Given the extreme conservative nature of the Montana State Legislature, Montana People's Action members knew their fight for economic justice was going to be an uphill battle. Nevertheless, MPA believed its agenda of increasing affordable housing, stopping punitive welfare sanctions, funding the Children's Health Insurance Program, creating living wage jobs, and halting child support fees was an economic agenda that had to be heard.

During the first half of the legislative session, MPA has been a constant presence at the Montana State Legislature. MPA members packed the hallways during three lobby days and put pressure on legislators from the homefront. Through grassroots action and lobby days, MPA members are leading the fight for economic justice at the Montana State Legislature.

"Some legislators claim they are going to create living wages through huge business tax breaks, a strategy that has never worked in the past and left us with huge deficits. MPA members are pushing for real living wage policies and other programs that will boost incomes in Montana. And, we're doing surprisingly well," said Anita Anderson, Vice-Chair of Missoula MPA.

"It was worth the four-and-half hour drive to Helena from Billings. It really makes a difference to talk to legislators face-to-face and they all were willing to take time out for us," said Kendall Wolcott, Billings District Chair, who has attended two out of three of MPA's lobby days.

If you couldn't join MPA for a lobby day, more opportunities are planned for the second half of the session. Call your local MPA organizer to sign-up for the phone tree network, local meetings with legislators, and weekly trips to Helena.

MPA Priority Issues

Stop Punitive Welfare Sanctions

MPA's welfare rights legislation passed the Senate on Monday, Feb. 22 with a vote of 36-14. SB 353, sponsored by Senator Eve Franklin of Great Falls, eliminates the withholding of Medicaid, foods stamps, and child care services (if the recipient is working) during a welfare sanction. The legislation also directs the state welfare agency to study its sanction policies and consider "progressive disciplinary" policies rather than one-strike and you're out.

MPA members packed the halls to lobby on the sanctions bill and provided compelling testimony about the negative effects of sanctions to the Senate Public Health Committee. The bill won a unanimous "do pass" from the committee after Senators heard the horror stories. SB 353 will likely go to the House Human Services committee and have a hearing in early March. We'll need to keep the pressure on to win this bill!

Housing Trust Fund

The Senate Finance and Claims Committee killed SB 277 on Feb. 19 on a vote to table of 10-8. The reason expressed by Senators for voting against the bill was their reluctance to raise fees or commit general fund revenues to a housing trust fund.

Fortunately SB 349, which also establishes a state housing trust fund passed out of the Senate on Feb 22 with a vote of 43-5. SB 349 currently does not have a funding source and was referred to House Appropriations. If SB 349 passes without a dedicated funding source, Montana will have a state housing trust fund with no funds to build houses and no way to plan for the future.

Children's Health Insurance Program

MPA members urged the Senate Public Health Committee to fully fund Montana's Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) at the January 22 hearing. The Committee heeded their call and passed SB 81 out of committee unanimously. The bill faced a tougher battle on the Senate floor, where Senator Bob Keenan and others warned the Senate of possible unintended consequences of providing children with desperately needed health care. Fortunately, SB 81 passed with only eight dissenting votes. CHIP will face a tougher battle in the House, where several Representatives express concern about the value of the program. MPA members will need to keep the pressure on to pass this bill.

Living Wage

At a Feb. 15 hearing, MPA members from around the state urged the Senate Business and Industry Committee to support living wage requirements for corporate welfare recipients. SB 440 requires any company in Montana receiving public assistance valued at over $25,000 to pay their workers a living wage. SB 440 is very similar to the local living wage ordinances Montana People's Action members are working on in their communities. (Missoula MPA recently celebrated its first living wage victory when the city council passed a living wage resolution.) SB 440 has not been acted on and it is not affected by the transmittal deadline.

Child Support Fees

In a surprise move, the House Judiciary committee amended a Child Support Enforcement Division (CSED) supported bill (HB 127) to prohibit the Division from charging fees for its services. The Committee voted 15-5 in support of stopping the fees. The bill has now been referred to the House Appropriations Committee. Although the bill passed out of committee with strong support, the House Appropriations Committee will be an uphill battle and we'll need to stay involved. Thanks to Rep. Gail Gutsche for amending HB 127 to stop the fees!

Rep. Diana Wyatt's bill to refund child support fees at tax time (HB 87) was heard during the first week of the session in front of House Taxation. Rather than acting on the bill, the committee decided to hold it until the Appropriations Committee decides how to solve the CSED budget problem. HB 87 is not affected by transmittal.

Other Economic Justice Bills