Legislative Report

Dear Editor,

Two weeks ago, the House voted to spend $191 million dollars on infrastructure needs across the state. These projects included water, sewer, bridges and roads.

Last week in Helena, Republicans and Democrats came together to protect Montana children. On the floor of the House we heard a bill intended to improve our system and bring justice to abused children. HB 640 was a cooperative effort by both sides of the aisle to address laws regarding the prosecution of child sexual abusers. Child sexual abuse is a heinous crime and should be treated as such by our justice system. HB 640 removed the statute of limitations on the criminal side, made the mandatory reporting provisions more strict and increased the statute of limitations on the civil side. Our hope with this bill is that we never have another case in Montana like the recent case in Miles City. We can and must protect our children.

Also last week we voted on HB 500 which would make it illegal for an abortion to take place after a baby can feel pain, 20 weeks. At five months into a pregnancy a baby feels the pain of an abortion and as with HB 640 we can and must protect our children. This should not be a partisan issue. I am proud to say that the entire Republican caucus voted to protect these babies and were joined by two Democrats. This bill still has a long road through the Senate and will have to escape the veto pen of the Governor.

At the end of the week, bills we have all been hearing about appeared on the floor. House Bill 658, the Medicaid Expansion Reform Bill, was introduced, debated, and passed through the House. I voted against HB 658 for two simple reasons. First and foremost, my district overwhelmingly rejected Medicaid expansion on last November's ballot. According to the Secretary of State's data, 62 percent of the voters in House District 34 said NO to Medicaid Expansion. I heard the voice of the people I represent and voted accordingly.

I voted no on HB 658 for another simple reason. I do not support new taxes. I have been unwavering in my belief that Montanan's taxes are high enough. HB 658 implements a new tax to pay for the increased bureaucracy needed to oversee this plan. The tax in this bill will be levied on the Montana State Fund. Montana State Fund provides worker's compensation insurance to small businesses who can't get insurance anywhere else. Ninety-five percent of Montana's Agriculture community uses State Fund for worker's compensation insurance. The new tax imposed in HB 658 for Medicaid expansion, will most certainly be passed on to policyholders. This Medicaid expansion bill will certainly raise taxes on small businesses. I am not willing to support tax increases for something that my district has already said they do not support. Montana's tax burden is high enough.

Representative Rhonda Knudsen is serving her first term in the Montana House of Representatives. She represents House District 34 which includes Daniels, Sheridan, and parts of Valley & Roosevelt counties. Representative Knudsen can be reached at the Capitol at (406) 444-4800 or at [email protected].