Bonding bill fails on another look

A bill to fund construction of state buildings — including a new home for Montana State University-Northern's diesel and automotive technology programs — failed in another try this morning in a 60-39 vote.

Rep. Wendy Warburton, R-Havre, said after the vote that reviving it seems unlikely.

"The bonding bill is probably dead, but around here, we always say it's not over till we (end the session), " she said.

The bonding bill requires a two-thirds majority, 67 votes in the House, to pass.

The vote dropped in support even from its failed third reading Wednesday morning. In that vote, 62 representatives voted for the bill.

A vote to reconsider the state bonding bill narrowly passed the House of Representatives Wednesday afternoon 54-42.

All votes against the bill in its final readings and in the vote to reconsider the bills, were by Republicans.

Two Republicans this morning switched their votes to yes, while four switched to no. Havre-area legislators, including the three Republican lawmakers, voted to pass the bill.

Rep. Tony Belcourt, D-Box Elder, expressed hope this morning for the vote before the bill was again shot down.

"Bills like this are never dead until Legislature leaves town, " Belcourt said before this morning's vote. "I am hoping we picked up a few votes to get this good bill passed. If we get this passed it will be a great way to end the session. "

The bill has been a contentious one, with supporters saying it is a jobs creator and builds assets for the state and opponents saying that it is too expensive to pass in a time of budget shortfalls.

Belcourt said Wednesday, before the vote to reconsider, that the bill's failure was frustrating.

"It's frustrating to see that some people voted for it the first time, then come back and don't vote for it the second time, " he said, adding that "there's a lot of misinformation out there about what it does. "

His amendment earlier in the session added Northern's $7.9 million building to the bill. That building, which was in Gov. Brian Schweitzer's proposed budget, originally was left out of the bill.

The bill, including Northern's building, originally passed the House 72-25.

After the Senate amended the bill to require state revenue to exceed forecasts by $35 million before the bonds could be issued, the Senate passed it 36-14.

Sen. Rowlie Hutton, R-Havre, said Wednesday that he voted for the bill with reservations due to its high price tag. Because it included Northern and other educational buildings, he supported it, he said.

Along with funding for seven construction projects at university and college of technology campuses, the bill includes $23 million for a historical museum in Helena, $6.7 million for combined state veterinary, analytical and wildlife laboratories, and $5 million for a veterans home in Silver Bow County.

Hutton said the opponents of the bill support the educational aspects of the projects, but oppose the others.

Sen. Jonathan Windy Boy, D-Box Elder, said Wednesday that the failure of the bill, with all legislators saying they support job creation, shows those lawmakers "just don't get it. "

He blamed term limits on the bill's failure, saying having one-third of the House members as freshmen legislators is making it harder to show the importance of some bills.

Belcourt said the purpose of the bill was clear.

"They should take the bill at face value, " he said. "It should have been supported all along. "