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Thanks for staying with us through this legislative process. We are now into week number 11 and approaching the final 30-day sprint to the finish. This week, due to internal time constraints, we are bringing the Alert Network Update to you earlier than usual. So, we will not have coverage of events on Friday and Saturday.
Budgets continue to dominate the process. HB 808, the funding bill for Human Services, was voted down again on Tuesday and Wednesday and each day was reconsidered and placed on second reading for the next day. We expect it to be back on the board later this week. The process remains a stalemate. Most Republicans are voting for the new 8 pack of budget bills and all the Democrats are voting against them. The House Majority Leader stated on the floor that this was a historic day since he (the Republican House Majority Leader) is proposing sending more money to Health and Human Services budgets than the Democratic Governor is asking for. Then the Democrats joined together and voted against the bill. Six Republicans, including the top Republican, the Speaker of the House, joined them. Make sense? This is a much deeper issue than it appears on the outside.
We may have some clarification on one of the advantages the Republicans are hoping to achieve with the 8 bills. They alluded on the floor that the advantage may be in the Conference Committee where each bill will have members appointed. Eight budget bills would require a greater number of participants from the House as opposed to a much lesser number with the one budget bill, HB 2. That, perhaps, is what this is all about. At least it seems to be the issue being addressed. We shall see. For now just stay tuned.
Two other issues were on the board for us this week. Our adoption bill, HB 713, Revise Post-Adoption Services was heard in Senate Public Health, Welfare and Safety Monday, March 19th. Some confusion occurred in committee and unfortunately we may be in trouble. We sent out an Alert earlier this week with the email contact information for the committee members. It is also in the body of this update, so please email them and urge them to support this bill. Tell them these young ladies have made one of the most courageous and difficult decisions of their lives. We need to honor them for that.
Numerous other bills that have appropriations tied to them are still languishing in the Appropriations Committee, although the process right now is to table them without debate. Some may make it out; others will not make the transmittal deadline for revenue bills, which is Thursday, March 29th.
The bill to Abolish the Death Penalty is still in the House Judiciary Committee. As you remember, it was tabled with a 9-8 vote. We are still trying to find that one influential voice to sway one of the negative voters. If we get that vote, we could get the bill out of committee and onto the House floor. We are not in a hurry however. This is a bit like the Battle of Jericho. We are marching around the walls of the city, praying and asking for the Lord to intervene. If we are faithful, and we pray, and we believe, the walls will come tumbling down, the obstacles will disappear and that person will move to our side. So, no hurry, but keep reminding the committee members especially those who voted against us (Diane, Rice (R),Ron Stoker (R), George Everett (R), Rick Jore (C), Krayton Kerns (R), Roger Koopman (R), Tom McGillvray (R), Jesse O'Hara (R), and Ken Peterson (R)) to reconsider their vote and pass the bill onto the floor. AND PRAY HARD. Thanks!
Friday is the 62nd legislative day. One thousand four hundred eighty five bills have been introduced, 890 in the House and 595 in the Senate.
2007 Legislative Priorities
of the Montana Catholic Conference
The Montana Catholic Conference evaluates its legislative priorities in relation to the rich tradition of Catholic social teaching.
Pursuing Social Justice
“[They will say], ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink? When did we see you a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you? When did we see you ill or in prison, and visit you?’ And the king will say to them in reply, ‘Amen, I say to you, whatever you did for one of these least brothers of mine, you did for me.’” Matthew 25:37-40
Our faith reflects God’s special concern for the poor and vulnerable and calls us to make their needs our first priority in public life. Economic decisions and institutions must be assessed on whether they protect or undermine the dignity of the human person.
HEALTH INSURANCE/HEALTH CARE
SB 22 Expand CHIP eligibility to 175% of fed poverty level. This bill is in the house awaiting committee assignment. It appears to me this CHIP bill has the best chance of passing. It is still being held in House Appropriations.
SB 421 SCHIP coverage for pregnant women did not make transmittal and is considered dead.
HB 387 Increase CHIP eligibility level from 150% to 200% of poverty level was tabled in committee and missed transmittal. A motion was made to take it out of committee to a vote on the floor. It did not get the 60 votes to bring it to the floor. It failed 52-47.
HB 198 Increase CHIP Dental Benefit. This bill passed the House. It was heard in Senate Public Health, Welfare, and Safety on 3/23/07. No executive action has been taken.
HB 06 Montana Community Health Center support act. This bill provides state funds to create new Community Health Centers and expand dental and mental health services in existing Centers. This bill is still hanging around in House Appropriations.
MENTAL HEALTH:
HB 365 Fund suicide prevention. This important bill addresses the largest cause of death in young people. A hearing was held on 2-6. It is still in House Appropriations awaiting executive action.
POVERTY/HOUSING/FOOD/ENERGY
HB 575 Revise TANF (Temporary Assistance for Needy Families) laws. This bill was tabled in committee and missed transmittal deadline.
HB 410 Create task force on reducing poverty in Montana was tabled in committee so it is probably dead.
SB 264 to Provide for low-income rates for local government utilities passed the Senate 28-22 and is awaiting a hearing to be scheduled in the House.
HB 516 Fund affordable housing revolving loan act. This bill was tabled in Committee. It missed the transmittal deadline and is probably dead.
HB 391 Use of food stamps at farmers markets was tabled in committee. It missed the transmittal deadline and is probably dead.
HB 396 allowing WIC vouchers to be used at farmers markets was also tabled in committee, missed the transmittal deadline and is probably dead.
TITLE LOANS
HB 29 A bill to revise laws on Title and Pay Day loans by Representative John Parker. This bill has been heard, but has run into major problems. This bill has been tabled in committee. It missed the transmittal deadline and is probably dead.
CORRECTIONS:
HB 475 Fund training opportunities at women’s prison. This bill has been sent to House Appropriations. A hearing was held on 2-12. I felt the hearing was positive, but this bill is one of those that was subject to the wholesale tabling of bills on the 20th. Who knows if it can be resurrected and brought out of committee. Funding programs for rehabilitation of our inmate population is not a high priority for this group. Please contact the House Appropriations committee and ask them to reconsider this bill. The names and contact information are listed at the end of this update.
HB 452 Achievement Credit Bill. The purpose of this bill is to allow for credits to reduce sentence restrictions for parolees who, on their own, go to school or learn a trade. This bill has been referred to Senate Judiciary and a hearing is scheduled for Tuesday, March 27th.
HB 698 Revise laws for transition money for released inmates. This bill would have provided increased amounts of gate money to help released inmates get started on the streets. This was a good bill and we supported it. Unfortunately, it was tabled in committee. I believe the decision was short sighted, but it missed the transmittal deadline and is probably dead
DRUG TREATMENT AND DRUG COURTS
Increasing drug treatment and mental health treatment in our prisons has not made it to committee. Drug courts are a very affective means of working with those convicted of non-violent drug offenses. Success has been very high in these courts.
HB 78 Fund and administer drug treatment courts. This bill requests $2,000,000 to fund drug courts in Montana. This is one of two nearly identical bills. This one comes from the Democratic side of the isle. The other is the Republican version. Both bills are still in Appropriations.
HB 472 Appropriate funding of Drug Courts. This bill, the Republican version, requests $2 million to fund Drug Courts in the state for the next biennium.
These efforts are very important to the future of safe communities and controlling costs in our Corrections system. Treatment and keeping non-violent offenders in the communities and in their jobs has a much greater success rate than locking them up in prisons. We support these efforts as a benefit for the common good.
Those of you who support the work of drug courts need to write to the House Appropriations Committee and ask for support in funding these very important programs.
IMMIGRATION
SB 258 Deny licenses and license renewal to illegal aliens. This bill states that you have to prove you have a valid SSN to get a state license for construction or other business enterprises. A hearing was held Tuesday, March 20 in House Business and Labor. No executive action has been taken.
SB 346 Prohibiting certain contracts with illegal aliens was passed to the House and assigned to House Judiciary. A hearing has been scheduled for Friday, March 23rd.
SB 260 Felony for illegal alien to register to vote was held up in the Senate with a motion to indefinitely postpone the floor vote. It did not make transmittal, and is therefore dead,
HB 185 Injunction and license revocation procedures for hiring illegal aliens. This bill was tabled in House Judiciary, but was resurrected and passed out of the house. It is currently in the Senate awaiting committee assignment.
PROTECTING HUMAN LIFE
“We must begin with a commitment never to intentionally kill, or collude in the killing, of any innocent human life, no matter how broken, unformed, disabled or desperate that life may seem.” USCCB, Living the Gospel of Life
ABORTION
SB 500 Remove prohibition of CHIP insurance for contraception. This bill failed third reading with a tie vote 25-25. It missed transmittal and is dead.
LC1048 Eliminate liability limits for abortion services for minors. This did not get out of draft so it is dead.
HB 403 Constitutionally recognize life begins at conception. This bill, sponsored by Rick Jore, required a constitutional amendment. Passage in our state houses would have put it on the ballot in the next election cycle. An amendment was added in the committee saying it did not protect life if associated with the death penalty. The amendment confused the issue at best. It was removed on the House floor, but caused enough confusion to affect the vote. It was defeated in the House.
LC1582 Ban embryonic stem cell research. This draft has been put on hold at the request of the sponsor. It will not come up this session.
LC1607 Encourage federal funding for stem cell research was ready for delivery, but was not picked up so it cannot be introduced this session.
HB 321 Parental consent or judicial bypass for abortions. This bill passed the House and has been transmitted to the Senate. The sponsor believes this bill with the judicial bypass option will prove to be constitutional. It could have a tough fight in the Senate. We supported this bill. It is currently awaiting committee assignment and hearing date.
HB 215 Ban human cloning research. This bill was referred to the Public Health, Welfare and Safety Committee, then was re-referred to the Senate Judiciary. No hearing date has been set.
CAPTIAL PUNISHMENT
SB 306 An act to eliminate the death penalty and replace it with life in prison without the possibility of parole. This bill passed the Senate and was heard in House Judiciary on Friday, March 9th. Executive action occurred on Monday the 11th. It went down 9-8. However it is not over. If we get one more vote to reconsider in committee, we can get it to the House floor.
The bill can still pass. It will be very hard in the House, but not many people gave us a chance in the Senate either. Today is the day, and we welcome anyone who can help. We need prayers first and foremost. We also need people to contact the Judicial Committee members listed below.
Thanks to all of you who wrote emails from the last statement. One of the committee members told me she must have received over 100 emails. There are many reasons to support or oppose this bill. One major reason is this is very much a public opinion vote. Most legislators believe the folks back home support the death penalty. That comes from the newspaper phone in polls. They need to hear from those who do not support the death penalty. So write each of them, and then get your friends and neighbors to do the same. Thanks for all your help. The finish line is near; we just need to keep up the pace. Keep your prayers and letters coming.
HOUSE JUDICIARY COMMITTEE
Diane, Rice (R) – Chair, Harrison, drice@3rivers.net
Ron Stoker (R) - Vice Chair, Darby, stoker@montana.com
Dave Gallik (D) - Vice Chair, Helena, GALLIK@IN-TCH.COM
Douglas Cordier (D) Columbia Falls, bede@digisys.net
Robyn Driscoll (D) Billings, rdriscoll@peoplepc.com
Bob Ebinger (D) Livingston, buffalojump@ycsi.net
George Everett (R) Kalispell, ixoye777@centurytel.net
Julie French (D) Scobey, julfrench71@yahoo.com
Rick Jore (C) Ronan, rickjore@hotmail.com
Krayton Kerns (R) Laurel, krayton@kraytonkerns.org
Roger Koopman (R) Bozeman, koopman@imt.net
Deborah Kottel (D) Great Falls, DKOTTEL@UGF.EDU
Tom McGillvray (R) Billings, tmcgillvray@bresnan.net
Jesse O'Hara (R) Great Falls, (no email)
Ken Peterson (R) Billings, kenneth59@bresnan.net
Holly Raser (D) Missoula, repraser98@bresnan.net
John Ward (R) Helena, hd84ward@wmconnect.com
Legislative Messages: 1-406-444-4800
House of Representatives mailing address:
Representative name
PO Box 200400
Helena, Mt 59620-0400
Fax 1-406-444-4825
HB 697 Study Bill for the use of the Death Penalty in Montana. This bill, sponsored by Representative Joey Jayne, merely asks the legislature to establish a study commission to ask the difficult questions regarding the use of the death penalty in Montana. Questions like: What is the real cost? Is it a deterrent to crime? Does executing another bring closure to the family of a victim? Since it is a study bill it did not need to make general bill transmittal. It was heard in House Appropriations on Tuesday, the 20th. It is doubtful this bill will get out of Appropriations. However, please email them and urge them to pass it so we can get answers to these very difficult questions. The names and addresses are listed at the end of this update.
Promoting Family Life
“As the family goes, so goes the nation and so goes the whole world in which we live.” Pope John Paul II
ADOPTION/FOSTER CARE
HB 490 Adoption tax credit. This bill passed the House 100 to 0. No negative votes in committee or on the floor. It was heard in Senate Taxation on Thursday, March 15th. It will correct the inadvertent tax penalty that occurs in Montana if adoptive parents take the tax credit offered by the federal government. Senator Dave Lewis will introduce the bill on the Senate floor.
HB 713 Revise post-adoption services. This bill corrects a law that forbids private agencies from providing post-adoptive services to birth mothers. Agencies currently cannot help birthmothers with fees for GED, books, tuition, or other educational expenses. They cannot hire them, even part time, or provide for other needs they may have as they heal and try to get back on their feet. This bill corrects those issues. It passed the house and was heard in Senate Public Health, Welfare and Safety Monday, March 19th. It may be in trouble in this committee. A couple of Senators seem to be opposing the bill and a couple others want to amend it. Please email the committee members and urge them to vote yes on this bill to get it to the Senate floor. Tell them these young ladies have made one of the most courageous and difficult decisions of their lives and we need to honor them for that. Senator Roy Brown will carry it for us when it gets out of committee.
PUBLIC HEALTH, WELFARE AND SAFETY
M, W, F 3 pm Rm 317B
Weinberg, Dan (D) – Ch, Whitefish, dweinberg@centurytel.net
Moss, Lynda (D) – V. Ch, Billings, LYNDAMOSS@IMT.NET
Cobb, John (R) Augusta, cobbchar@3rivers.net1
Esp, John (R) Big Timber, jesp@mcn.net
Gillan, Kim (D) Billings, glonky@aol.com
Murphy, Terry (R) Cardwell, no email listed
O'Neil, Jerry (R) Columbia Falls, ONEIL@CENTURYTEL.NET
Schmidt, Trudi (D) Great Falls, TRUDI@IN-TCH.COM
Williams, Carol (D) Missoula, CWILLIAMS@MONTANADSL.NET
FAMILY
HB 638 Fund family planning. This bill was heard in House Appropriations, Friday, March 16th. This bill was tabled in Committee.
HB 312 Amend the constitution to establish a parental bill of rights, introduced by Representative Michael Lange, R, Billings. It passed the House 51-49 and is on its way to the Senate. Since it is a constitutional amendment it needs 2/3 of the combined House and Senate. It therefore needs 49 votes out of a possible 50 in the Senate to pass.
HB 118 Revise law on dispensing contraceptives. This bill passed the House and a hearing was held Wednesday, March 14th in Senate Public Health, Welfare and Safety. It passed committee 8-1 and is scheduled for second reading in the Senate Thursday, March 22nd.
HB 612 Create responsible sexual health program was tabled in committee.
SEXUAL ORIENTATION
LC1115 Establish Domestic partnerships. This bill was not introduced and it had passed the deadline for this session.
SB 371 Include sexual orientation and gender identity in certain laws This bill was tabled in committee, missed transmittal and is dead.
SB 454 Include sexual orientation in hate crimes law. This bill was tabled in committee. It missed transmittal and is dead.
Pursuit of the Common Good
In order for all of us to have an opportunity to grow and develop fully, a certain social fabric must exist within society. This is the common good. Numerous social conditions – economic, political, material, and cultural – impact our ability to realize our human dignity and reach our full potential.
RURAL LIFE/ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
HB 451 Small town renewal program. This bill is another victim of the wholesale tabling in House Appropriations. It is a good bill that supports our rural communities. Please contact the House Appropriations Committee and ask for them to reconsider. Names and email addresses are listed at the end of this update.
CATHOLIC HOSPITALS
SB 118 Eliminate sunset for hospital bed tax. This bill could have a major impact on our Catholic Hospitals and others in the state. It passed the Senate and the House and is on its way to the Governor’s office for signature
OTHER/CHURCH/NON PROFITS
Extend charitable endowment tax credit. There are 3 bills now in the hopper for endowments and building projects. None of them are looking very good for funding Church buildings, due to the size of the fiscal note. However they are not done. The latest word is one of the bills will be capped at 15% and brought to the floor. This is not all we wanted, but it is better than we expected.
Alerts for Week of March 26 - 30
Committee Hearings of Interest:
****Note of interest : Committee hearings are changing with very little notice. Please check on line for current status.
Monday, March 26
SB 379 Clarify Public Defender for Post conviction, room 137 at 9 am.
HB 818 Appropriations for Legislative Branch, room 317 at 8 am.
HB 819 Appropriations for Judicial Branch, room 317 at 8 am.
HB 820 Appropriations for Executive Branch, room 317 at 8 am.
Tuesday, March 27
SB 447 Revise Victims Rights, room 137 at 8 am.
HB 452 Achievement Credit for Parolees, room 303 at 8 am.
Wednesday, March 28
Study Prison Population Growth and Alternative Sentencing, room 137 at 8 am.
Events of Interest:
Approximately 25 members of the Diocesan Conference of Catholic Women (DCCW) will be visiting the Capitol on Wednesday, March 28th. They will have displays in the Capitol Rotunda and will be meeting with area legislators. A sack lunch for legislators will be offered and our Catholic legislators will be invited to attend. Besides the lunch with the Legislators, the ladies will observe the House and Senate floor sessions and will attend hearings of their choice during the day. If you are interested in attending, please email your interest to us and we will pass it along to the appropriate party.
House Appropriations Committee:
Sinrud, John (R) – Chairman JOHN@SINRUD.COM
Taylor, Janna (R) – V. Chair JANNATAYLOR@MONTANA.COM
Franklin, Eve (D) – V. Chair No Email Address
Beck, Bill (R) REPBBECK@AMERION.COM
Callahan, Tim (D) INTIC@SOFAST.NET
Clark, Edith (R) EJCLARK@NORTHERNTEL.NET
Glaser, William (R) GLASER@MCN.NET
Hawk, Ray (R) rhawk@bresnan.net
Hiner, Cynthia (D) MATTHINER@HOTMAIL.COM
Hollenbaugh, Galen (D) GALEN@HOLLENBAUGH.ORG
Jayne, Joey (D) JAYNE57@HOTMAIL.COM
Kasten, Dave (R) No Email Address
McChesney, Bill (D) MACWILLY66@MSN.COM
Morgan, Penny (R) PJM511@HOTMAIL.COM
Musgrove, John (D) MUSGROVE@HI-LINE.NET
Ripley, Rick (R) No Email Address
Sesso, Jon (D) JONSESSO@YAHOO.COM
Wells, Jack (R) JMGWELLS@MSN.COM
Witte, Craig (R) WITTE@BRESNAN.NET
CONTACT INFORMATION
Who is my legislator? Call 1-406-444-4800
Legislative Messages: 1-406-444-4800
Senate mailing address:
Senator name
PO Box 200500
Helena, Mt 59620-0500
Fax 1-406-444-4875
House of Representatives mailing address:
Representative name
PO Box 200400
Helena, Mt 59620-0400
Fax 1-406-444-4825
MCC contact information:
Moe Wosepka, Executive Director
Office 442-5761
Email: director@montanacc.org
Website: www.montanacc.org
To subscribe to the MCC Legislative Alert Network Email: mccalertnetwork@bresnan.net or log onto our website www.montanacc.org
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