Let’s Talk About What’s Missing from the Governor’s Budget

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Wednesday, January 3, 2022

CONTACT
hadley@montanademocrats.org

Democrats Lay Out Clear Contrast in Legislative Priorities

Helena, MT – Yesterday, Montana legislative Democrats laid out their priorities for the 68th session and the differences between the Democrats’ platform and the Republicans platform could not be more stark. The clearest difference? The Governor’s budget does not rise to the level of our crises. 

Representative Mary Caferro (D - Helena) laid out the differences:
 
There are some things in the Governor’s budget we support. But I want to make it clear – the issues we’re talking about today– housing, Child care, property tax relief, mental health services– those are Democrat values. Those are the values that Democrats have set the table for. We have been working for decades trying to get all these issues and components of this budget funded at an adequate and appropriate level. We fought hard, we’ve tried to move amendments, move bills. 

Those are Democrat values in his budget. And frankly, his budget doesn’t go far enough. 

Let’s talk about what’s not in his budget. 
 

• Number 1: The Governor’s budget does not address the root causes of our housing crisis. 

Every Montanan wants, needs and deserves a home. The Democrats plan works towards that goal. We recognize that in order for a family to have upward mobility and for children to have stability, they need access to the American dream, which is a pathway to home ownership or rents they can afford. That’s why our plan addresses these issues. And his really doesn’t in any meaningful way. 
 

• Number 2: The Governor’s Budget does not adequately address the lack of senior citizens care or nursing home closures across the state.

Locally elected officials are crying out to the governor to help stem this growing crisis and their pleas are falling on deaf ears. It’s not fair that senior citizens in their twilight years are being ripped away from their homes and their families, as nursing homes are closing and they are languishing on waiting lists for home and community-based services, in-home services. That’s just not fair. And it’s not right. The Governor’s budget does not address either of those issues. 
 

• Number 3:  The Governor’s Budget does not adequately address child care shortages 

Democrats want to increase options for families. We understand that child care is the cornerstone of the economy. And quality safe child care is essential. Working families and children deserve that. They deserve no less. That’s why we have that component in our budget to help parents.
 

• Number 4: The Governor’s Budget does not do anything to address the issue of rising home energy costs that will affect our most vulnerable constituents. 

What will happen during the next cold snap? Especially for senior citizens. They will ration their medicines in order to pay their utility bills only so that they can sit next to their stove, wrapped up in a blanket, in an unsafe way, and have the cold air blow through their house. That’s just not right and the governor’s budget does not do something to address that issue. 


“The legislative priorities from both sides of the aisle make one thing perfectly clear: Montana Democrats are working for all Montanans, and they take that responsibility seriously,” says Sheila Hogan, executive director of the Montana Democratic Party. “The Governor (and his half-baked budget) does not care about Montana workers or families. The MTGOP clearly does not take the affordability crisis seriously because they’re too busy cutting deals for the wealthy and the well connected.”

See the full Democratic Platform HERE

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