House could vote on state budget next week; governor decries cuts

By Cole Grant/UM Legislative News Service

HELENA - Democratic Governor Steve Bullock says the No. 1 concern he has with the Legislature’s proposed budget is the lack of funding for essential services.

“That’s everything from senior and long-term care, to how they’re funding higher education, to what had been done with child protective services,” he said.

The state is facing a tight budget this session. In the House Appropriations Committee, where Republicans hold a majority, both parties are trying to find a middle ground.

The committee took action on amendments to aspects of House Bill 2, or the main budget bill, Thursday morning. Some of those included reinstating funding to the state airplane, which unanimously passed, and restoring a full-time attorney to the Commissioner of Political Practices Office, which failed on party lines.

Rep. Brad Tschida, R-Missoula, said he realizes that some programs, like the Montana Youth Challenge Academy, a camp for at-risk youth, “do need and deserve money, but I think at this point and time we have to see where the budget comes in before we can go ahead and honor a commitment of this nature.”

The committee will continue hearing amendments on the bill through Friday.

Chair of the House Appropriations Committee Nancy Ballance, R-Hamilton, said House Bill 2 will be heard on the House floor next Thursday and Friday.

Cole Grant is a reporter with the UM Legislative News Service, a partnership of the University of Montana School of Journalism, the Montana Broadcasters Association and the Greater Montana Foundation.