Over a dozen Montana Builders are in Washington D.C this week to meet with Montana's congressional delegation on topics including lead paint, construction credit issues and energy retrofit programs. Here is an overview of our meetings

Rehberg

Congressman Rehberg secured a meeting with a top EPA official and took her to task for not providing the appropriate training opportunities in rural areas, such as Montana.   Rehberg communicated our frustrations very well.  His approach and the EPA's response were in stark contrast.  Our Congressman understands building, small businesses and Montana.  The EPA understands bureaucracy, D.C, and little else.  Though we have been unsuccessful in deterring the EPA, this process has, once again, proven that builders have a very good friend in Denny Rehberg. 

Baucus

Senator Max Baucus was in a committee debating banking and finance reform. He was unable to meet with us though we did meet with Cathrine Ransom, his Environmental Policy Aide.  Senator Baucus penned a letter to the EPA asking them to investigate their training opportunities in Montana. Additionally we discussed the lack of available credit and the upcoming "Homestar" program, aka "cash for caulkers". We thanked him for his support of the $8,000 tax credit. 

Tester

Our meeting with Senator Tester was focused on Lead Paint, AD&C credit problems and the constant rule changes with FHA.   Senator Tester sits on the banking committee and was concerned about the constant changes in the FHA rules. He was surprised to hear that the rules are changing frequently and promised to look into the issue.  He also will contact the EPA and ask for a delay of the lead paint rule in rural areas due to a lack of training opportunities. We thanked him for his support of the $8,000 first time homebuyer tax credit.

If you attended the MBIA GRIP training in February or March, you may have noticed that the rooms were overflowing with people. The MBIA GRIP program easily set a record for the highest attendance in its 12 year history by packing 305 people into training rooms just during the month of March.  

The FREE safety training is a membership benefit of MBIA.  GRIP membership is also available at no cost to MBIA members, you only have to be a relatively safe company and have work comp insurance through the Montana State Fund.  

GRIP members losses are pooled together, if the group as a whole does well, then the group shares in a yearly dividend on premium, which in the past has been has high as $1.6 million.     This year we hope to return nearly $1 million to the 300+ GRIP members.