[NFBMT] Protest Rally

[BRESLAUERS]

Great Falls Tribune 

 

Protest against cuts planned as panel set to review budget

 

HELENA - A protest is scheduled for Wednesday as lawmakers convene for the
first of two days of meetings to discuss nearly $229 million in cuts to state
services sparked by lower than expected revenues and a costly fire season.

 

Wednesday's meeting of the Legislative Finance Committee begins 10 a.m. in
Room 102 of the state Capitol with a hearing at 1 p.m. on budget reductions.
Thursday's meeting is 8 a.m. in the same room.

 

A rally protesting some of the proposed reductions, called "Courage not
cuts," is scheduled for 12:30 p.m. Wednesday in front of the Jeannette Rankin
statue on the second floor of the state Capitol. It's organized by two
nonprofit groups, the Montana Human Rights Network and Montana Women Vote.

 

Gov. Steve Bullock is waiting for comment from the committee regarding the
reductions.

 

According to a report released Friday by the Legislative Fiscal Division, the
governor's plan proposed $336.2 million in reductions, which is $229 million
in general fund cuts and $136 million in reductions to federal matching
funds.

 

The largest cuts proposed is $105 million to the Department of Public Health
and Human Services, which makes up about 46 percent of the total proposed
reductions. Proposals include the elimination or reduction of optional
Medicaid services and reduced Medicaid provider rates.

 

Next is about $43 million to the Commissioner of Higher Education and about
$40 million to the Department of Corrections.

 

The governor is reportedly considering a special session.

 

While the governor proposed raising some taxes during the legislative
session, some lawmakers balked, saying the state needs to live within its
means.

 

The 12-member Legislative Finance Committee is made up of six members each
from the House of Representatives and the Senate, including Sen. Llew Jones,
R-Conrad, who crafted Senate Bill 336, which set certain triggers for cuts if
revenue projections are not met and Rep. Nancy Ballance, R-Hamilton, who
chaired the House Appropriations Committee during the 2017 legislative
session. She also chairs the Legislative Finance Committee.

 

A Facebook posting regarding Wednesday's rally notes Montana has been forced
to make "serious cuts to the budget in many crucial departments and program
areas."

It announces more cuts are expected.

 

"These aren't just numbers and dollar signs, they represent vital programs
and services that help make our communities and families safe, healthy, and
economically vibrant and are services that our neighbors depend on."

 

"The most at-risk Montanans shouldn't be asked to shoulder the burden of our
state's decline in revenue.

 

People who cannot attend are told to contact their legislator and tell them
"not to balance the budget on the backs of folks with disabilities, students
and seniors."

 

To see more on the proposed cuts, go to: http://balancedbudget.mt.gov/ and
http://bit.ly/2xRfxLf

 

Joy Breslauer, President

National Federation of the Blind of Montana 

Web Site: http://www.nfbofmt.org <http://www.nfbofmt.org/> 

 

Live the life you want

 

The National Federation of the Blind knows that blindness is not the
characteristic that defines you or your future. Every day we raise the
expectations of blind people, because low expectations create obstacles
between blind people and our dreams. You can live the life you want;
blindness is not what holds you back.