Budget

The House of Representative's budget has been described as immoral and careless by pundits in the New Republic and the New York Times.

The political jousting continues in our States’ Capitol. Discussions on a budget to run the state for the next 2 years stalled on Tuesday. Governor Brian Schweitzer says he’s disappointed over state employee payments, school funding and the legislature’s will to turn away $100 million dollars in federal funding.

Governor Brian Schweitzer met with Senate president Jim Peterson, and House Speaker Mike Milburn, a day after he received the Republican Majority's budget bill. Peterson is pleased with the budget the legislature has passed. Schweitzer has said he is likely to either veto the bill, or rewrite it, and send it back for their consideration...

The U.S. Senate has defeated a house bill that sought to cut $60 billion from the remainder of this fiscal federal budget year, which ends September 30th. Senator Max Baucus was one vote in favor of the measure.

Under the cloud of growing debt our elected officials are facing complicated and hard decisions. Congressman Denny Rehberg gives us his thoughts on reducing spending.

The Governor’s office and the Legislature disagree over revenue forecasts for the next two years. The gap between lawmakers and the administration is about one billion dollars, forcing cuts across the board. Tara Veazey, with the Montana budget and policy center, says the picture isn’t as bleak as legislators are painting it.

The Montana constitution mandates the budget be balanced.  Calculating retirement and retiree health benefits did not begin until 2008. Sheila Weinberg owner and founder of the institute for truth in accounting explains the importance of funding these programs through the state budget.