Don't be Penny Wise and Pound Foolish

Action is needed immediately to retain ANY stimulus money to improve the energy efficiency of Montana schools.

As you read this, legislators are being pressured to strip the remaining $15 million of "quick start" energy efficiency grants for schools in HB 645. The House version contained $35 million for energy efficiency, which the Senate cut to $15 million.
If "quick start" is eliminated altogether, NO federal stimulus money would be specifically targeted for projects that make schools more energy efficient - which creates immediate jobs and reduces the money schools spend on energy bills.

The conference committees for HB 645, HB 2 and HB 676 are meeting jointly to coordinate the budget bills. The conference committee appointees are listed below. Please immediately contact any 3 of these members and tell them to protect the "quick start" energy grants to the level passed by the House ($35 million). This is exactly what we should be spending federal stimulus money on. Energy efficiency investments in our schools save schools (taxpayers) money, create good jobs, and is a sound investment in Montana's economy and our long-range future.

HB 2, HB 645 and HB 676 Conference Committee Members (Sesso and Hiner serve on both HB 2 and HB 645 conference commitees):

Representatives
Jon Sesso (D-Butte)
Dan Villa (D-Anaconda)
Cynthia Hiner (D-Deer Lodge),
Walter McNutt (R-Sidney)
Penny Morgan (R-Billings)
Ray Hawk (R-Florence)
Llew Jones (R-Conrad)

Senators
Keith Bales (R-Otter)
Dave Lewis (R-Helena)
John Esp (R-Big Timber)
Jim Peterson (R-Buffalo)
Trudi Schmidt (D-Great Falls)
Jim Keane (D-Butte)

TO PHONE LEGISLATORS: Call (406) 444-4800
(7:30 a.m.-5 p.m. M-F, Sat. a.m.) and leave a message for up to three legislators.