Bonding bill, Northern auto-diesel building, fails in House

A bill cited by one state legislator as the "biggest jobs bill we had before us" failed its final vote in the house at 8:12 a. m. this morning.

The state bonding bill, which finally included funding for a new diesel and automotive technology building for Montana State University-Northern, failed. Sixty-two voted yes, 38 voted no, but it failed to get the needed two-third majority required of bonding measures.

"I'm shocked that it failed that bad, " said Greg Kegel, dean of Northern's College of Technology. "I expected a much closer vote if it failed. "

He said the bill possibly could be revived, but he had little hope for that.

"That's kind of the kiss of death for the bill, " Kegel said. "It's too bad. It's too bad for the state of Montana. "

The bill authorized the state selling bonds to fund nearly $100 million in construction. A new building to house Northern's auto and diesel programs included on Gov. Brian Schweitzer's budget proposal, with a $7.9 million price tag, was originally left off the bill but added after weeks of work by Hi-Line legislators and Northern staff members.

Rep. Bryce Bennett, D-Missoula, posted the results of the vote on Twitter this morning.

"The biggest jobs bill we had before us was just killed, " he tweeted.

Sen. Jonathan Windy Boy, D-Box Elder, said during a break between sessions that the action is one of political gamesmanship.

"It's unfortunate that these games of hostage-taking on particular bills (are happening), " he said. "It's senseless. There's no need to go there. …

"When you have a bill to provide jobs and provide opportunities (for people) to further their education to go after higher paying jobs, " he said. "the mantra (this session) was job, jobs, jobs. The bill was here, staring them right in the face, and they don't get it. "

Sen. Rowlie Hutton, R-Havre, said he had reservations about the bill, but voted for it because of the education buildings, including Northern's.

"It was a jobs bill with a high price, " he said. "I don't disagree that it was going to put people to work, but it came with a high price. … If that meant getting getting something for Northern I was willing to vote for it. "

He said he doubts the bill will be revived, because of the opposition to buildings not related to education, including a historical museum in Helena and a veterans care center in Silver Bow County.

Comments from Reps. Tony Belcourt, Kris Hansen and Wendy Warburton were not available by deadline this morning.

The bill originally passed the House, after Northern's building was added, on a 72-25 vote.

After amending it to increase a trigger — the bill now says state revenue must exceed estimates by $35 million before the bonds can be sold, a number the governor and the legislative fiscal analysts say will be met — the Senate passed the bill 36-14.

The bill then met a rocky road in the House, with low support in the first vote on the Senate amendments, 53-47, then a vote to reconsider the bill on April 18.

Warburton and Hansen voted to reconsider the amendments, saying support for the bill was too low for it to pass at that point.

Belcourt voted against reconsideration.

Belcourt, Hansen and Warburton all voted in favor of the bill this morning.

All of the votes against were by Republicans, including Speaker of the House Mike Milburn of Cascade.

Kegel said he was pleased that all of the local legislators voted for the bill.

"I'm very, very happy that our local legislators supported it, " Kegel said. "That is a great show of support. "