While northern Montana is contiguous with Canada, the Bozeman Republican said Wednesday he has asked for a bill draft to help build a wall between the U.S. and Mexico, something long called for by Republican President Donald Trump. The request for legislation was first reported by the Montana Television Network.

Funding for the wall triggered a federal government shutdown that entered its 17th day Wednesday. Trump wants $5.7 billion for about 200 miles of wall, something Democrats will not support.

Sales said Wednesday night the state of Montana, which went through large budget cuts in 2017 but saw some of the reductions restored over the last year, can afford to pitch in $8 million.

"It's just providing for the ability for us to approve around $8 million in funding for the border wall," Sales said. "We have, just within the current rate of revenue that's coming in, we can afford to pay for the $8 million."

Sales added that if Democratic Gov. Steve Bullock believes the state has $30 million to spend on a public preschool program, the state could also help pay for a border wall. The preschool funding is in the governor's budget proposal.

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