Many good laws vetoed by governor
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After a marathon Wednesday last week we were given a few days off while the budget was delivered to the governor. The clock starts ticking as he has ten days to sign or veto it. The negotiations for an agreement between the branches of government began. The legislature sent a structurally balanced budget with what we are hoping is a least a $150 million ending fund balance. Last session's budget ended with a $275 million ending fund balance and it was gone in less than a year. The revenue projection that will be used for the final numbers should be out this week. That is the important number.
The governor would like to add some money back into the budget. Depending on the revenue projections, he will have to take from somewhere else within the budget in order to add in another spot. We have already added back money for the Big Sky Rx, Columbia Falls Veterans home and are taking federal money for updating medical computer records of patients.
There were lots of vetoes last week of some very good legislation. Examples are a bill that would make mandatory energy efficiency updates for new houses show a five year payoff. These new code changes in what is required in new construction will add 10 percent to the cost of construction and only show about a $20/month energy savings. Also, a mandate that new homes must have finished basements. Many people, myself included, were able to finish parts of their construction themselves at a significant savings. This is also a way to increase the value of your house over time with your own work or as often called "sweat equity.”
The bill referred to as "The Helena Sex Ed" bill was vetoed. This bill allowed school boards to keep local control of their curriculum, but allow parents who didn't agree with the graphic nature of some of the materials put out by Planned Parenthood to keep their children from those classes. It was a simple opt-in measure. This would have allowed parents to have control over what their own children are taught and when they are taught.
There were several insurance and tort reform measures that were also vetoed. One insurance measure would have made it illegal to get paid for the same incident more than once. In some cases with a couple of insurance companies involved, they all have ended up paying the same claim. Would have helped with all insurance rates.
I have heard from some of you about the cyanide leach mining bill. This was also vetoed. It would not have allowed any new leaching operations. There are two that are allowed right now in the state. They are strictly regulated, permitted and inspected now. This bill would have allowed ore from another mine to be transferred to these sites to be processed. It was a great jobs bill.
Thank you for your ideas and thoughts. I can be reached at dansalomon12@gmail.com or (406) 253-9724.
