Democrat floats money plan to GOP

HELENA - A House Democrat on Wednesday offered the Republican majority a counterproposal to its plan for finding money to balance the budget with money from the coal tax trust fund and a cigarette tax increase.

The suggestion from Rep. Kim Gillan, D-Billings, would provide more money than the GOP plan through a larger increase in the cigarette tax. It also makes the withdrawal from the coal trust a loan that must be repaid with interest using some of new tax revenue.

Gillan's bill, which modifies the Republican plan sponsored by House Majority Leader Roy Brown of Billings, marks the first time...