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Governor Schweitzer Says Budget Still "Intact," but Using Line-Item Veto Authority

By KFBB News Team

Story Created: May 4, 2011 at 10:52 PM MDT

Story Updated: May 4, 2011 at 10:52 PM MDT

While the Governor says the budget is still "intact," Schweitzer is starting to use his line-item veto authority on parts of the budget plan he negotiated with republican leaders, as the deal falls apart.

Schweitzer says Republicans secretly included a tax increase on 25,000 businesses in Montana that work with workers comp within the last two hours of session.

He line-item vetoed House Bill 604. The bill contains millions of dollars in transfers to balance the budget.

The governor says republicans tried to add a 2.75 percent assessment on all workers comp premiums by sneaking this language into the bill in the dark of night.

The governor says the budget deal made with the GOP is off because they violated their end of the bargain and he is now considering line-item vetoing the budget.

Schweitzer says he also plans to veto House Bill 316, a key education funding narrative that uses tourism and metal mine money to balance the budget.

Republican leadership say they feel betrayed, adding they did everything Schweitzer told them to do.

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Nobody said on Wednesday, May 4 at 11:01 PM

This Montana legislation has broken its word on the budget and to the people of Montana. This Montana legislation has exchanged my vote for the mining in trusts that create jobs for the air i breath and tax breaks for coal mines. The jobs for gold mine's to pollute waters again.(Clean Zortman Montana first.) The refusal to take federal money for the sick and poor of Montana. The taxes of small business while give corporations tax breaks. The destruction of medical marijuana act.This replacement SB423 ask landlords to violate the fifth amendment of the the United States Constitution By signing the agreement to let patience to grow medical marijuana. The federal government can and will seize all bank accounts and property. Who was are Montana legislators working for the feds and large corporation. Call the Governor to VETO SB 423 Call him at 444-3111. If you are not register to vote Your vote will not count. So go register. Now and let your voice be heard.

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