Montana Public Media

Oil pump in Sidney, MT. Amy Sisk, Community News Service, UM School of Journalism.

Sen Christine Kaufmann (D) Helena wants to help communities affected by the Bakken oil boom with their roads, water and sewer systems, and other services like police and fire. Her Senate Bill 295 seeks to end the oil and gas tax holiday on new production. Half of the tax money collected would go to immediate grants to impacted communities. The remaining half would go into a trust fund for future projects.

I think it’s time to bring the corporations home from holiday and provide Montana with the opportunity to invest in the needs of its communities. Bainville is not on holiday. Sidney is not on holiday. Culbertson is not on holiday. They are looking for basic services to go about their daily lives with some measure of security that includes public safety, serviceable infrastructure and affordable housing.
-Sen Christine Kaufmann

But at least one opponent said life in Sidney isn’t bad and there is no oil boom in Eastern Montana.

Yellowstone Public Radio News Director Jackie Yamanaka has more from the Capitol.