“It is unfortunate that public safety and law enforcement will suffer because nine Republicans who gave the Democrats a ‘working majority’ in the Senate spent too much money.”
By Amanda Eggert, Montana Free Press
Gov. Greg Gianforte’s (R) vetoed, last week, a measure that divided adult-use pot sales revenues between conservation, drug treatment, and homeless support programs.
Gianforte wrote in his veto note dated the 6th of June that, however well-intentioned the Senate Bill 537 may be, it amounts to an “outrageous raid” on the General Fund.
Gianforte wrote: “By putting state responsibility for the local governments, Senate Bill 537 grows the state government in a time where we should focus on right-sizing it, to make it more efficient and effective.
Daniel Zolnikov, a Republican senator from Billings, told Montana Free Press that he understood Gianforte’s reasons, but was still disappointed by the veto. He had dubbed his bill the “cops and Conservation” bill.
Zolnikov was also frustrated with the legislative dynamics of 2025, which he claimed created the need to pass his bill. Zolnikov blamed in particular nine moderate Republicans for voting with Democrats on important issues. Zolnikov stated that the Legislature had “failed” to prioritize spending.
“It is unfortunate that public safety and law enforcement will suffer because nine Republicans who gave the Democrats a ‘working majority’ in the Senate spent too much money, but I understand the governor has to make tough decisions as he has to veto his way to a balanced budget,” he continued. He chose to veto funds for drug testing, law enforcement and rape kits. [behavioral] Instead of vetoing the $900,000,000 bill that created a trust for child care, housing and other government programs, health chose to approve it.”
House Bill 924 – sometimes called the “megatrust bill” – which Zolnikov mentioned, also contains funding for the State Pension System, for repairs to bridges, for property tax credit for primary residences, as well as for the water project. The bill arrived at Gianforte’s desk on Tuesday, over a month since the Legislature adjourned.
The secretary of State will conduct a survey to give lawmakers the opportunity to override vetoes.
Zolnikov, in a subsequent conversation with MTFP said he doesn’t hold his breath waiting for a reversal.
“It’s kind of hard to say, ‘No, we need to spend this money’ when we just overspent,” he said. It would take some fairly active groups to begin supporting [a veto override]Local law enforcement agencies are a good example. If they don’t show up I doubt it.”
Gianforte passed House Bill 932 last month, which was a proposal that had been sponsored by Rep. Ken Walsh. SB 537 and HB932 are similar in the fact that a third (33%) of all marijuana taxes is used to finance conservation programs and habitats on both private and public land. The main difference is that HB 932 funnels the majority of the remaining funds into the General Fund which provides funding for K-12 education and public health, as well as correctional facilities, government services, and more.
This story was originally published by Montana Free Press at montanafreepress.org.
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