Last Best News (https://montana-mint.com/lastbestnews/category/montana/page/11/)
Editor’s note: This story has been updated. A Hardin coal-fired power plant with 30 employees and an annual payroll of $3 million could be shut down as early as the first quarter of 2018, according to the company that owns it. In an Oct. 5 letter to the Montana Public Service Commission, Gary Arneson, vice president of operations for Rocky Mountain Power, said the company “has decided to exit the Hardin Generating Station.” (more…) Continue Reading →
HELENA—Gov. Steve Bullock said Thursday he expects to veto a bill passed in the special legislative session directing the executive branch of state government to furlough certain employees to save $15 million over the next two years. Hours after the Legislature adjourned, the Democratic governor told reporters that House Bill 8, sponsored by Rep. Barry Usher, R-Billings, was riddled with legal problems and “was pretty half-baked and in many respects, fairly silly.” (more…) Continue Reading →
HELENA—Everyone was claiming at least a partial victory Thursday after the conclusion of a special legislative session called to close a $227 million state general-fund budget and revenue shortfall
The House adjourned at 1:04 a.m., Thursday with the Senate concluding at 12:36 a.m. to wrap up a two-day special session. (more…) Continue Reading →
Editor’s note: This story has been superseded by a later, expanded story, which you can read by clicking here. HELENA — The Montana House and Senate adjourned the special legislative session early Thursday after Republican leaders and Gov. Steve Bullock agreed on a plan to fill the state budget and revenue gap with $231 million in cuts, transfers and other funds. (more…) Continue Reading →
HELENA—It was unclear Wednesday night when Montana’s special legislative would end. By nearly 8 p.m., several pieces of the puzzles necessary to raise the money needed to bring the session to a close remained up in the air. (more…) Continue Reading →
HELENA—The House and Senate each passed a budget bill that incorporates Gov. Steve Bullock’s reductions and earlier budget cuts triggered by lower than anticipated tax collections. (more…) Continue Reading →
In May, on the eve of Greg Gianforte’s special congressional election, the Montana politician “body-slammed” inquiring news reporter Ben Jacobs and began “punching” him, according to Jacobs and other witnesses. (more…) Continue Reading →
HELENA—Shortly after the Montana House convened in special session on Tuesday, Gov. Steve Bullock, in a surprise announcement, said he was immediately implementing $76.6 million in general-fund budget cuts. Bullock originally hadn’t planned to make the budget cuts until after the special session adjourned. (more…) Continue Reading →
HELENA—On the first day of the special session Tuesday, lawmakers expanded the agenda to consider furloughs for state employees and to stop a proposed health department rule to make it easier for transgender Montanans to change their gender status on their birth certificates. (more…) Continue Reading →
As state lawmakers laid the groundwork for a special legislative session to tackle Montana’s $227 million budget shortfall on Monday, the proposed GOP deal for how to plug the gap was coming into focus. (more…) Continue Reading →
