House defeats infrastructure bill, to reconsider Monday

HELENA (AP) – Lawmakers wrestling with a $150 million state infrastructure bill have voted it down multiple times but plan to take another look at it Monday.

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

Lawmakers have been debating the measure since endorsing it Thursday on a 70-30 vote.

Republican Rep. Nancy Ballance of Hamilton had been torn but changed her vote to no Saturday, saying she didn't want to bond when the state has money in the bank that could be spent.

The measure was worked on by a bipartisan group and introduced by Republican Sen. John Brenden of Scobey about a month ago after other proposals appeared unlikely to gain traction.