Budget discussion tops list at legislative videoconference

The $10.3 billion budget that passed the Senate Monåday will likely pass the House, state Rep. Jacob Bachmeier, D-Havre, said at the weekly legislative video conference Tuesday in a Northern Montana Hospital conference room.

"My feelings is that most House Democrats are going to vote no on the bill, and I would say most House Republicans will vote yes on the bill," said Bachmeier, the only area lawmaker at the video conference. "I have a feeling that it is close but it will pass the House."

When it passed the Senate 29-20, Republican Sens. Mike Lang of Malta and Russ Tempel of Chester voted for it, while Democrat Frank Smith of Poplar voted against it.

Lawmakers have spent much of the session figuring out how to craft a budget that will leave at least $200 million in the state's rainy day fund, after the state received less than expected oil and gas revenue. Republican legislators want to build this fund through cuts to the state budget, while Democrats led by Gov. Steve Bullock want to do so through a mix of tax increases and smaller cuts.

Bachmeier said some areas will see a rise in spending from the 2016-2017 biennium budget. The Montana Department of Health and Human Services budget will increase, most of which will go toward senior and long-term care.

The budget for general government will be 7.6 percent less and judiciary will see a 0.7 percent reduction. Natural Resources and transportation will have to absorb cuts of 10.7 percent.

The Senate revised version will go back to the House, and if the House changes it again, the budget will go to a conference committee. That committee, composed of members from both parties and legislative houses, will have to come up with a compromise. Bachmeier said he heard when a budget goes to committee more money is usually put into the budget not taken out.

The budget will then go before Bullock who can either sign it, veto it or let it become law without his signature. Bachmeier said he does not know what the governor plans to do.

"He is playing his cards pretty close to his chest," Bachmeier said.

Infrastructure bonding

Two bills are being considered by state lawmakers - one crafted in  the House and the other in the Senate - that would allow bonding for infrastructure and capital projects, though in different amounts.

House Bill 645, introduced by state Rep. Mike Cuffe, R-Eureka, fell two votes short of the two-thirds supermajority needed to authorize $33.3 million in bonding.

Bachmeier and state Rep. Jonathan Windy Boy, D-Box Elder, voted for it, while Reps. Casey Knudsen R-Malta, and James O'Hara, R-Fort Benton, voted against it.

The bill was revived Saturday to be reconsidered by the House and the amount for bonding has been increased to $78.8 million.

An alternate bill, Senate Bill 367 introduced by Sen. Fredrick Moore, R-Miles City, would authorize up to $98.8 million in bonding. The bill just made the 34 votes needed to authorize bonding Thursday, passing 34-16, with Tempel and Smith voting for it and Lang against it. It has been transmitted to the House for a hearing Thursday in the Appropriations Committee.

Bachmeier said both bills include funding for a state veterans home in Butte, the renovation of Romney Hall at Montana State University in Bozeman, and expansions of both a science technology center at Montana State University-Billings and a dental hygiene building at Great Falls College.

"They feel like these are the essential projects needed to get the bonding bill passed, so that is why they are included in both (bills)," Bachmeier said,

Members of the Senate and House Democrats prefer the Senate bill, but House Republicans favor the House bill, Bachmeier said.

"It will be one or the other, they won't pass both," Bachmeier said.

Both bills authorize money for 50 school facility improvement projects including $525,000 in upgrades to the ventilation system at Havre High School and $763,620 for a replacement air handler at Rocky Boy High School on Rocky Boy's Indian Reservation. Hays-Lodge Pole school is also authorized to receive a grant of $4,025,500.

House Democrats are seeking to use a House bill for rural water projects as leverage against Republicans to pass other bills such as the bonding bill that originated in the Senate, Bachmeier said.

The bill, House Bill 8 introduced by Jim Keane, D-Butte, would offer loans including one of $10,000 to the North Central Montana Regional Water Authority.

Bachmeier said he is confident that the bill will eventually be passed.

Personhood amendment

Efforts to get a  proposed personhood amendment on the ballot failed Thursday with legislators failing to obtain the two-thirds majority needed for passage, Bachmeier said.  

House Bill 595, introduced by state Rep. Derek Skees, R-Kalispell, would amend the state constitution to define a person as "all members of the species Homo sapiens at any stage of development, including the stage of fertilization or conception, regardless of age, health, level of functioning, or condition of dependency."

The bill received 58 votes. Reps. Windy Boy, O'Hara and Knudsen voted for it while Bachmeier voted against it.

Cigarette tax increase

Bachmeier said he is undecided how he will vote on legislation that would raise the tax on cigarettes and smokeless tobacco.

The bill says that some of the $70 million in additional revenue generated would increase the pay of nurses and long-term care staff caring for state patients. Remaining funds would go to the state general fund and a long-range building program.

Senate Bill 354 introduced by Sen. Mary Caffero, D-Helena passed  last week on third reading 27-22, with Tempel and Smith voting for it and Lang against it.

The bill would up the tax from $1.70 to $3.20 on a pack of 20 cigarettes, increasing from 50 percent to 74 percent of the wholesale price. Taxes would also increase on smokeless tobacco and be imposed on e-cigarettes and vaping products.

Bachmeier said he is concerned the increase is too much, too fast and that it would disproportionately affect people with lower incomes. He said that he could potentially support a smaller increase.

"I'm really up in the air," Bachmeier said.

He added that he would be more comfortable supporting a $1 increase.