Montana Governor Schweitzer Signs HB9 and HB 2

6/4/2007 -- (HELENA) – Montana Governor Brian Schweitzer today signed House Bill 2 and House Bill 9, the general appropriations act and the $400 homeowner tax rebate into law.

The bills were passed in the special session. HB 2 provides for funding for the executive, legislative and judicial branches of government. HB 9, which was part of the Governor’s Square Deal with Montana, provides the $400 homeowner rebate.

The Governor left the programs and funding passed by the Legislature intact saying, "I am proud of this budget, it is sustainable and affordable and we were able to fund government and still give more tax cuts to more Montanans than any time in history."

Governor Schweitzer did line-item veto what he was advised to be unconstitutional provisions which contained substantive law changes that improperly blur the boundaries between the legislative and executive branches.

The line items were similar to the 32 vetoes made 2 years ago by the Governor that were upheld by the District Court in the decision Cobb v. Schweitzer.

More information about how to get the $400 rebate can be found at: mt.gov/revenue/.

Source: Montana Governor