Bullock and Republicans square off on goals

With Montana’s 64th legislative session now in session, Republicans in control of both houses and Democratic Gov. Steve Bullock seem miles apart on their top priorities and pledges to work together seem few and far between.

Bullock wants to makes long-term investments to benefit Montanans for generations, but House Speaker Austin Knudsen, R-Culbertson, says his party wants to exercise caution.

“The governor’s budget shoots the moon and is everything,” he said. “We’re going to want to pare it back, be cautious.”

As a result, two of the governor’s top priorities — expanding Medicaid to 70,000 low-income Montanans and funding preschool programs for 4-year-olds — are not receiving a warm reception from Knudsen.

Bullock’s Medicaid proposal, which would model an expansion after the state’s Healthy Montana Kids program, faces the same hurdles as it did in the 2013 session, Knudsen said. Republicans are concerned about costs as federal money available to pay for the Medicaid gap lessens over time. One GOP proposal would expand Medicaid to a smaller number of Montanans.

As for preschool programs, Knudsen said studies he’s read don’t show them a worthy investment. He said he wants to see data proving that those who attend later score higher on ACT tests.

“What I’ve seen makes me dubious,” he said.

For his part, Bullock said he hopes he and Republicans can come together on issues important to mainstream Montanans — including Medicaid expansion and preschool.

“Last session, we did find legislators who wanted to get things done in the state of Montana,” Bullock said, citing Republicans who worked with him on the state budget, pension fixes and leaving some money in the bank. “Hopefully we’ll find that path to get some stuff done.”

Senate Majority Leader Matt Rosendale, R-Glendive, said the Republicans’ focus is at odds with Bullock’s.

“It can be summed up with a simple phrase,” he said. “We plan to focus on policy and legislation that will help grow the economy, while the governor focuses on growing the government.”

Rosendale said Republicans plan to introduce bills that support a tax and regulatory climate that allows new businesses to open and makes it easier for businesses to expand.

Bullock responded to that idea by noting that Montana’s unemployment rate dropped a full point in 2014, and that Medicaid expansion would create 5,000 jobs. He also said a $380 million infrastructure bill he’s proposing will help grow the economy.

“We’re making investments today that will have a longer-term payoff for our state than one Republican leader’s term,” he said.