Capitol Corner: This Week at the Legislature
Every two years, Montana’s 100-member House of Representatives and 50-member Senate gather in Helena for 90 days of budget negotiations, lawmaking and shenanigans. During the Legislative Session, Prairie Populist will share updates on the issues that matter most to you and the bills that impact your daily lives. See all our coverage here.
State park bill tabled, firefighter bill moves out of committee at Montana State Legislature
Park proponents continue to fight for funding bill
January feels like three Marches, when the Montana Legislature pushes pedal to the metal in order to complete last-minute bills and state business. It’s a plain fact. The low light, long days in the Capitol, the grinding of gears as people get into their grooves and settle in for the rest of the session all happen in January.
As does the Capitol Crud. This year it is a mix of Influenza A, the common cold, a little pneumonia and in some instances, the bottle flu. But that doesn’t stop the wheels of the 2019 Montana Legislature from turning. Nor does it slow the sales of hand sanitizer, soap and cheap bourbon.
This week was another fast-paced one, as we saw the Firefighter Health and Safety act move out of committee on a 9 to 1 vote, as well as a disappointing tabling of Senate Bill 24, the State Park funding bill.
Senate Bill 24, sponsored by Republican Sen. Terry Gauthier of Helena, drew a mountain of support and no opposition. The Prairie Populist is confused why such a popular and solid bill would be tabled on a party-line vote, but we hope the sponsor continues the fight and works to ultimately send it to Governor Steve Bullock’s desk. As our past coverage details, our state parks need some help — and the people who love parks are there to offer it. If only the Legislature would get out of their way.
Budget hearings are finished and subcommittees are wrapping up their work. Sleepy Senators, representatives and agency staff who sat through hours of technical presentations on budgets can finally rest easy. Now they wait for their fate in the full appropriations committee, often a tough committee that would rather cut budgets than shake your hand.
There’s an old saying in the Capitol that “The only thing colder in January in Montana is an appropriator’s heart.” There’s some truth to that. With mandatory cuts again looming, it’s up to the appropriations committees to decide which programs live, which programs die and which citizens lose services. We’ll follow the budget throughout the rest of the 90-day session. For now, budget fights remain fast and furious, especially with Medicaid Expansion peeking over the horizon.
Writer Amanda Garant spent two days in the Capitol working on stories related to hemp,
~Prairie Populist
Every two years, Montana’s 100-member House of Representatives and 50-member Senate gather in Helena for 90 days of budget negotiations, lawmaking and shenanigans. During the Legislative Session, Prairie Populist will share updates on the issues that matter most to you and the bills that impact your daily lives. See all our coverage here.
