Bullock rebuts GOP complaints of big budget hikes

HELENA (AP) — Gov. Steve Bullock is disputing a Republican argument that his budget proposal spends too much.

The Democratic governor told reporters Tuesday his budget only increases state spending in agency budgets by about 2 percent.

He says Republican legislative leaders have shown themselves to be the big spenders with a proposal to increase their own legislative division's budget by 11 percent.

Senate Republicans recently said they want to keep the budget increase — including federal money — at about 2 percent.

The GOP criticized Bullock's budget for increasing spending by 13 percent. That figure includes new federal money for expanding Medicaid, and Bullock's proposed $400-per-homeowner tax rebate.

Bullock also says he supports the state's death penalty, but he left the door open to abolishing it if the Legislature passes such legislation.