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.