State budget discussion leads to sharp words

A discussion in a legislative video conference of the state budget passed by the Montana Legislature led to a harsh discussion of some of the cuts in the budget.

During this week's video conference, held at noon each Wednesday in the Robins School Administration Building, Rep. Kris Hansen, R-Havre, said the budget is the result of trying to offset one-time funding from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, dealing with projected revenue and looking at the effectiveness of long-time programs.

"(The budget is) going to make some people happy, some people unhappy and some not happy enough," she said.

Hansen said one controversial part of the budget is declining to accept $118 million in federal funding. She said the House did that because of mandates and strings attached, and the fact that the state would have to find future revenue itself to replace the federal funding.

Karen Sloan, retired director of Hill County Family Planning, told Hansen and Rep. Wendy Warburton, R-Havre, that cuts to programs such as family planning, Medicaid, Women Infants and Children and Meals on Wheels are "abominable" and someday, somewhere down the line they will have to be paid for.

"I think many of the things in that bill are mean-spirited and political," Sloan said.

She said Havre has had a family planning program for 30 years, and has helped many people, including citing a woman who was saved from cancer due to an examination at Family Planning.

Warburton said billions of dollars have been paid into Planned Parenthood clinics, and cited statistics showing no decrease in a decade in abortions.

"A lot of taxpayers, I don't think, want their money going to Planned Parenthood," she said, adding that cuts allowed restoration of some programs, such as Big Sky RX that helps seniors with prescription costs.

Unless taxes are going to be raised, "tough choices have to be made," she said.

Sloan said studies show that many unplanned pregnancies are due to people's lack of access to contraceptives. Cutting family planning increases that problem, Sloan said.

Hansen said she understands that there is disagreement on the funding and where it's coming from and where it's going

"I do want to object to you saying there is anything mean-spirited," Hansen said. "I have not made one vote that has not been considered seriously, and I don't like that you would say that.

"Next," Hansen said.

A discussion in a legislative video conference of the state budget passed by the Montana Legislature led to a harsh discussion of some of the cuts in the budget.

During this week's video conference, held at noon each Wednesday in the Robins School Administration Building, Rep. Kris Hansen, R-Havre, said the budget is the result of trying to offset one-time funding from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, dealing with projected revenue and looking at the effectiveness of long-time programs.

"(The budget is) going to make some people happy, some people unhappy and some not happy enough," she said.

Hansen said one controversial part of the budget is declining to accept $118 million in federal funding. She said the House did that because of mandates and strings attached, and the fact that the state would have to find future revenue itself to replace the federal funding.

Karen Sloan, retired director of Hill County Family Planning, told Hansen and Rep. Wendy Warburton, R-Havre, that cuts to programs such as family planning, Medicaid, Women Infants and Children and Meals on Wheels are "abominable" and someday, somewhere down the line they will have to be paid for.

"I think many of the things in that bill are mean-spirited and political," Sloan said.

She said Havre has had a family planning program for 30 years, and has helped many people, including citing a woman who was saved from cancer due to an examination at Family Planning.

Warburton said billions of dollars have been paid into Planned Parenthood clinics, and cited statistics showing no decrease in a decade in abortions.

"A lot of taxpayers, I don't think, want their money going to Planned Parenthood," she said, adding that cuts allowed restoration of some programs, such as Big Sky RX that helps seniors with prescription costs.

Unless taxes are going to be raised, "tough choices have to be made," she said.

Sloan said studies show that many unplanned pregnancies are due to people's lack of access to contraceptives. Cutting family planning increases that problem, Sloan said.

Hansen said she understands that there is disagreement on the funding and where it's coming from and where it's going

"I do want to object to you saying there is anything mean-spirited," Hansen said. "I have not made one vote that has not been considered seriously, and I don't like that you would say that.

"Next," Hansen said.