A state senator from Billings submitted a bill draft request on Monday that she said would help keep guns out of the hands of some dangerous people. (more…) Continue Reading →
MacDonald bill would close loophole in firearms reporting
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Montana Legislature
Recent Posts
Opinion: Unleash the love, fund essential services
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One of my favorite songs as we celebrate Valentine’s Day is the Beatles’ “All You Need is Love,” with its lyrics: “There’s nothing you can do that can’t be done … Nothing you can make that can’t be made … love is all you need.”
Let’s show our love and stop the devastating cuts to essential public services in Montana. Short term, consider emergency supplemental appropriation. Find the money. Stop the bleeding. Save lives. Continue Reading →
Filed under: Opinion, budget crisis, Montana Legislature, taxation, the Beatles
Legislators’ arithmetic doesn’t compute
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When state Rep. Peggy Webb, R-Billings, claimed that state spending is increasing more than twice as fast as revenues, I thought she might be making up numbers. She wasn’t, but even though the numbers are accurate, they don’t quite add up. (more…) Continue Reading →
Filed under: Opinion, Montana Legislative Fiscal Division, Montana Legislature, Peggy Webb
Montana GOP’s long civil war could finally be at an end
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For the better part of the past decade, Montana Republicans have enjoyed comfortable majorities in the state Legislature. Despite those majorities (or maybe because of them), GOP caucuses in the House and Senate have spent much of the past 10 years engaged in a bitter, and oftentimes very public, intra-party feud. (more…) Continue Reading →
Filed under: Montana, News, Austin Knudsen, Brian Schweitzer, Jeff Essmann, Llew Jones, Montana Legislature, Rob Cook
In special session’s wake, picking winners and losers
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HELENA—After a whirlwind, two-day special legislative session this week, it’s time to assess the winners and losers. (more…) Continue Reading →
Filed under: Montana, News, CoreCivic, Kelly Flynn, Montana Legislature, special session, Steve Bullock
Governor likely to veto furloughs, pans prison deal
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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 →
Filed under: Montana, News, CoreCivic, Montana Legislature, Steve Bullock
At session’s end, both sides claiming partial victory
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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 →
Filed under: Montana, News, Austin Knudsen, Jenny Eck, Montana Legislature, Scott Sales, special session, Steve Bullock
Bullock, GOP agree on budget fix, special session over
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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 →
Filed under: Montana, News, Montana Legislature, special session, Steve Bullock
Pieces of puzzle still missing, session’s end up in the air
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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 →
Filed under: Montana, News, Montana Legislature, special session, Steve Bullock
GOP budget bill passes over Democratic protests
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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 →
