FWP budget in limbo

The budget of the Montana Department of Fish, Wildlife and Parks is just one of the hands being played in the high-stakes poker game under way in Helena. Gov. Brian Schweitzer proposed a budget that would have funded 20 new positions for FWP. But as you probably know, the GOP controlled House killed Schweitzer's budget bill and replaced it with its own plan, which cut the governor's proposed spending increases and broke the bill up into six separate bills.

The GOP budget cuts Schweitzer's spending increase by $10.4 million, leaving room for about four new hires. Like the departments of Environmental Quality and Natural Resources and Conservation, "natural resource" agencies including FWP have not fared well in the House. A senate GOP leader says the party is unlikely to compromise on funding for these agencies.