Testimony snafu could kill some state arts grants in Montana
The subcommittee's chair, Rep. John Fitzpatrick, R-Anaconda, insisted at a Friday hearing that lawmakers should cut funding for organizations that hadn't appeared — despite the state agency that coordinates the grant program, the Montana Arts Council, telling applicants that testifying was optional.
'They told these applicants that the legislative process was basically irrelevant,' Fitzpatrick said Friday as the grant funding measure, House Bill 9, was heard in front of the full House Appropriations Committee.
He added that he believes the arts grants have developed into an 'entitlement program' where the same organizations are funded session after session while putting in minimal effort.
'They have completely destroyed the concept of merit,' Fitzpatrick said. 'They're saying everybody gets the money whether you've made the effort to come here and talk to the Legislature or not.'
Among the organizations at risk of missing out on the state arts money are Helena's Grandstreet Theatre, the Emerson Center for Arts & Culture in Bozeman, the Alberta Bair Theater in Billings and the Lewistown Arts Center. Others that could see reductions include the Helena Symphony, North Valley Music School in Whitefish and the C.M. Russell Museum in Great Falls.
Friday's committee meeting included testimony from nearly 40 people involved with arts and culture organizations, most of which have funding on the chopping block. Many said that they had been under the impression that testifying at the January meetings was optional.
'We were told and led to believe that it was not a requirement to be present at the previous committee meeting,' said Grandstreet Theatre board member John Rausch. 'It feels like the rug is being pulled out from under many of these very worthy arts organizations.'
The Montana Arts Council employee who oversees the art grant program, deputy director Kristin Burgoyne, choked up as she apologized during Friday's meeting to grant applicants, saying she had misinterpreted Fitzpatrick's expectations by telling them that they didn't need to worry if they had missed the hearings.
'I was not informed that written testimony would be less preferred than in-person or Zoom,' she said.
A list of grants recommended by the Arts Council and included in Gov. Greg Gianforte's 2026-2027 budget proposal would have awarded $954,000 in cultural and aesthetic grants to 75 organizations, with most awards $12,000 or $13,500. The program, which is funded by revenue from Montana's coal trust, has existed since 1975. The state's overall budget is about $9 billion a year.
Fitzpatrick chairs the budget subcommittee that reviews the arts grants alongside state infrastructure programs authorized by other bills. He said Friday that committee members had become uncomfortable with how many potential grant recipients didn't attend the January grant hearings and decided to reduce funding for no-shows.
An amendment the subcommittee endorsed unanimously at a Feb. 17 meeting adjusted the grant list to eliminate funding for 17 grant recipients who didn't provide testimony and reduce grants for 10 organizations that submitted only written comments, reallocating the remainder to other grantees.
Those cuts could be reversed by the full House Appropriations Committee or later in the bill's path through the Legislature.
'It's not a very heavy lift to sit on a Zoom call for 15 minutes and give a presentation about your project and maybe answer a question or two from the committee in exchange for $12,000, $13,000,' Fitzpatrick said at the Feb. 17 meeting. 'But apparently we have a number of people who don't think that's part of the process.'
Democrats echoed the sentiment. Sen. Ellie Boldman, D-Missoula, said she believes it's important that committee members have the chance to question each grant recipient so they can defend the grant program to fellow lawmakers who may be skeptical of spending tax dollars on cultural endeavors.
'I think the bar is relatively low for these organizations to have tax dollars go to them for some very, very important, very good things that they're doing across Montana in communities large and small,' said Sen. Paul Tuss, D-Havre. 'And given that we offer them the opportunity to join us via Zoom, there's very little excuse why I don't think these organizations could join us.'
Materials from the Arts Council provided to grantees in advance of the January hearings indicated that testifying before the committee was optional.
'You are not required to testify, but the committee chair strongly encourages everyone to participate,' that message reads in part, adding that potential grant recipients could testify in person, via writing or by a Zoom video call.
Helena Symphony Director Allan R. Scott said in an interview before the committee hearing Friday that the symphony, which had its proposed award reduced from $12,500 to $2,000 for only submitting written testimony, has received state grant funding for decades.
While state support is a relatively small portion of the organization's $1.5 million budget, Scott said, the symphony's fundraising efforts routinely mention the state grant as it approaches other supporters to ask for donations.
Scott said he would have been happy to testify again this year, but has repeatedly witnessed lawmakers distracted by their phones instead of listening attentively when he's presented in the past. He also said a symphony staffer was on a Zoom call ready to testify before the budget subcommittee but didn't end up speaking and was told to instead submit written testimony.
'It's changing the rules of the game of the grant process after we are already off the field,' Scott said.
Scott added that he hopes Fitzpatrick reconsiders his opposition to the initial grant funding proposal.
'This is saying — hey, we want you to kiss the ring of the chair in order to get your money,' Scott said.
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Yahoo
a day ago
- Yahoo
Audit finds Independence school board violated Missouri Sunshine Law
A sign for the Independence School District inside its main office (Vaughn Wheat/The Beacon). A state audit of the Independence School District found the board discussed the four-day school week and other topics during closed meetings, violating the Missouri Sunshine Law. The district also had problems with cash handling procedures and hadn't created policies on retaining electronic records, the Aug. 18 audit report said. But overall, the audit 'has found the district to be well managed with only minor issues that need to be addressed,' the auditor's office wrote in a news release. The audit rated Independence schools 'good' in the areas audited, the second-highest rating out of four options. 'I believe it's extremely important that we give taxpayers and parents a better understanding of how effective and efficient their public schools are with the tax dollars they are given,' Missouri Auditor Scott Fitzpatrick said in the news release. 'I think they can be confident the Independence School District is operationally sound and well run.' Interim Superintendent Cindy Grant said she was 'ecstatic about the outcome' and 'very proud to be only the third district in the past decade to earn a rating of 'good' on the state audit.' She noted Independence had only three concerns listed, fewer than the two other districts that earned a 'good' rating, and said the results reflect well on district staff, who have 'done an outstanding job.' 'We're committed to being responsible stewards of taxpayer dollars,' she said. 'We appreciate the thorough examination of our processes and district spending.' But in the release, Fitzpatrick criticized the district for spending money on a November 2024 lawsuit attempting to overturn a requirement for a public vote on the four-day school week. The district argues that there is no rational basis for the law to apply to only certain districts. 'This decision has massive implications for families who rely on the district to provide an education for their children,' he wrote. 'Attempting to deny them an opportunity to have their voices heard at the ballot box is a concerning decision.' Grant said the four-day school week has helped improve the district's teacher retention rate as well as the average years of experience that teachers hold. 'We're going to focus on doing what's right for kids and our families and appreciating the support our community gives us,' she said. Fitzpatrick said when he launched the audit that it wasn't prompted by specific concerns but rather is part of his mission to audit more school districts, even if they aren't accused of wrongdoing. He selected Independence in part because it's a large district that switched to a four-day school week. The audit includes the district's responses to the noted issues, which promise to resolve the problems and note that some solutions are already in progress. 'This time of year, the start of the school year, it's just making sure everyone knows the processes and procedures and the expectations,' Grant said. Grant currently leads the district while the board begins a search for its next superintendent. The audit's findings are divided into three sections. Areas in which there are no recommendations for improvements are not included in a state audit. Auditors reviewed six schools and found that staff members didn't always follow district policies. For example, money collected from things such as activity fees and event admissions should be deposited quickly with the proper paperwork and procedures. Not doing so 'increases the risk of loss, theft, or misuse of funds,' the audit report said. That didn't always happen. The audit also found small discrepancies in the $200 change fund that each school is supposed to maintain. In the report, the district said it has implemented a new system called MySchoolBucks and strengthened its procedures for handling cash. Under the state's open meeting law, known as the Missouri Sunshine Law, school boards are supposed to hold most of their conversations in public. The only exceptions are specific topics such as legal or personnel issues that need to remain private. Meeting minutes show closed meeting topics that should have been discussed in public, the audit report said. In one meeting, the board discussed the four-day school week, watched a presentation that included data from a survey and discussed doing more surveys. In other meetings, the board discussed putting the operational tax levy on the ballot and talked about course credits and class rank for transfer students. The audit doesn't note exactly when those meetings happened, but says the board held 27 closed meetings from July 1, 2022, through June 30, 2024. 'Discussion of unallowable topics in closed meetings reduces public transparency,' the audit report says. 'The Superintendent indicated the Board discussed these topics before realizing the Sunshine Law did not allow these discussions in closed meetings.' Board and community members had previously raised concerns that the board wasn't using closed sessions appropriately and needed more guidance. A Beacon analysis from late 2022 found that board members had always voted unanimously in public sessions for at least 10 years until June 2022, when board member Anthony Mondaine broke that trend. That raised concerns that members were either rubber-stamping proposals or holding substantive discussions behind the scenes. In February 2023, Mondaine suggested that the board should have an attorney present during all of its closed session meetings. During public comment at that meeting, former Independence City Councilmember Marcie Gragg said it could help the board avoid having conversations that should have been in open session. 'There have been at least a couple of cases where citizens were directed to address this board in closed session when their issues did not meet the legal requirements,' she said. 'Legal counsel could have advised this board that this was not appropriate.' During public comment at the same meeting, parent Wendy Baird described a time she had been directed to a closed session meeting to share her concerns with virtual schooling in the district, a topic she didn't believe should have been handled in closed session. 'If our board leadership cannot distinguish between what is appropriate for closed or open session under Missouri state law, then yes, you do need legal guidance,' she said. Baird was later elected to the school board. In the audit report, the school district pledged to review closed session agenda items more closely and steer unplanned conversations away from items that should be public. The final item noted in the audit is that the district should have a policy for retaining electronic records, including text messages and emails. The law 'provides that all records made or received by an official in the course of his/her public duties are public property and are not to be disposed of except as provided by law,' the audit says. In the report, the district committed to working with legal counsel to develop the proper procedures. School districts routinely do financial audits. An audit from the state is different. It looks beyond finances and may come in response to specific concerns raised by citizens or the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education. For example, in March the auditor's office launched an investigation — which could turn into a full audit — after a whistleblower raised concerns about potential inappropriate spending and other problems with money management in the Hickman Mills School District in Kansas City. During the past year, Fitzpatrick's office published audits of the Kingston K-14 School District in Washington County, southwest of St. Louis; the Francis Howell R-III School District in St. Charles County; and St. Louis Public Schools. The Kingston audit came in response to a formal citizen petition. Fitzpatrick used his power to audit districts at his discretion for the other two audits, but he launched both with a sense that there were specific problems or allegations to investigate. Independence's audit is unusual in that Fitzpatrick said he wasn't responding to complaints or requests from the public. Rather, he wants to use his office to audit more school districts that aren't suspected of wrongdoing. For his first foray into that type of audit, Fitzpatrick said he chose Independence to balance out audits on the eastern side of the state, because its four-day school week schedule makes it interesting and because it's a large district. Fitzpatrick initially said he wanted to investigate schools teaching about sexuality, gender or 'critical race theory' — which has become a catchall term for race- or diversity-related concepts that some parents or politicians may find objectionable. Those topics aren't mentioned in the Independence School District audit. When the audit was announced in spring 2024, then-Superintendent Dale Herl told The Beacon he felt targeted by the state, especially on the heels of the new state law that would require Independence to seek voter approval for the four-day week schedule. The law, focused on districts in charter counties and larger cities, came shortly after Independence had adopted the schedule. Rural districts have been using the four-day week schedule for more than a decade. This article first appeared on Beacon: Kansas City and is republished here under a Creative Commons Attribution-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License. Solve the daily Crossword
Newsweek
07-08-2025
- Newsweek
FBI Helping Texas Locate Democrats in Redistricting 'War' Sparks Alarm
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. Senator John Cornyn's announcement that the FBI will step in to help locate Texas Democratic lawmakers who fled the state to deny quorum over a mid-decade redistricting bill raised alarms for legal analysts. The FBI denied to comment when reached by Newsweek on Thursday morning. Why It Matters The announcement from Cornyn, a Texas Republican, raised questions about whether this is a proper, or political, use of the FBI. Texas Republicans are seeking to redraw the state's congressional boundaries to give Republicans an advantage and thwart potential losses in the 2026 midterm elections. Democrats left the state to deny quorum and block a vote on the bill, which they view as blatantly partisan gerrymandering. Several other Republican states are eyeing redraws ahead of the midterms, setting off a redistricting arms race that could see several states with new maps by next November. FBI Director Kash Patel testifies before the House Appropriations Committee on May 7, 2025, in Washington. FBI Director Kash Patel testifies before the House Appropriations Committee on May 7, 2025, in To Know Cornyn said in a statement that FBI Director Kash Patel approved his request "for the FBI to assist state and local law enforcement in locating runaway Texas House Democrats." "I thank President Donald Trump and Director Patel for supporting and swiftly acting on my call for the federal government to hold these supposed lawmakers accountable for fleeing Texas," he wrote. "We cannot allow these rogue legislators to avoid their constitutional responsibilities." Michael McAuliffe, a former federal prosecutor and former elected state attorney, told Newsweek that the use of the FBI to find the lawmakers is "well beyond alarming." "The FBI's function is to investigate potential violations of federal law, conduct specified national security functions, and perform background investigations for potential presidential nominees," he said. "Nowhere in the statutory list of powers that I know of is tracking down political officer holders of an opposition party. "The assignment to pursue state elected officials without clear investigative jurisdiction is a crass abuse of the immense authority of the Bureau. It's an insult to the thousands of special agents who took an oath to protect the nation, not answer the call of politicization." The FBI being used for this amounts to "pure, naked political purposes" and is a "bull's-eye hit on the rule of law," he said. "Who in this country really wants armed agents following people because of their political party affiliation or elected official status?" he said. Texas Democrats have not broken a law that would warrant the use of the FBI, McAuliffe said. Cornyn, in a letter to Patel, raised concerns about whether the lawmakers "solicited or accepted funds to aid in their efforts" and "may be guilty of bribery or other public corruption offense." McAuliffe, however, said the letter is a "transparent attempt to hide the political repurposing of the FBI." More than 50 Texas lawmakers are staying in Chicago with support from Illinois Governor JB Pritzker, a Democrat. "If Patel's justification is to aid state law enforcement in capturing democratic elected officials, then the explicit political nature of the agreement is self-evident. Current Texas and federal leaders should remember that simple interstate travel is a protected right of every American," he said. This is not the first time lawmakers have fled a state to deny a quorum. Oregon Republicans have used a similar tactic to deny votes on legislation, but the FBI did not get involved. The difference is that we now have a more "hyperpartisan" political and criminal justice system, former federal prosecutor Neama Rahmani told Newsweek. "We've really sort of opened this Pandora's box, where there is seemingly no line between law and politics anymore," he said. "Historically, you'd never see law enforcement get involved in a purely political dispute, which is what this is." Generally speaking, the FBI would not get involved in state and local affairs unless there is a "federal hook," Rahmani said. Although Republicans may make the case about federal bribery charges or interstate travel to justify the use of federal law enforcement, the FBI's involvement is "seemingly improper on its face," he said. "It's an example of lawfare and the weaponization of our criminal justice system in politics," he said. If any arrests are made, the Texas Democrats have "many good defenses" that the FBI's involvement is a political tactic, including First Amendment defenses, Rahmani said. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, a New York Democrat, slammed the FBI's involvement on X. "Shouldn't the FBI be tracking down terrorists, drug traffickers and child predators? The Trump administration continues to weaponize law enforcement to target political adversaries. These extremists don't give a damn about public safety. We will not be intimidated," Jeffries wrote. Pritzker told MeidasTouch that the FBI does not have "the ability to arrest these Texas Democrats." "They're all allowed to visit Chicago or Illinois and take in the great view of our lake and our city, and enjoy the great restaurants that we have. But they won't be taking anybody home with them or away from the state," he said. Texas Governor Greg Abbott, a Republican, has said he could expel Democratic members of the Legislature who left the state. On Wednesday, Texas lawmakers in Illinois were evacuated from their hotel following a bomb threat, NBC News reported. What People Are Saying Anthony Michael Kreis, a constitutional law professor at Georgia State University, on X: "This is a patently unlawful, unconstitutional abuse of federal power." Former Representative Colin Allred, a Texas Democrat running for Senate, on X: "This isn't about "locating" anyone — they're not hiding. It's about silencing dissent and weaponizing law enforcement. Cornyn is deputizing the FBI and [Texas Attorney General Ken] Paxton is trying to expel lawmakers because they're both too weak and corrupt to stand up to Washington. Enough is enough — Texans deserve better." Representative Daniel Goldman, a New York Democrat, on X: "What federal criminal interest could the @FBI and @FBIDirectorKash possibly have in this matter? Answer: none. This is yet another disgusting partisan abuse of power by the FBI, and any agent asked to assist should refuse to do so." Texas Governor Greg Abbott, a Republican, on X: "Texas DPS and the FBI are tracking down the derelict Democrats. They will be taken directly to the Texas Capitol. Those who received benefits for skipping a vote face removal from office and potential bribery charges. In Texas, there are consequences for your actions." What Happens Next Any arrest of Texas lawmakers could lead to further legal challenges over the FBI's authority to intervene in the case. Meanwhile, the redistricting arms race continues with states Ohio, Florida, Missouri and Indiana potentially working on more pro-Republican maps. Democratic states like California, New York and Maryland have considered redrawing their maps to neutralize the threat.
The Hill
04-08-2025
- The Hill
The CIRCLE Act: A blueprint for revitalizing American manufacturing through recycling
As Congress prioritizes American manufacturing and global trade, it is time to recognize one of our most overlooked resources: the valuable materials sitting at the end of every driveway. Each year, 37 million tons of recyclable household materials in the United States are landfilled or incinerated. That loss weakens our supply chains, drives up costs for American manufacturers and wastes taxpayer-funded resources. If we are serious about revitalizing domestic production, keeping dollars in local economies and strengthening U.S. competitiveness, we must modernize our recycling system and scale access for every household. Recycling already delivers for American industry. Recycled content makes up 40 percent of U.S. manufacturing inputs. People across the country are doing their part: setting out blue carts, dropping off batteries, returning pallets. But the system supporting them is uneven. More than 41percent of Americans still lack access to basic recycling services, and billions in raw material value is lost each year as a result. Congress has a clear opportunity to lead. The bipartisan CIRCLE Act, introduced by Reps. Suozzi (D-N.Y.) and Fitzpatrick (R-Pa.), is a targeted, practical solution. It would create a 30 percent investment tax credit for businesses, nonprofits and individuals building or upgrading recycling infrastructure — from curbside collection to sortation and processing. The model is proven. Like the tax credits that fueled growth in solar and semiconductors, this approach will drive innovation, reduce risk for private investors, and build a stronger, more resilient domestic supply chain. We already know this investment pays off. According to The Recycling Partnership, a $17 billion commitment to universal recycling access would create more than 200,000 U.S. jobs, return $8.8 billion in materials to the economy and save taxpayers nearly $10 billion in five years. Few investments can match that return. Global momentum is also building. As nations convene to negotiate a global treaty on plastic pollution, the U.S. has a chance to lead from a position of strength. Investing in domestic recycling infrastructure is not just good policy, it is essential to showing global leadership on waste, sustainability and economic development. We cannot afford to waste valuable glass, metals, plastics and paper. Nor can we ignore the growing need for extended producer responsibility policies that require producers to fund better systems, as already seen in seven U.S. states and across the globe. The EPA's Solid Waste Infrastructure for Recycling grant program offers a strong foundation. First passed with bipartisan support during the Trump administration, it has already attracted more than 450 applications. These investments are popular, cost-effective and widely supported by both Republicans and Democrats. As the EPA turns its focus to the Great American Comeback, continued funding for the Solid Waste Infrastructure for Recycling grant program is a smart and strategic move. But policy must go further. As more recycled plastic moves through our economy, Health and Human Services should ensure materials are safe for use in food, health and household products. Regulatory clarity is critical as manufacturers increase their use of recycled content. Protecting public health should go hand-in-hand with accelerating circularity. Recycling is one of the rare areas that unites rural, suburban and urban interests. It creates jobs, reduces waste, lowers costs for businesses and delivers environmental returns. At a time when Americans expect real solutions, this is one Congress and the administration can act on now. Passing the CIRCLE Act would send a clear message: the U.S. is ready to lead the world in smart, sustainable manufacturing. Recycling is a proven path to jobs, resilience and economic strength. Let's stop wasting potential and start investing in it.
