grant a 50 percent tax credit up to $60,000 to farmers who have an investment in a value added agricultural enterprise. The credit will extend for 20 years and will be available to one or more investors in the enterprise.
"That's up to a $30,000 tax credit for 20 years," Rehberg said.
Rehberg will also propose legislation to create a incubator in Montana.
The incubator will be a place, he said, where if you have a value added idea, you can bring the idea for help with marketing, labeling, production and all the things that go into doing something of a value added nature.
Rehberg asked for and received an appointment to the House Agriculture Committee and sits on two subcommittees. One of the subcommittees he describes as dealing with diversification into specialty crops, such as sugar beets, spearmint, potatoes, lintels, and sorghum while the other committee deals with international trade.
And ways, he said, to promote and help increase the export of our agricultural goods in the international market.tion is in no way a guarantee the project will receive a favorable vote from the committee.
"I don't want to give hope or promise and I'm not going to kid anybody," Rehberg said. "It's going to be very difficult."
Rehberg said there are arguments for other projects in Montana that are also in need of funding and Kitzenberg's four-lane highway idea is very expensive.
"I want to work with Sam on this project," Rehberg said. "Kitzenberg is thinking outside the box and you can count on Sam to do that. He is an outstanding representative for his constituency."
Rehberg said he would work on any project that will improve opportunities for economic development in Montana.
Included among the projects Rehberg expects to be working on, are two pieces of legislation he said will benefit agriculture both are related to value added products.
The first will grant a 50 percent tax credit up to $60,000 to farmers who have an investment in a value added agricultural enterprise. The credit will extend for 20 years and will be available to one or more investors in the enterprise.
"That's up to a $30,000 tax credit for 20 years," Rehberg said.
Rehberg will also propose legislation to create a incubator in Montana.
The incubator will be a place, he said, where if you have a value added idea, you can bring the idea for help with marketing, labeling, production and all the things that go into doing something of a value added nature.
Rehberg asked for and received an appointment to the House Agriculture Committee and sits on two subcommittees. One of the subcommittees he describes as dealing with diversification into specialty crops, such as sugar beets, spearmint, potatoes, lintels, and sorghum while the other committee deals with international trade.
And ways, he said, to promote and help increase the export of our agricultural goods in the international market.
