HELENA, Mont. (AP) - Top issues for lawmakers in the 2015 session:
MEDICAID EXPANSION
Gov. Steve Bullock’s “Healthy Montana Plan” for Medicaid expansion is modeled after the Healthy Montana Kids Plan which covers children in low-income families. The plan would use up to $750 million in federal dollars to expand Medicaid coverage to 70,000 low-income adults through state contracts with private insurance companies for health care at negotiated rates. Republicans have released an alternative proposal that could help some of those Montanans.
PRESCHOOL PROGRAMS
Bullock has proposed spending $37 million on voluntary preschool programs. “Early Edge Montana” would make half-day prekindergarten programs available to all 4-year-olds. Block grants would be made available to public school districts for the programs.
INFRASTRUCTURE
Bullock’s “Build Montana” legislation seeks to spend about $380 million on infrastructure construction such as water and sewer systems and capital improvements across the state. He proposes using a mix of bonding and cash to finance the projects. Some Republicans have said they would like to use cash only to pay for the projects.
FLATHEAD WATER RIGHTS COMPACT
Bullock and Attorney General Tim Fox have made an agreement with the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes on the Flathead Water Rights Compact that must be approved by the Legislature, tribes and Congress. The compact would make new water available for commercial and irrigation use, end the water administration void on the Flathead Reservation, allow some economic development and facilitate the resolution of the statewide water adjudication process. The compact also establishes a team that would implement water compact provisions relating to diversions of water into the irrigation project so that irrigator historic use is protected and tribal in-stream flow targets are met. The compact has been subject of more than a decade of negotiations. The 2015 session is the final chance for lawmakers to approve the compact. If they fail, the tribes will have to file claims in a state stream adjudication court by June 30, 2015.
GENERAL FUND MINIMUM BALANCE
Bullock wants a minimum of $300 million left in the state’s general fund account as part of his two-year proposed budget. Republican House Speaker Austin Knudsen said he agrees some money should be left in the account for unforeseen expenses, but it could be a much smaller amount. He also said money currently in the account could be returned to taxpayers.
TRANSFER FEDERAL LANDS TO STATE
Knudsen said he supports a bill that would allow a legislative committee to do more thorough research on transferring federal lands to the state for management. The Montana GOP passed a resolution last year supporting the transfer. Bullock says the idea threatens Montanans’ outdoor heritage and that the costs of managing an additional 30 million acres will force the state to sell off public lands to the highest bidder in order to pay to manage what’s left.
CHARTER SCHOOLS and TAX CREDITS FOR PRIVATE SCHOOLS
Many Republicans want publicly-funded charter schools in Montana and tax credits for private school scholarships and say the measures would allow families more educational choices. School and education groups have lobbied against the measures arguing that charter schools would siphon money away from traditional public schools. They also say tax credits for private school tuition is unconstitutional. Referendums are in the works that could put one or both issues on the ballot.
Please read our comment policy before commenting.