Next week, the Montana House of Representatives will hear House Bill 2, the state budget bill. It arrives smaller than Gov. Steve Bullock requested, including a proposal to take away his plane, which he says is about party politics.
“This isn’t about meaningful policy, I mean this is…tactics of partisanship that people have the greatest distaste for."
But Republicans say Bullock could just rent a plane and drive the rest of the time.
The governor says additional cuts to programs like the child protective services and special education hurt children.
However, Republican Representative Randy Brodehl argues the cuts were only on funding increases and that the money saved should go back to the taxpayers.
“Remember that state revenue is taxpayer money, not the state’s money.”
The budget will likely change many times as it works its way through the House and then the Senate. Under state law, legislators must pass a balanced budget.