By Rep. Ron Ehli, House District 86, Hamilton
It is always amazing to me how, in the political arena, the good intentions and programs of some, can be misconstrued in such a way that will actually cause harm to the very people the programs were designed to protect. The clientele at MDC, the good people of Boulder, and the State of Montana could potentially be taken for a ride if the citizens of Montana, and the legislature, do not wake up and stay vigilant.
In the 2015 legislative session, we stood strong as a bipartisan legislature to make the very difficult decision to close the Montana Developmental Center (MDC) in Boulder, Montana. The decision was extremely difficult, but in the end was the right thing to do. With the testimony of abuse and neglect over the years, it was apparent the State was failing the very people we were charged with caring for. Governor Bullock received the same information, and apparently agreed with the findings, by signing SB 411. With the main objective being to protect those at MDC who are less fortunate the rest of Montana citizens, the sponsor of the bill took great care, and worked across the aisle, to make sure the closing of MDC, would be as painless as possible. Additionally, the sponsor of the bill included language in SB 411 making sure the State of Montana would fulfill a perceived obligation to the people of Boulder, to help in any way possible, making sure the small community of Boulder could survive.
The directive in SB 411 was very clear. Close the Montana Developmental Center, develop better solutions for people currently at MDC, and re-purpose the facility at Boulder. It is with great disdain that I read in the headlines, an attempt by some, to confuse the issue of why the legislature and the Governor of Montana actually made the decision to close MDC. The misguided blame against the sponsor of the bill is nothing more than an ill-fated attempt to derail the process of the commission, appointed by Governor Bullock, to carry out the tasks directed by SB 411.
The most important objective should be to take care of the client base at MDC. The commission has begun that process of moving more than half of that clientele into a community-based program, where they belong. The commission is to be commended, and should continue to look at options to finalize the process, acknowledging that Montana still needs a secure facility, for those forensic clientele than do not belong in our communities! This can be done! We need leadership on the commission that will allow the members to look at all options before finalizing their plan for closure. Many States do not have state-run facilities like MDC! Montana should be no different.
Secondly, I am saddened for the good people of Boulder who have to bear the brunt of this decision, but have asked the State to at least look at how we can re-purpose the facilities at Boulder to allow the community to survive. As this process unfolds, I become agitated when I learn of the most recent 20 year, $25,000,000, new lease agreement signed at a non-state owned facility in Galen. The leasing of this facility, completed without legislative oversight or knowledge, will house a forensic population from the overcrowded Montana State Hospital in Warm Springs. The good people of Boulder need to ask the question as to why Boulder was not considered for this population. Knowing that the directive of SB 411 was to re-purpose the state-owned facility at Boulder, would one not wonder why the Boulder facility was not high on this list? Without a doubt, some remodeling would have had to happen, but this clientele may have been perfect for Boulder. Has the commission, tainted by a lack of information needed to make good decisions, missed an opportunity to fulfill the legislative directive to re-purpose Boulder? You can bet the 2017 legislature will be asking these questions.
Governor Bullock, where is your leadership? You appointed this commission, and the Chairman is your budget director. You signed SB 411 to protect the clients at MDC. We need to close this failed State institution, as directed with your signature on SB 411, and we need to re-purpose the facilities in Boulder. Stand by your decision Governor Bullock! The 2017 legislature, the good people of Boulder, and the citizens of Montana will stand for nothing less!
Rep. Ehli chairs the appropriation subcommittee on HHS, and is Chair of the interim committee for CFHHS.