HELENA – The Montana Senate refused to adjourn for the session Monday after lawmakers in the House voted down a $150 million infrastructure bill and moved to go home four days early.
Senators voted 33-14 Monday to nullify the House motion to adjourn. Because the House motion came before the 87th day of the 90-day session, the Senate and House had to agree in order for it to happen.
“I think we need to take one more try at infrastructure for the state of Montana, and if they (the House) want to leave on day 87 without us they can. But I’m going to vote to stay here and finish the folks’ work,” said Sen. Bruce Tutvedt, R-Kalispell.
Representatives defeated the last major infrastructure bill, Senate Bill 416, by one vote Monday morning. It needs 67 votes to pass rather than 51 because of the bond issues in the bill.
Republican Rep. Nancy Ballance of Hamilton, who at first supported the measure but now opposes it, said Monday more than $90 million in infrastructure projects has already passed through the Legislature in other bills.
Senate Bill 416 was crafted by a bipartisan group and introduced by Sen. John Brenden, R-Scobey, about a month ago after lawmakers rejected a nearly $400 million infrastructure proposal from the governor.
The measure as amended would provide $90 million, made up of $30 million each in cash, bonding and local borrowing authority for cities and counties. About two-thirds of the money would go to water, sewer and roads projects, with a percentage of funds designated for communities affected by the Bakken oil boom. The remaining third would pay for building projects, including $7.6 million for state institutions in Warm Springs and Lewistown, and over $18 million for Montana State University’s Romney Hall.
Additionally, if the state achieves a certain revenue level, $60 million more would be allotted for projects, including $25 million for the Montana Heritage Center. A third and higher state revenue trigger would mean additional funding would become available.
The measure would also allow the state to issue bonds for $10 million to help pay for the construction of a veterans home in Butte, which is to be repaid with federal funds.
Some House Republicans oppose the plan because it includes bonding and doesn’t use any of the state’s $300 million surplus. For Democratic Gov. Steve Bullock, using the surplus is not up for debate.
Senate Minority Leader Sen. Jon Sesso, D-Butte, said bank and bonding experts have advised the Legislature retain that amount of money to keep interest rates low and in case of emergencies.
“Those who criticize that are philosophically opposed to good, sound management,” Sesso said. “I cannot accept the notion that we should be spending all our cash and expose ourselves to the risks of whatever might happen, including another recession or otherwise, instead of being smart.”
Senators will come back at 7 a.m. Tuesday to vote on a different infrastructure bill sponsored by Republican House Speaker Austin Knudsen that provides $55 million for projects in eastern Montana affected by the oil boom. The House is also slated to reconvene at 7 a.m. Tuesday and could reconsider SB416.
Infrastructure is the final issue before the Legislature, which has already passed a two-year budget.