Montana legislators gather Thursday for a special session, but they bring with them a compromise that might make short order of their work.
Lawmakers convene at 8 a.m. for the 31st special session in Montana history.
Lawmakers have returned after failing to approve a state budget, tax cuts or school funding plan in the 90-day regular session that ended bitterly April 27.
On Monday afternoon, Schweitzer summoned lawmakers back to Helena on Thursday for what he said should be a three-day session to address the budget, tax cuts, school funding, long-range building proposals, property tax incentives for clean energy, creation of an education trust fund and the cost of the session.
The tab for the special session runs $38,000 a day, plus $65,000 in one-time startup costs.
So what's different about this special session than the bitterly deadlocked regular session?
Democrats still hold a narrow 26-24 lead over Republicans in the Senate. In the House, Republicans still have an even thinner 50-49 lead over Democrats, with one Constitution Party member who usually votes with Republicans.
The difference is the budget-and-tax compromise that threatens to break the House Republican solidarity that blocked many of Schweitzer's proposals in the lower chamber.
The deal includes Schweitzer's $400-per-household tax rebate, a state income-tax credit for renters of up to $120 a year and an exemption from property taxes for the first $65,000 worth of equipment owned by a business.
Other elements of the deal include increased state funding for school equalization,
$47 million in cuts to state agency budgets that had been approved by the Senate and increased tax collections on profits made when nonresidents sell Montana land.
Finally, the compromise includes tax incentives for Schweitzer's “clean and green” energy development plans.
If the deal sticks, lawmakers should be able to finish their work in three days. If not, it could be another case of gridlock between the two chambers.
“I think the fix is in,” said House Speaker Scott Sales, R-Bozeman.
Sales said he would have liked to have been part of the last weekend's negotiations, but the governor's office didn't invite him.
He said he figures Schweitzer can now count on at least 11 Republican votes to cross sides and join the 49 Democrats to accomplish what they want. Sixty is the critical number because it takes 60 of the 100 representatives to blast a tabled bill out of a House committee.
“You got 60 votes, you can do whatever you want,” Sales said.
Sales said he won't vote for elements of the deal, which he believes shortchanges taxpayers who desperately want ongoing property tax relief more than expanded government.
“I'm not going to be an obstructionist, but I'm not going to be a champion of it either,” he said. “Government is going to get about
$800 million of ongoing money, compared to a $60 million tax credit, if you agree you are actually getting it.”
Sales questioned whether the growth in the proposed Schweitzer budget was sustainable in the future.
“I say the people of Montana are going to be sold a bill of goods,” Sales said.
Senate President Mike Cooney, D-Helena, meanwhile, said compromise is the key for legislators to finish their work in three days.
“I think it's a tall order,” he said. “If we get down to it and compromise continues to be the rule of the day, I think we can. It's going to be long days and a lot of work.”
Asked about the deal between Schweitzer and some House Republicans, Cooney said all he knows is a lot of legislators have been talking to one another, and that includes the governor and his staff.
“Whether you call it a deal or not, what I could call it is a pretty good understanding there are some things we have to get done,” Cooney said.
“In order to get there, there has to be compromise on both sides. If we can keep people focused that there will be compromise, I think it can be done.”
Cooney said he doesn't believe any of previous special sessions have faced as many tough issues as this one.
“I'm seeing a great deal of interest to come in and address these issues properly and promptly and to get them off the table,” he said.
Cooney outlined the tentative schedule for Thursday:
- 8 a.m. Senate and House convene.
- 9 a.m. House Appropriations and Senate Finance and Claims committees hold combined hearing on House Bill 1, the “feed bill” that appropriates money for the session. Also, the Senate and House Taxation committees will hear Senate Bill 1, an energy tax incentive bill by Sen. Jeff Essmann,
R-Billings.
- 1 p.m., the House Appropriations and Senate Finance committees will hear House Bill 2, the main government appropriations bill. Also, the Senate and House Education committees will hear Senate Bill 2, the major education bill.
|
 |
 |
Add your comment now! Write your comment in the form below.
(Email address is for verification only. If you'd like to email a story, look for the link above)