Many thanks to all of you are in order, but first we have one last hill to climb.
Yesterday, HB 588 (reclassifying public employees to political appointees) DIED 20-30 in the SENATE! SB 232 (highway patrol compensation) PASSED 94-4 on second reading in the House! However, HB 279 will be voted on in Senate Finance any day.
The stress level is turned up to "eleven" in the Capitol right now as legislators suffer retaliation from the Governor's office and their own caucus and/or see their favorite bills die. Everyone is tired and homesick and wants to just be done. Before they go home, they will decide the fate of HB 279.
HB 279 creates a private school voucher system (a policy that Montanans oppose).HB 279 raises the allowable tax credit for donations to private and for-profit schools from $150 to $200,000 (a 133,333% increase). Corporations are also entitled to the tax credit.
HB 279 reduces our general fund, thereby reducing the funds available for not just our public schools but all public works such as public roads, public water systems and public safety to name only a few.
HB 279's fiscal note shows it will cost the state millions over the next four years--money that should be used to fund public education. Worse, the bill will likely cost Montana a dollar-for-dollar cut to our ARP funding--money we should use to recover from the pandemic and build critical infrastructure.
HB 279 will force schools to choose between raising local property taxes and cutting programs (Fixed costs don't go down when a handful of students leave for private schools.)
Two-thirds (2/3) of private schools are in the seven (7) largest counties. The consequence of this is that this tax credit bill leaves rural students out.
Equalizing the public/private sides of this bill won't fix it--Montanans can already donate to public schools for tax benefit, and they will never do so at a level commensurate with private school funders.
HB 279 allows the Governor and "his rich buddies" to fund their personal private school pet projects (like the Petra Academy) and forsake their duty to pay for the roads, bridges and public schools that we ALL use.
If you haven't called your Senator lately, please do so as soon as possible.
Yesterday, HB 588 (reclassifying public employees to political appointees) DIED 20-30 in the SENATE! SB 232 (highway patrol compensation) PASSED 94-4 on second reading in the House! However, HB 279 will be voted on in Senate Finance any day.
The stress level is turned up to "eleven" in the Capitol right now as legislators suffer retaliation from the Governor's office and their own caucus and/or see their favorite bills die. Everyone is tired and homesick and wants to just be done. Before they go home, they will decide the fate of HB 279.
HB 279 creates a private school voucher system (a policy that Montanans oppose).HB 279 raises the allowable tax credit for donations to private and for-profit schools from $150 to $200,000 (a 133,333% increase). Corporations are also entitled to the tax credit.
HB 279 reduces our general fund, thereby reducing the funds available for not just our public schools but all public works such as public roads, public water systems and public safety to name only a few.
HB 279's fiscal note shows it will cost the state millions over the next four years--money that should be used to fund public education. Worse, the bill will likely cost Montana a dollar-for-dollar cut to our ARP funding--money we should use to recover from the pandemic and build critical infrastructure.
HB 279 will force schools to choose between raising local property taxes and cutting programs (Fixed costs don't go down when a handful of students leave for private schools.)
Two-thirds (2/3) of private schools are in the seven (7) largest counties. The consequence of this is that this tax credit bill leaves rural students out.
Equalizing the public/private sides of this bill won't fix it--Montanans can already donate to public schools for tax benefit, and they will never do so at a level commensurate with private school funders.
HB 279 allows the Governor and "his rich buddies" to fund their personal private school pet projects (like the Petra Academy) and forsake their duty to pay for the roads, bridges and public schools that we ALL use.
If you haven't called your Senator lately, please do so as soon as possible.
