Helena-Legislators began hammering out the details of a weekend budget compromise in committee on Monday. Republicans will get a budget that spends less than the House plan originally suggested. Democrats will have more ongoing state support for K through 12 education and have the Children's Health Insurance Program implemented as voters intended. However legislative news reporter Natalie Neumann found out some lawmakers are unsatisfied that the compromise removes CHIP funding for contraceptives.
Monday, April 27, 2009
Friday, April 24, 2009
Thursday, April 23, 2009
Wednesday, April 22, 2009
Interview with Senate President
Legislative News Reporter Natalie Neumann sits down with Senate President Bob Story, R-Park City to talk about the work to be done in the last days of the 61st Legislative Session and if a special session is in the works.
Tuesday, April 21, 2009
Monday, April 20, 2009
Thursday, April 16, 2009
Property Tax Mitigation Bill Earns Senate Approval
The Senate approved their version of the only bill alive for mitigating property tax reappraisal. Every six years property tax is reappraised. If nothing is done, Montana homeowners would see their property values rise an average of 56 percent since the last reappraisal in 2003. Legislative News Reporter Natalie Neumann found out legislators are sticking to a similar approach used in past reappraisals.
Wednesday, April 15, 2009
Senate Approves Timber Bond Bill
The Department of Natural Resources and Conservation is a step closer to purchasing some land in the Potomac Valley. The Senate approved a bill that many proponents hope will help the timber industry. The bill would allow bonds to help the state to purchase land for recreational use, sustainable forest management and income-generating potential. Legislative News reporter Natalie Neumann found the bill brought out an eastern versus western Montana debate.
Tuesday, April 14, 2009
Senate Wrestles with Decision to Support Stimulus Funds, Ultimately Approve
The governor's budget director calls the bills dealing with the state budget and stimulus funds unacceptable. In a meeting with Senate Democrats, David Ewer said legislators need to get the budget up to par now, in conference committee or special session and says the governor won't sign the bill dealing with the stimulus funds without changes. Ewer says the administration, among other things, would like to changes to funding of education and the Healthy Montana Kids, which has been reduced from the voter approved 250 percent of poverty to 200 percent. The Democrats tried unsuccessfully to make their mark on the Senate Republican budget. Legislative News Reporter Natalie Neumann reports on how the bill passed on a 27 to 23 vote, with three Republicans voting against the bill and three Democrats voting for it.
Wednesday, April 8, 2009
Tuesday, April 7, 2009
Legislator Threatens Special Session with Tax Reappraisal Bill
Helena-A Whitefish representative wants to make homeowners the priority in mitigating property tax reappraisal. Legislators continued their quest for mitigating the changes Tuesday. The Senate Taxation committee held a hearing on the only bill alive to do so. Every six years property tax is reappraised. If nothing is done, Montana homeowners would see their property values rise an average of 56 percent since the last reappraisal in 2003. Bill sponsor Mike Jopek, D-Whitefish, says his support hinges on the support for homeowners. One senator likened Jopek's request to an ultimatium and a hand grenade. Jopek says he's seen the cuts the House and Senate have made to the budget and says depending on who you ask the state has two to four hundred million dollars under the mattress.
"Take the money out of the mattress. Let's give it to the homeowners; there's nothing wrong with that. Let's put them at the top of the list: low income homeowners, elderly homeowners, people who saw extraordinary increases, and disabled American vets. Let's put them at the top of the line."
Jopek threatened the committee to table the bill and cause the legislature to go into a special session. Jopek says he'll pull the pin from the metaphorical hand grenade and become an opponent to the bill, if the support for those groups in the form of relief programs ceases.
Rep.Brian Hoven, R-Great Falls, supports the bill, especially the circuit breakers for people of middle and low income, disabled Amerincan veterans, and the elderly. A circuit breaker caps property taxes at a percentage of a taxpayer's income. However, Hoven warned the committee against broad, general circuit breakers.
"The general circuit breaker, while it will help those, it will also aid those folks that are living beyond their means. Those people that have bought more house than they can afford and are paying more in property taxes will get a significant break and that's fine, they should. But I don't think we have the money to support that."
Organizations like the Montana Taxpayer's Association, Montana Realtors Association, and Montana Farm Bureau Federation support the bill but believe it is not completely revenue neutral. The governor would not like to see increases in property tax across the state on average. Senators fielded questions on how the bill would affect homeowners on a county to county basis, what changes to the bill people would like to see and what proposed amendments would do fiscally. The committee will take action on the bill Wednesday afternoon.
Monday, April 6, 2009
Friday, April 3, 2009
Senate Committee Reduces Budget By Two Percent
The Senate Finance and Claims committee took their whack at the state's budget Friday. The Republican controlled committee voted on party lines to make two percent across the board reductions in state government with an 11 to 8 vote. Legislative News Reporter Natalie Neumann found out that the move would shave about $26 million from the $8.1 billion two-year state budget.
Monday, March 30, 2009
Friday, March 27, 2009
Thursday, March 26, 2009
Wednesday, March 25, 2009
Legislative New Update 3.25
The Administration's Budget Director Comments on the House Budget Proposal
Tuesday, March 24, 2009
Monday, March 23, 2009
Legislative News Preview 3.23
Small businesses and high tech firms may recieve boost on getting their ideas and products to market.
Friday, March 20, 2009
Senator Encourage Small Businesses With Bill
Entreprenuers may have more incentive to start a business in Montana if a Senate bill passes. A Billings Senator is propsing a bill called the Montana Economic Stimulus Act. The bill would provide a five percent capital gains credit for the sale of a Montana business which has been running for at least ten years in the state. To gain the credit, the business must be established or move its principal business location to the state within a certain time period. Legislative News Reporter Natalie Neumann found out why the bill is called the Montana Economic Stimulus Act.
Thursday, March 19, 2009
Senate Approves Horse Slaughter Bill
Helena-The Senate narrowly passed a bill that would make it easier for a person to start a horse slaughter or processing facility in the state. Currently there are no equine slaughter facilities in the United States, but there are facilities in Canada and Mexico. Legislative News Reporter Natalie Neumann found out what concerned the Senate on the bill.
The bill passed out of the House on a 66-33 vote. The bill goes to the governor next, who has not yet commented on the bill.
The bill passed out of the House on a 66-33 vote. The bill goes to the governor next, who has not yet commented on the bill.
Wednesday, March 18, 2009
Local Governments Could Ask Voters on Sales Tax With Bill
Helena-Voters may decide if their local governments can impose a local sales tax if a Senate bill passes. The bill proposes a four percent tax to tourism goods and services, like lodging facilities, prepared meals, alcoholic beverages, recreational services, auto and recreational vehicle rentals. Local governments would submit to their elecotrate the question of the tax. Legislative News Reporter Natalie Neumann found out local governments want the bill.
Tuesday, March 17, 2009
Gun Bill Hits Senate Judiciary Committee
Helena-A Laurel representative wants to establish the citizen self-defense and Firearms Rights Act with his bill. Krayton Kerns, a republican says the bill clarifies and codifies case law in Montana. Legislative News Reporter Natalie Neumann found out what the bill would do.
Monday, March 16, 2009
Legislators take on shrinking budget
Helena-The House of Representatives tackled the state budget Monday. Last week the Legislative Fiscal Division announced another drop of revenue, 41 million dollars, after the House appropriations committee approved the bill on the state budget on a 18 to 2 vote. Legislative News Reporter Natalie Neumann found out how the house dealt with the shrinking state budget.
Representatives are scheduled to continue the hearing on the budget Tuesday.
Representatives are scheduled to continue the hearing on the budget Tuesday.
Friday, March 13, 2009
Update 3.13.09
Rehberg addresses legislators on economy and stimulus, state senator hopes to see projects funded with stim money to be exempted from MEPA
Thursday, March 12, 2009
Wednesday, March 11, 2009
Tuesday, March 10, 2009
Monday, March 9, 2009
Friday, March 6, 2009
Governor Releases Stimulus Money Details
Helena-Friday Governor Brian Schweitzer gave details of the more than eight hundred million recovery and investment dollars from the federal government.
The funding is slated to be invested in Montana over the next 28 months, but the legislature must pass the so called Montana Reinvestment Act first.
The Governor says it will help create or retain 11 thousand jobs.
House Appropriations chairman Rep. Jon Sesso, D-Butte says the bill will be introduced in committee Wednesday.
Sesso says the appropriations committee has worked hard on the budget to understand what might be coming.
"We have one chance to get this right, and we are going to get it right. On behalf of the families who we represent the people we represent, the families across Montana, it's very important that we make the best of this opportunity and put Montana back to work and we're gonna do that."
Governor Schweitzer says legislators have until April 3rd for him to sign off on the Montana Reinvestment Act in order to get funds from the Federal government. Major proposals for the money include 51 million dollars for higher education which could fund a tuition freeze for the Montana University System. More than 211 million dollars will go towards rebuilding infrastructure like highways and bridges. Schweitzer also proposes about 10 million dollars to put the wood products industry back to work.
The funding is slated to be invested in Montana over the next 28 months, but the legislature must pass the so called Montana Reinvestment Act first.
The Governor says it will help create or retain 11 thousand jobs.
House Appropriations chairman Rep. Jon Sesso, D-Butte says the bill will be introduced in committee Wednesday.
Sesso says the appropriations committee has worked hard on the budget to understand what might be coming.
"We have one chance to get this right, and we are going to get it right. On behalf of the families who we represent the people we represent, the families across Montana, it's very important that we make the best of this opportunity and put Montana back to work and we're gonna do that."
Governor Schweitzer says legislators have until April 3rd for him to sign off on the Montana Reinvestment Act in order to get funds from the Federal government. Major proposals for the money include 51 million dollars for higher education which could fund a tuition freeze for the Montana University System. More than 211 million dollars will go towards rebuilding infrastructure like highways and bridges. Schweitzer also proposes about 10 million dollars to put the wood products industry back to work.
Increased Penalties for Renter Damage Likely Dead
A bill that would make damage to rental property an offense did not receive approval from the House Judiciary committee Friday.
Legislative New Reporter Natalie Neumann found out why the bill was tabled.
Legislative New Reporter Natalie Neumann found out why the bill was tabled.
Thursday, March 5, 2009
Legislators Trim Education Funding
The House Appropriations Committee acted on the Education section of the budget Thursday. Legislative News reporter Natalie Neumann found out how the legislators tried to cut some funds from the budget.
The committee will continue working on the budget this week and hope to hold hearings on the bill dealing with the economic stimulus funds next week.
The committee will continue working on the budget this week and hope to hold hearings on the bill dealing with the economic stimulus funds next week.
Wednesday, March 4, 2009
Senate President Wants Stimulus Oversight
Legislators want to make sure federal stimulus money coming to Montanan is spent correctly and wisely. Senate President Bob Story of Park City hopes to do this with the creation of an Economic Stimulus Oversight Commission.
Legislative News reporter Natalie Neumann found out what the commission would do and if legislators believe it's necessary.
Legislative News reporter Natalie Neumann found out what the commission would do and if legislators believe it's necessary.
Tuesday, March 3, 2009
Stimulus Package
With the federal stimulus package President Obama approved last month, the state will receive more than 600 million dollars.
Legislators will have discretion over more than 200 million dollars. The Senate Finance and Claims committee held a public hearing on the federal stimulus act. Legislative News reporter Natalie Neumann found out what entities want to see funds in their budget.
Welcome!
As my final semester as a UM Broadcast Journalism/Political Science major and Davidson Honors College student winds down, I'm reporting on the Montana Legislature, which at this point is already half way done. To complete my Honors College project I've created this blog where I'll be posting the daily work I do, along with supplementary commentary, stories and photos. Starting today you can listen to the work that I'm sending out to radio stations across the state. If you have any story ideas, questions or comments, please feel free to post them here.
Happy Reading and Listening!
Natalie Neumann
Legislative News Reporter
Happy Reading and Listening!
Natalie Neumann
Legislative News Reporter
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