Keeping in Touch
Nearing the end of the session, on first blush we seemingly are distracted from some of the real business at hand, that of making our government more efficient and effective and promoting job growth.
As part of that legislative effort to make government more efficient and effective, the House of Representatives passed House Bill (HB) 444, sponsored by Rep. Tom Burnett. This bill effectively puts our state’s checkbook online so taxpayers can see how the State of Montana is spending our money. This bill will bring more responsibility and accountability to Montana government.
On the jobs front, there was legislative support in the House for HB 351, the Treasure State Endowment Program, more commonly known as TSEP. The 33 projects which address crucial infrastructure undertakings in communities throughout Montana as contained in HB 351 faced uncertainty earlier this year when the Executive Branch proposed cancelling the funding for these projects as a way to help balance the budget for this coming biennium. Approved by state voters in 1992, the TSEP program allocates interest earnings from the coal severance trust fund to award matching grants to local governments to undertake water, sewer and bridge projects.
Every dollar used by TSEP directly leverages $4 of other infrastructure funding through federal grants, state grants and loans. As was reported by Great Falls Tribune reporter John Adams, “a one-time diversion of TSEP funds could result in the loss of up to 475 construction and engineering jobs and $92 million to Montana’s economy over the next two years.” To not have funded TSEP projects would have clearly had a detrimental effect on our economy. This bill will create hundreds of jobs for contractors, engineers, suppliers and others by investing $19.25 million in dozens of local infrastructure projects across the state.
Another job bill opportunity for Montana was HB 439. The bonding authority within this bill will help fund capitol construction projects, such as the Southwestern Montana Veterans Home in Silver Bow County. However, even with the passage of this bill, bond issuance is not authorized unless state revenues exceed, by a specified amount, the revenue estimate of the Revenue and Transportation Interim Committee. That Committee set the revenue estimate at $1,672,133,000, including $750,000 of the previous year’s revenue. HB 439 should put Montanan’s back to work, providing a significant shot in the arm to Montana’s construction industry. Montana businesses which provide goods and services to the construction industry also will benefit as will local communities as the employees of those various industries will be spending money in our local communities.
While these are just a couple examples of the work that’s being done, with 19 legislative days to go, there is still more work to do and difficult decisions yet to be made as the session draws to a close.
For more detailed information regarding bills you are interested in following, you may go to the Montana Legislative website at: http://www.leg.mt.gov. Or if you don’t have Internet access and are still interested in more information on a particular bill, please contact the Sanders County Clerk and Recorder at (406) 827-6922, 1111 Main Street ort PO Box 519, Thompson Falls, MT 59873.
I can be reached during the session by leaving a message for me at (406) 444-4800, by e-mailing me at pingraham@mt.gov, or by visiting the legislative branch website at www.leg.mt.gov and clicking the Contact a Legislator link. Instructions are provided for sending me electronic messages. You also may mail your comments to me at Representative Pat Ingraham, Capitol Building, P.O. Box 200400, Helena, MT 59620-0400.