Bill struck down to fix infrastructure

By Bryan Watt

Despite overwhelming compromise between Democrats and Republicans, the extreme wing of Republican Party voted down SB416, a bipartisan bill investing in critical Montana infrastructure.

Senator John Brenden (R-Scobey) and former chair of the Montana Republican Party sponsored the bill.

The vote by GOP extremists denies Montana thousand of jobs and critical infrastructure improvements including fixing roads and bridges and updating sewer and water systems.

“Republicans have no one to blame but themselves for failing to fix our crumbling roads and ensure clean drinking water for our communities while creating thousands of jobs,” said Nancy Keenan, executive director of the Montana Democratic Party.

“It’s time Sen. Debbie Barrett and Speaker Knudsen take responsibility for their failed leadership that denied Montanans good-paying jobs.”

Senate Bill 416, negotiated by the Governor and House and Senate leadership, would have provided a $150 million investment in Montana’s infrastructure including $40 million for communities in Eastern Montana impacted by the Bakken oil boom.