Montana House passes $10.2B budget, bill now goes to Senate
(AP) — The Republican-led Montana House of Representatives on Friday sent a $10.2 billion state budget for 2018-2019 to the Senate, where Democrats will redouble their efforts to add more money for health and education programs they say are inadequately funded in the spending plan.
The budget bill passed a final 58-40 vote Friday morning, a day after lawmakers in the Democratic minority tried to insert about $300 million through more than two dozen amendments during a lengthy floor debate.
Trying to make a change is not political theater, and sharing stories from people back home who are scared is not political theater.
The cuts include funding for nursing homes, home health care workers, the disabled, higher education and special education.