Bipartisan move partially restores school bill

HELENA — A bipartisan coalition in the House is restoring part of the session's big school funding bill.

Senate Bill 175 is the result of a multi-year effort by various interest groups to improve the school funding system. It also seeks to reduce the burden on local property tax payers with the help of natural resource money.

Conservatives opposed to the cost of the bill used their majority in committee to dramatically alter the measure last week.

But Democrats joined a group of Republicans Monday on the House floor to restore much of the original bill and approve it 60-40.They also beat back further efforts from some Republicans to change the measure.

Backers have touted the measure as a bipartisan compromise that aims to help schools that struggle with disparate issues.

Rep. Kris Hansen, R-Havre, and Rep. Wendy Warburton, voted against the revised plan. Rep. Clarena Brockie, D_Hays, voted yes.