Budget bill passes Senate
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Of course the big deal last week was House Bill 2, the state budget. It is not easy to vote for $9 billion. I don’t think that anyone really likes the budget. As always, there are winners and losers. And no one gets everything they want.
We started on Saturday at 9 a.m. and never stopped until 6 p.m. At the end, I voted against HB 2. In my time here in Helena, I have voted for and against this funding bill. I have seen state government increase more than $2 billion, too much, while our population has not increased.
Total payroll for state employees increased about $30 million (5.08 percent) during the last two years. Over half of the state employees did receive raises, and everyone has received increases in benefits over the last few years.
I have received hundreds of emails from state employees asking for a 5-percent raise in each of the next two years. The emails are forms sent out by the union and have the line: “Erase this line and put in your own story.” Many senders forgot to do this, but the worst part was the employees that used their government computer and Internet during work hours to send these messages to every legislator. Montana’s state government Internet address is mt.gov, and I received lots with this return address.
Each agency can give raises on longevity, new job description or broadband comparison. I have written about the broadband pay system several times. Our pay scales are compared with those of the private sector and the pay in other states.
Also last week we voted on House Bill 391 sponsored by Rep. Jerry Bennett (R-Libby). HB 391 will require parental consent for an abortion provider to perform an abortion on a female under the age of 18.
The laws of Montana require parental consent for a minor to get a tattoo and also parental permission for any body piercing. Only makes sense to require parental permission for an abortion. There is the judicial override if a minor cannot tell her parents for some reason.
Referendum 120 passed last year and required parental notification, not consent. This referendum passed with over 70 percent of the vote. For that reason, many of us voted for Rep. Bennett’s bill, and it passed the Senate 30-20 and the House 59-41.
Here’s the real question – will Governor Bullock agree? The governor has only vetoed 13 bills so far. Of the 166 bills that have made it into law, the governor has signed 159 and let seven just become law without his signature.
Governor Bullock has sent back another eight bills with his amendments. Some of these we agree with, and some we don’t. Time will tell if those bills will get vetoed eventually.
The end of the session is always the most stressful. Continue to leave me a message at (406) 444-4800; my cell is (406) 253-8766, and my email is jannataylor@montana.com. Never forget that I work for you.
