Helena – A Montana politician is proposing the state give more than $8 million to help build President Donald Trump’s proposed wall on the Mexican border as a government shutdown over the $5.7 billion project continues. The proposal seems unlikely to pass in a state with a Democratic governor exploring a run for president.
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At least one other state, South Dakota, is considering voicing support for Trump’s wall. But Montana, which last year faced a massive budget shortfall, appears to be the first to propose spending its own money on the project.
Scott Sales, a fiscally conservative Republican who leads the state Senate, says his proposal is a “small token” to show border security “is of vital interest to all citizens regardless of what state they live in.”
Trump headed to the U.S.-Mexico border Thursday to argue his case for the funding.
“Congress is basically dragging their heels over $5 billion, which is really trivial compared to what we spend on an annual basis,” Sales said Wednesday.
Sales said he calculated Montana’s “share” of the cost of the wall by dividing the state’s gross domestic product by the national GDP and multiplying it by $5.7 billion.
Montana’s $8 million wouldn’t go very far, with Trump’s $5.7B request expected to build 234 miles (377 kilometers).
House Minority Leader Casey Schreiner, a Democrat, said the Legislature should focus on building Montana’s infrastructure.
“That’s a lot of school roofs and boilers,” added Democratic Rep. Laurie Bishop.
Democratic Gov. Steve Bullock, who appears to be exploring a run for president in 2020, could veto the measure should it pass the Republican-controlled Legislature.
Montana, where Trump defeated Hillary Clinton by 20 points, shares a 545-mile (877-kilometer) border with Canada, where there is no wall.
Based on the budget, 8 million should build about a third of a mile!
Who will Montana cry to when they need money? Trump does not control the purse strings any more!
This Wall garbage is a ‘cover’ for Herr Temper Tantrum to try to distract from the impending doom coming from the MUELLER INVESTIGATIONS. And his lawyer Coi’hen is going to Congress to testify UNDER OATH while Campaign Rat Manafart is indicted for giving Tsar Pootinski’s thugs election poll info DURING THE CAMPAIGN! WOW!
that’s not enough to even start work
Do those people in Montana actually fear the aliens crossing the boarder? Montana is a long way from the Rio Grande and the weather isn’t inviting.
NY state should double that offer .They’ll just tax us some more .
Montana should use the money to build a wall along it’s northern border with Canada. It will be just as effective as Trump’s southern wall with Mexico.
Regarding the building of the wall between the United States and Mexico, it seems to me, to be a big mistake.
Why?
If America Is a Real Country, They’ll Exercise Strict Law and Order.
First of all America already has 15,000 border guards.
They certainly have very good equipment: Jeeps, guns, night vision eqipment, loudspeakers, helicopter use ( I imagine), etc.
So it’s hard to imagine a 15,000 border guards, exercising strict laws, cannot be very effective.
The wall cost a lot of money, and often there’s cost overruns, stealing, etc.
What if the crime situation improves in Mexico in the next few years? Then the wall will be useless.
Why pressure Mexico? Isn’t it better to make friends than enemies?
Isn’t it better for a president, who cares about his country, to allow the Border guards to exercise severe laws and build America!
Thanks,
Boruch, Jerusalem