Page 16 - Flathead Beacon // 1.7.15

16 | JANUARY 7, 2015 COVER FLATHEADBEACON.COM
Montana State Capitol in Helena. GREG LINDSTROM | FLATHEAD BEACON
What to Watch for at the Legislature
A roundup of hot-button issues up for debate in Helena
THE 64TH SESSION OF THE MONTANA Legislature convened Jan. 5 with lawmak- ers from across the state meeting in Helena for four months — 90 working days, to be exact — to pass and amend laws and approve the state’s biennial bud- get. The Legislature, which convenes every two years, has two chambers: the Senate, which has 50 members, and the House of Representatives, which has 100. Each chamber meets separately to consider bills and pro- pose laws, and both chambers must approve every bill before it becomes law. The governor has the ability to veto any bill, but the Legislature can override the veto with a two-thirds vote. This Legislature features a 29- 21 Republican majority in the Senate and a 59-41 ma- jority in the House. The only action that must be com- pleted each session is the approval of a state budget.
As the latest session arrives, here are some of the main topics that will likely make headlines over the next few months:
INFRASTRUCTURE
Gov. Steve Bullock is sending a $336 million infra- structure plan to the 2015 Legislature in hopes that lawmakers will approve the building projects, despite bridling from Republican leaders who are reluctant to incur millions of dollars in long-term debt. Bullock has rolled the lion’s share of the plan into a single bill, which includes everything from new state buildings to sewer-and-water maintenance in eastern Montana to school maintenance. About $205 million of the plan’s proposed projects would be financed by bonds or state loans, requiring approval by a super-majority of the Legislature. The $131 million of projects financed by
cash require approval by a simple majority. Legisla- torsalsohavethepowertointroducetheirownbills, and Republican lawmakers already are talking about breaking up the Bullock infrastructure plan into piec- es and voting on them separately.
MEDICAID EXPANSION
Among the many health care topics that are going to surface, Medicaid expansion will no doubt spark the most heated debate. Bullock has listed it as one of his priorities, proposing to provide health care coverage to 70,000 low-income Montanans by accepting federal funds. The expansion is part of the nation’s health care overhaul (or Obamacare), but the U.S. Supreme Court left it up to the states to decide whether to impose it. Republicans in the 2013 Legislature rejected Medicaid expansion plans, and supporters last summer failed to gather enough signatures to place the proposal on the Nov. 4 election ballot. Last week Republican lawmak- ers released a proposal that would give health insur- ance to the disabled, parents whose income falls below the poverty line and some military veterans. Sen. Fred Thomas of Stevensville who helped draft the plan said free government health insurance shouldn’t go to able- bodied adults without children. Bullock says the GOP plan would accept some federal money but leave “tens of thousands” of Montanans uncovered.
INCREASING THE SPEED LIMIT
Four state lawmakers have drafted bills that would raise the daytime speed limit on Montana interstate high- ways from 75 to 80 and possibly as high as 85 mph. State Rep. Mike Miller, R-Helmville, and state Rep.-elect Art
Wittich, R-Bozeman, both say Utah, Wyoming and Ida- hoallhaveraisedtheirspeedlimitsabove75andthey haven’t seen any problems as a result. State Highway Patrol officials have declined to offer opinions about the proposals but have warned that driving faster reduces reaction time and makes stopping more difficult. Mon- tana did not have a numerical speed limit on its inter- state roads from 1995-98. Instead drivers were recom- mended to maintain a “reasonable and prudent” speed.
PUBLIC PRE-SCHOOL PROGRAMS
One of Bullock’s priorities this session is proposing a $37 million early childhood education program that would make half-day, pre-kindergarten programs available to 4-year-olds. Under the voluntary program, block grants would be available to public schools to cre- ate or expand early childhood education programs or to partner with existing programs in their communi- ties. Montana is one of eight states without any state investment in preschool programs. Studies suggest students who have high quality, early childhood educa- tion are more likely to read at grade level and graduate from high school and are less likely to become teen- age parents, require public assistance, abuse drugs or end up in jail. Republican lawmakers are questioning the plan, raising concerns that the program would not be the best use of state money and would harm private businesses that are daycares.
REAL ESTATE PRICES
The state Department of Revenue is asking lawmak- ers to change the law to allow real-estate sales prices to become public. Currently they are kept confidential,