HELENA– The Montana Chamber of Commerce is pleased to present the 2017 Voting Review for the 65th Regular Session of the Montana Legislature and the Governor. This review is the most comprehensive look at the business and economic issues addressed during the 88-day session. Our prior voting reviews have been nationally recognized as a model for other state and local chambers of commerce.
The review scores 25 floor votes in the Montana Senate and 25 floor votes in the Montana House. Between these floor votes, committee votes, and bill sponsor recognition, the 2017 Voting Review scores 75 bills in all. Governor Steve Bullock is scored on 17 bills that reached his desk and several other bills that were impacted by the Administration. Legislators gain extra points by sponsoring or carrying pro-business legislation while also losing points for sponsoring or carrying anti-business legislation.
“This was a tough Session with the state’s fiscal condition,” said Webb Brown, president and CEO of the Montana Chamber. “However, legislators and the governor stepped up and passed some bipartisan solutions.”
The Montana Chamber was able to successfully enact several laws that advance its ten-year strategic plan, Envision 2026. In the plan there are four core objectives: entrepreneurship, workforce development, infrastructure and business climate.
“Our biggest success in realizing Envision 2026 was in the area of infrastructure and business climate, specifically legal reform and taxes,” Brown said. “However, our workforce development agenda will also help all Montanans.”
The Montana Chamber selected Representative Frank Garner of Kalispell as its Most Valuable Policymaker (MVP) for his work on infrastructure. Ten other legislators were named Champions of Business, while six more received Honorable Mention.
The Voting Review can be found here.
For additional information about the review, contact Government Relations Director Bridger Mahlum at [email protected] or 442-2405 ext. 102.