SESSIONTAKE PKG: X1:51
OC..SOC.
MTN CHIEF POLITICAL REPORTER
MIKE DENNISON LEAD-IN: THE HOUSE
AND SENATE OFFICIALLY CONVENED
THE SESSION JUST A FEW HOURS AGO
AND, ALREADY, WE'VE HAD
DEVELOPMENTS THAT WE EXPECTED
AND, SOME THAT WE DIDN'T.
STOPAS EXPECTED, MAJORITY
REPUBLICANS ADDED A HALF-
DOZEN ITEMS TO THE AGENDA, AS
OPTIONS FOR BALANCING THE
BUDGET.THOSE INCLUDE EXTENDING
THE STATE'S HEALTH-
INSURANCE PREMIUM TAX TO A PAIR
OF SMALLER, NON-PROFIT
COMPANIES AND, CONSIDERATION
OF THE OFFER FROM A
PRIVATE-PRISON
COMPANY OF 32-MILLION DOLLARS TO
HELP OFFSET ANY POTENTIAL
TAX INCREASES.FOR THAT MONEY
THE COMPANY WANTS
AN EXTENSION ON ITS CONTRACT TO
MANAGE THE PRIVATE PRISON AT
SHELBY, IN NORTH-CENTRAL
MONTANA.DEMOCRATS AND
GOVERNOR BULLOCK OPPOSE THIS
IDEA BUT REPUBLICAN
LEADERS SAID THEY CONSIDER IT A
CRITICAL ELEMENT OF ANY
FINAL BUDGET-BALANCING DEAL.BUT
THEN CAME SOME OF THE
UNEXPECTED.REPUBLICANS USED
THEIR MAJORITY TO EXPAND THE
AGENDA TO INCLUDE A BILL THAT
WOULD BLOCK A BULLOCK
ADMINISTRATION RULE TO MAKE IT
EASIER FOR TRANSGENDER
MONTANANS TO CHANGE THE SEX
LISTED ON THEIR BIRTH
CERTIFICATE.DEMOCRATS DENOUNCED
THIS MOVE AS A WASTE OF TIME
AND TAXPAYER MONEY.HOWEVER
JUST BECAUSE IT'S BEEN ADDED TO
THE AGENDA, DOESN'T ENSURE ITS
PASSAGE.GOVERN OR BULLOCK ALSO
MADE A SOMEWHAT UNEXPECTED MOVE
TUESDAY:HE
ANNOUNCED HE WOULD IMMEDIATELY
PUT INTO PLACE THE
76-MILLION-DOLLARS IN SPENDING
CUTS THAT HE CONSIDERS PART OF A
PROPOSED BUDGET DEAL.REPUBLICANS
HAD CRITICIZED HIM FOR NOT DOING
SO EARLIER, SUGGESTING HE
MIGHT RENEGE ON SOME OF THE CUTS
AFTER THE LEGISLATURE
AGREED TO OTHER BUDGET-
BALANCING MOVES.ANOTHER
75-MILLION-DOLLARS IN BUDGET
TRANSFERS ARE
LIKELY TO GO FORWARD LEAVING
LAWMAKERS AND
THE GOVERNOR TO FIGHT OVER HOW
TO CLOSE THAT FINAL 75-MILLION-
DOLLAR GAP.MTN CHIEF POLITICAL
REPORTER MIKE DENNISON LEAD-
OUT: SO, WHAT HAPPENS NOW?
COMMITTEE MEETINGS AND
FLOOR SESSIONS WILL CONTINUE
TONIGHT AS LAWMAKERS TRY TO
WINNOW DOWN THE POSSIBLE
OPTIONS, INCLUDING SOME TAX
PROPOSALS.
THEY COULD FINISH ON WEDNESDAY
BUT THINGS ARE STILL FAR FROM
SETTLED.
AT THE CAPITOL, MIKE DENNISON,
MTN NEWS.
