Econ Tracker

Bill would establish MT military economic impact task force

Posted: Mar 5, 2013 6:58 PM by Simone DeAlba - MTN News

Montana could have a new task force focused solely on protecting the military and its members.

House Bill 579, which is being carried by MT State Representative Roger Hagan (R-Great Falls), would establish a military economic impact task force that would help with retention and development of military installations.

MT State Senator Ed Buttrey (R-Great Falls) backs the bill, noting that military impacts the state's economy by more than $800 million dollars a year.

Buttrey said, "The military in Montana is more than just Great Falls and Helena, it is from border to border and it affects every one of us. We need to protect these folks, we need to protect this economic impact to the state and we need to stand up and say 'Hey, don't take our missions, give us more, look at what great assets we've got here in Montana.'"

The cost of the bill is estimated at about $160,000 per year.

Buttrey says that feedback for the bill has been positive, and that the only opposition is in regard to funding.

Click here to read the full text of the bill.