House continues to wrangle with infrastructure bill

LISA BAUMANN

Associated Press

HELENA — Lawmakers in the House are wrestling with a $150 million state infrastructure bill that’s keeping them from ending the legislative session.

Representatives defeated Senate Bill 416 twice Saturday morning with a final vote of 60-34 before they agreed to reconsider it again today. The bill requires 67 votes to pass because it involves bonding.

Lawmakers have been debating the measure since Thursday when they initially endorsed it on a 70-30 vote. On Friday, several Republicans unsuccessfully tried to alter it to spend only about $51 million, include different projects and scratch others such as a remodel of Montana State University’s Romney Hall in Bozeman.

Senate Bill 416 was worked on by a bipartisan group and introduced by Republican Sen. John Brenden of Scobey about a month ago after a nearly $400 million proposal from the governor along with others failed to gain traction. It was amended Thursday to its current form to reflect the latest compromise between Republicans, Democrats and the governor.

Republican Rep. Nancy Ballance of Hamilton, who has voted for and against the bill at different times, said Saturday that she’s now against it.

“Yesterday I said I was really torn on this issue, but I’m not anymore,” she said. “I never was in favor of a bonding bill of any sort when we had $435 million dollars in the bank when we walked in the door.”

Rep. Greg Hertz, R-Polson, said a new compromise could be worked out by today.

“We don’t have to go home today,” he said, referring to the fact that many lawmakers wanted to end the session Saturday, five days early.

House Speaker Austin Knudsen of Culbertson said he would continue to support the bill because he took part in negotiations. The bill also includes money for infrastructure projects in his area of eastern Montana hit hard by the oil boom.

“I’m very dubious about an alternate plan being supported by the Democrats or the governor,” he said.

House Minority Chuck Hunter of Helena said Saturday that he doesn’t expect much negotiation before today.

“Folks need to realize there is not a better deal coming,” he said.

The measure would provide $90 million, with $30 million each in cash, bonding and local borrowing authority for cities and counties. About two-thirds of the money would go to water, sewer and roads projects, with up to $40 million designated for oil-impacted communities. The remaining third would pay for building projects, including $7.6 million for state institutions in Warm Springs and Lewistown, and over $18 million for Romney Hall.

Additionally, if the state achieves a certain revenue level, $60 million more would be allotted for projects, including $25 million for the Montana Heritage Center. A third and higher state revenue trigger would mean additional funding would become available.

The measure would also allow the state to bond $10 million for the construction of a veterans home in Butte, which is to be repaid with federal funds.

Democratic Gov. Steve Bullock said in a statement Saturday that although his infrastructure proposal was rejected early on, the compromise proposal is a “pretty good plan.”

"I'm hopeful that over the weekend legislators will put politics aside, recognize that this bill will create jobs, and come back on Monday ready to finish their work," he said.