Legislature news from Sen. Mike Lang

This was a busy week in the legislature. Both the House and Senate acted on large pieces of legislation.

As we move toward the end of the 66th legislature, the budget is moving along. I sit on the Senate Finance and Claims Committee where were met one day for eight hours to review House Bill 2 – the largest part of the budget. There were great hearings on different sections of the bill. As I have always done, I am working hard with my colleagues to keep the Governor’s tax increase wish list out of the final version.

Money, having enough to go around and put in the proper place, is a major challenge, as we must have a balanced budget.

The House passed Medicaid Expansion, which will now head to the Senate. This is a government program that lacks work requirements, lines the pockets of some, and leaves us exposed to insolvency. There are winners and losers in this bill – the big hospitals win, and patients lose. Planned Parenthood – a New York City-based group with more than $350 million in assets, is helping promote Medicaid expansion.

With a price tag around $1.5 billion, Montana cannot afford the Expansion program, but Montana will have Medicaid expansion in some form.

We rely on the federal government for 44% of our budget. One might say that makes us a welfare state. When the federal government is forced to rein in spending, Montana could be hit hard. Most of my Republican colleagues and I realize that in the end, the Medicaid program could financially collapse, leaving thousands of Montanans without medical coverage. Medicaid expansion obligations are using valuable dollars such that we will not have properly funded programs for our nursing homes and assisted living centers.

SB 71 is going to the house floor for a final vote. I hope the Governor will sign this bill as it will help reduce medical insurance expenses by millions as we are restricting pharmaceutical benefit managers.

We have moved SB 317 to the house. This bill will enable those who wish to purchase a permit and increase weight limits by 10% on their transportation units, during the months of December through March. MT Department of Transportation and county commissioners have the power to renounce permits based on road conditions.

SB 139 will help schools that apply for a teacher vacancy through hardship. It has passed from the senate to the house with only opposition from the public employee retirement fund. I hear that the governor may not sign it now, there has been support, if pre-K school funding does not pass.

SB 299 deals with sage grouse and has moved to the house as well. The bill directs the program to maintain habitat and sage grouse populations, with respect to the social and economical values of the state, mainly eastern Montana.

HB 31, which had a request for rural eastern Montana property tax payers to help with fire suppression by fees valued at $10 million. This has been tabled and should be dead. Eastern Montana does carry their own load, but this bill was unjust. We appreciate all that DNRC does, with the support of county taxes, for fire protection.

Betty Stone, from Glasgow will serve on the state Parks board. Julie French, Scobey, will continue her position the board of outfitters and guides. I hope Logan Brower, Scobey, will stay on the FWP commission.

I have had overwhelming support from all the counites in SD-17 for HJ 28. This issue is asking that the BLM stay with present practices that have established and maintained our great land, water and forage resources. At one time the resources were unmanaged. Drought had also devasted the area. The implementation of the Taylor Grazing Act by the BLM and the stewards on the land, have maintained a great natural resource for wildlife and livestock. Please follow this issue.

SB 361, the Public Access to Lands (PAL) Act, will help increase access to public lands that are land-locked by private property. The PAL Act provides a framework for the state to work with private land owners to open lands with no government mandate.

Money is the issue. I feel we should cover our needs first, before the wants. However, we are all humans with certain desires and free will. Satisfying all is tough and I will do my best for SD 17. Please text me at 406-654-7357 or email [email protected]

Gratefully, Senator Mike Lang.