Governor Schweitzer signed House Bill 1 and issued the following statement:

MESSAGE FROM THE GOVERNOR

February 1, 2011

The Honorable Mike Milburn, Speaker of the House

The Honorable Jim Peterson, President of the Senate

State Capitol

Helena, MT 59601

Dear Speaker Milburn and President Peterson:

In accordance with the rules of your respective chambers, please consider this letter a Message from the Governor regarding House Bill No. 1 ("HB 1"), otherwise known as the "feed bill."

Yesterday, I signed HB 1 into law. HB 1 appropriates money from the general fund for the operation of the current Legislature, to which I have no objection. However, HB 1 also appropriates money for ongoing legislative expenses over the next biennium, including funding initial costs for the next Legislature.

Because we are here to put the people first, not ourselves, I considered an amendatory veto and also considered letting the bill become law without my signature. However, either option would have delayed passage of the feed bill, and I have been informed that the Legislature has "run up against the clock" and is without money to pay its staff should HB 1 not go into law before tomorrow. In order that legislative staff could be paid and the Legislature not come to a grinding halt tomorrow, I decided not to pursue an amendatory veto or "pocket signing" of the bill. However, I wanted you to know of my objections.

I find it ironic that the Legislature has used the feed bill to fund itself in the 2013 biennium, while simultaneously cutting critical services for Montanans. Today, the State of Montana has $376 million in the bank. Yet in the last few days, the Joint Subcommittees voted to eliminate or reduce critical programs for Montana citizens. HB 1 — the first bill and the first appropriations bill to be delivered to me for signature – has put the Legislature ahead of the people of Montana for the next biennium.

As you know, the budget I presented to you is balanced. It not only puts jobs and people first, it sets aside $238 million for an ending fund balance. HB 1 is the first bill to spend the revenues anticipated to be available for the 2013 biennium. I take it as a sign from the 2011 Legislature that when it decided to fund itself first, it did so as a sign that revenues are increasing and jobs and important services for Montanans will not be left behind.

Sincerely,

BRIAN SCHWEITZER

GOVERNOR

cc: Legislative Services Division