Conservatives dig in heels on infrastructure

HELENA – Conservative Republicans are making their last stand at the Montana Legislature on an infrastructure bill.

"We have lost virtually everything we came here to accomplish," Rep. Art Wittich, R-Bozeman, told the Republican caucus, urging them to hang together to oppose the $150 million bill in its current form.

Wittich and his allies have opposed the Flathead water compact, Medicaid expansion and dark money reform — major legislation that's passed this session — and the Senate's confirmation of Jonathan Motl as commissioner of political practices, which happened Friday.

The Legislature was poised for adjournment Saturday but instead will meet Monday morning to vote again on Senate Bill 416, sponsored by Sen. John Brenden, R-Scobey.

The infrastructure bill shed yes votes as the House wrestled with it. It needs 67 to pass. On Thursday, Brenden's bill had 70 yes votes, which dropped to 60 by the last vote Saturday.

Saturday was Day 85 of a planned 90-day session, but except for infrastructure, the work is done. Alternately, the Legislature could adjourn without passing the bill, but moves in that direction haven't mustered support yet.

Speaker of the House Austin Knudsen, R-Culbertson, said he felt honor-bound to vote for the infrastructure bill having been at the negotiating table that worked out the details. He said he's dubious changes to the bill will fly with Democrats, even if it means killing SB 416 all together.

Gov. Steve Bullock noted that his infrastructure bill, House Bill 5, met an early death in the Legislature. His bill had $400 in infrastructure funding.

"I have said all throughout this session that I am willing to work with both parties to do what's right for Montana," he said. "This compromise proposal is a pretty good plan. I'm hopeful that over the weekend legislators will put politics aside, recognize that this bill will create jobs, and come back on Monday ready to finish their work."

Rep. Nancy Ballance, chairwoman of the House Appropriations Committee, withdrew her support of the infrastructure bill Saturday because it includes bonding. She accused the governor of holding infrastructure projects hostage as a way to to drag the reluctant into supporting bonding for other projects and objected to taking out loans when the state has a hefty revenue surplus — at the governor's insistence.

Rep. Greg Hertz, R-Polson, told the Republican caucus he would work on changes to the bill that consider the Senate and Democrat priorities. He said the bill only favors some areas of Montana.

"We'll put down (SB) 416 until people get the message it's unworkable in its current form," he said.

Northcentral Montana representatives have by-and-large supported the bill. After the Republican caucus, Reps. Stephanie Hess, R-Havre; Wendy McKamey, R-Great Falls; Bruce Meyers, R-Box Elder; and Randy Pinocci, R-Sun River, cast "no" votes.

Wittich said Democrats have been unwilling to negotiate on major bills (he, Hertz and others have unsuccessfully proposed numerous amendments), and he urged the anti-bonding group to stick together. He said he's concerned the government is growing faster than inflation. He's called the infrastructure bill "pork."

If the House amends the infrastructure bill and manages to pass it, the Senate would have to weigh in. Brenden likened his bill to Lazarus rising in the Bible but said, "I don't know how many resurrections we can have."

The Scobey Republican told the Senate that the Legislature "can't just keep kicking this beast down the road" and that investing in infrastructure is an investment for future generations.

Great Falls College Montana State University stands to benefit from the bill. If revenue triggers are met, the college would get $3 million for a new Learning and Veteran Center.

After the infrastructure bill failed Friday, conservative Republicans proposed an amendment that reshuffled priorities, added school projects and crossed out bonding for expansion/renovation at the Montana Historical Society and renovation of Montana State University's Romney Gym, identified as the University System's priority.

Rep. Carl Glimm, R-Kila, who pushed the amendment, told the House that if it failed "my next option is to come back with no bonding," which would mean the bill would only need a simple majority to pass. Glimm's amendment failed 45-55.

"If (SB 416) fails to get out of this chamber, it doesn't matter if the governor would sign it or not," he said.

Reach Tribune Staff Writer Kristen Inbody at kinbody@greatfallstribune.com. Follow her on Twitter at @GFTrib_KInbody.