Helena update: Rep. John Fleming

Hello from Helena. With week 14 completed, it is important to note the legislature has 12 days remaining to finish the people’s business. The state spending budget is the basic job that must be completed prior to adjournment.

The budget is contained in House Bill 2 and the stimulus money in House Bill 645.  Both are in the hands of the Senate and have been drastically changed from their form passed by the House two weeks ago. Basically, the Senate Finance and Claims Committee reduced each state department’s funding and the money to fund schools by 2 percent. The Senate committee’s plan is to “backfill” the money for schools with stimulus money. This in turn requires changes in where the House placed this stimulus money.

 So, if the new HB 2 and HB 645 pass on the Senate floor next week, we in the House will debate and vote on the changes. Thoughts of an early adjournment are now more likely dreams.

Possibly the biggest news this session will be the same committee’s (Senate Finance and Claims) changes in the Children’s Health Insurance Program. The Healthy Kids Initiative passed by the voters last fall would have expanded the CHIP to cover 29,000 kids from low and moderate income families. These changes would reduce the number of kids covered and use the money in other parts of the state budget.

 Property tax reappraisal is up in the air again. The ideas I mentioned last week were premature. The Senate Taxation Committee remade HB 658 and the House sponsor has voiced concerns that the Senate is now not putting the homeowner first. More to come later and the final word on reappraisal will not be known until the last days of the session.

 I was pleased to introduce two school groups to the House this week. Mr. Brett Thompson brought the junior and senior classes from Charlo. Mr. Alan Pule, Ms. Stacey Pule, and Ms. Ty Bullard viewed the session with the eighth grade from Mission on their annual GEAR UP field trip.

Some bills of local interest last week: Senate Bill  234 (insurance coverage for autism) passed the House and next needs to be signed by the governor. We had strong testimony from local residents; House Bill 228 (the Castle Doctrine) is also on to the governor after the House accepted Senate changes; House Bill 258 Insure Montana (increased help to small businesses in providing  insurance for employees) now needs only a Senate floor vote to pass.

 Once again, it is a pleasure to represent Lake County in Helena. Please stay in touch. My cell is 207-3188 and e-mail address is fleming@stignatius.net. Please include a physical address.