HELENA — The Montana House revived an infrastructure bill that previously failed, only to reject it again by a wider margin.
The bill would pay for public works and capital building projects by issuing $78 million in bonds.
Gov. Steve Bullock and lawmakers say infrastructure is a top priority of this legislative session, but Republican lawmakers disagree about going into debt to pay for it. Many also oppose using debt to pay for large building projects, such as Montana State University’s Romney Hall and a veterans’ home in Butte.
Last week, the House rejected the $78 million bill on a 65-35 vote. It needed 67 votes to pass. On Thursday it failed again with just 41 votes in favor.
The $98 million Senate bill will be heard Friday in the House Appropriations Committee.