Page 5 - John Esp News Today

Cuts remove 11 projects totalling $23 million from $1.2 billion bill.

The mark-downs have rankled some lawmakers who object to his characterization of their projects as pork-barrel spending.

A legislative session characterized in part by a historic budget surplus ended, predictably, in a flurry of competing visions on how to spend $3 billion.

PLUS: “You’re big enough — you should go to work too.”

The Montana Legislature’s 68th session is moving into its final week, with one big responsibility still to complete: approving the state budget for the next two years.

The provision was originally included in the state budget but now lives in House Bill 817.

“I just wish we were doing this out on the floor of the Senate, where God and everybody could see it,” said Sen. John Esp, R-Big Timber, in response to

The bill would create a special state fund devoted to supporting behavioral health services, including community-based facilities and providers that serve people with developmental disabilities or behavioral health issues.

A bill to fund an early childhood literacy program benefiting local 4-year-olds was approved in the Montana Senate.

The bill would create a special state fund devoted to supporting behavioral health services, including community-based facilities and providers that serve people with developmental disabilities or behavioral health issues.