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Montana politics, elections and legislative news

Tax Cut Bill Sets Up Showdown Between Gov. And GOP

Office of the governor, budget and program planning.
William Marcus

State lawmakers are taking a five-day break before starting the second half of the 2015 legislature. While much of their work remains unfinished, one bill that’s already on its way to the Governor could set the stage for a showdown.

House Bill 166 by Kalispell Republican Keith Regier cuts state income taxes by $40 million a year. Every Montanan who pays income taxes would save money, though low-income earners would only see about enough for a fast food meal. It won final passage in the Senate this morning and was sent to the Governor.

This morning Bullock declined to say what he’ll do, but suggested that even the bill’s backers don’t expect it to become law.

"Trying to get a tax bill to my desk at the same time where we haven’t even figured out revenue estimates, I think that’s more about political games than it is about public policy," Bullock said.

Republican House speaker Austin Knudsen says no games were involved; the bill was about giving Republican voters what they wanted.

"I don’t look on it as leverage," Knudsen said. "I look on it as policy that we can all support as Republicans and something that we can all put on his desk."

The Senate Minority Leader, Jon Sesso from Butte, says the legislature has already passed bills that spend more money than the state has, and a veto of the tax cut will force the Republican majority to come to grips with the state’s finances.

"I think the conversation will heat up, yes, but I think it will be a very real conversation."

Whatever happens, it will happen in the next ten days. The Governor can either sign the bill, veto it, or return it to the legislature with amendments.

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