News you can use
News you can use
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HELENA (AP) — House Republicans advanced a plan Thursday to end same-day voter registration that critics blame for long lines on Election Day, but supporters argue improves access to the voting booth. The measure, which cleared an initial 61-39 House vote on Thursday along party lines, would end voter registration the Friday before Election Day. Supporters of House Bill 30 argue the deadline provides ample time for voter registration, while freeing up county officials to deal with just traditional voters on Election Day. "Why...
HELENA (AP) — A Montana lawmaker says convicts should be allowed to get out of prison time if they instead agree to the "infliction of physical pain" — an idea that so far is receiving a cool reception. Republican Rep. Jerry O'Neil is drafting a bill that would allow those convicted of misdemeanors or felonies to negotiate corporal punishment instead of another sentence. The method used to inflict the pain would be decided by a judge. The veteran lawmaker said Wednesday that he thinks long prison sentences are inhumane. "Te...
HELENA (AP) — Gov. Steve Bullock said Wednesday that federal money for Medicaid will create jobs in the state and help solve costs associated with uninsured patients, applying pressure to Republican legislative leaders to expand the program. Bullock unveiled his plan for Medicaid expansion Wednesday, a highly anticipated measure that aims to ensure that most of the state's residents have health insurance. It would extend coverage to as many as 70,000 Montanans with federal money. The state would pay only a small share, about...
HELENA — A Republican lawmaker is arguing it will take more money — not less — in politics to beat back the tidal wave of so-called dark money. Rep. Scott Reichner, of Bigfork, wants to increase the donation limits candidates can receive from various sources, for instance individuals could give $2,500 instead of $500 to a candidate for governor. There would be no limit on the amount of money political party or action committees could contribute. The Republican argues that the increase makes sense since the donations would...
HELENA (AP) — Tavern owners faced off against craft brewers at the Capitol Tuesday, arguing the upstart competition has been allowed to unfairly flourish with too few restrictions. Both sides packed a state House Business and Labor Committee hearing looking at two bills. AP Photo/Matt Gouras Rep. Roger Hagan introduces his bill to place limitations on the expanding retail craft brewing industry on Tuesday in Helena. One brought by the tavern owners, House Bill 616, would put new licensing requirements on the brewing i...
HELENA — A Republican state senator launched a long-shot bid Thursday for a constitutional amendment that would require prior judicial experience for Montana Supreme Court justices. The proposal would require approval from 100 of 150 lawmakers before it could be sent to the voters, a tough hurdle to clear even if all 90 Republicans in the Legislature back it. But Fred Thomas, of Stevensville, said he thinks the measure has a "50-50" chance. As written, the measure would require candidates to have experience as a District C...
HELENA — Montana Republican leaders pitched their plans Wednesday to cut business equipment taxes and argued that the state's clean energy tax break should be expanded to include fossil fuels. AP Photo/Matt Gouras Senate Taxation Committee chairman Bruce Tutvedt on Wednesday talks about GOP plans to cut the business equipment tax, in Helena. Republican leaders are pitching their plans to cut business equipment taxes and to include fossil fuels in the clean energy tax break. The business equipment tax cut proposal will c...
HELENA — Supporters of former U.S. Rep. Pat Williams easily outnumbered opponents at a packed hearing on his Board of Regents nomination — but opposition included former allies who argued Williams went too far when he said the University of Montana had recruited thugs. AP Photo/Matt Gouras Former U.S. Rep. Pat William speaks before a state Senate committee asking for support for his nomination to the Board of Regents on Wednesday in Helena Williams outraged some of the school's football fans earlier this year with the comment...
HELENA — Gun rights measures that include a plan to push back against potential federal restrictions on assault rifles were endorsed Thursday in the Montana House, despite criticism they may thwart law enforcement or lead to constitutional showdowns with the federal government. The Republican-led chamber endorsed the three gun-rights bills in an initial vote, which drew most of their opposition from Democrats. Supporters said the state needs to ban police from enforcing any future federal assault-weapons ban in the state. T...
HELENA (AP) — Gov. Steve Bullock is disputing a Republican argument that his budget proposal spends too much. The Democratic governor told reporters Tuesday his budget only increases state spending in agency budgets by about 2 percent. He says Republican legislative leaders have shown themselves to be the big spenders with a proposal to increase their own legislative division's budget by 11 percent. Senate Republicans recently said they want to keep the budget increase — including federal money — at about 2 percent. The G...
HELENA (AP) — Republicans bruising from defeat in last year's U.S. Senate race proposed Tuesday to reduce the number of candidates on the general election ballot. The measure would create an open primary that would allow any candidate filing the fee to appear on one ballot. Currently, Montanans vote on either a Democratic Party or Republican Party primary ballot to choose contenders for the general election. Minor parties with ballot access sometimes hold a primary if there are enough candidates to do so, otherwise their c...
In the Hi-Line delegation, Sen. Greg Jergeson,. D-Chinook, and Sen. Jonathan Windy Boy, D-Box Elder, voted for the decriminalization measure. HELENA (AP) — The Montana Senate on Tuesday overwhelming backed a measure to strike an obsolete state law that criminalizes gay sex — a proposal that still faces an uncertain path in the House. Senate Bill 107 repeals an anti-gay law that was ruled unconstitutional in 1997 by the Montana Supreme Court. But the state's deviate sexual relations law still makes illegal "sexual contact or s...
HELENA, — Gov. Steve Bullock unveiled bipartisan legislation Thursday aimed at shedding light on so-called "dark money" in politics — an issue that could split some Republican lawmakers. Bullock and Republican state Sen. Jim Peterson said the "comprehensive" proposal will force groups that mention candidate names to disclose how they are spending money and where it comes from. AP Photo/Matt Gouras Gov. Steve Bullock, left, and state Sen. Jim Peterson of Buffalo unveil bipartisan legislation aimed at shedding light on dar...
HELENA — The Montana Legislature inched closer Tuesday to finding a fix for its beleaguered pension system when a committee decided to advance both of the major proposed fixes. But the Joint-Select Committee on Pensions opted to leave the big decision to the House, which will have to choose between a plan to fix the current system and one to end it in favor of a defined-contribution plan. Analysts say Montana's public pension system, which includes both state and local government employees, faces a roughly $4 billion s...
HELENA — A measure aimed at undermining any potential federal ban on assault weapons was endorsed by the Montana Senate on Tuesday as it speeds toward the governor's desk. House Bill 302 would prohibit local authorities from enforcing any federal ban on certain semi-automatic weapons. Supporters argue it is needed to send a strong message to Congress that the state does not want such a ban. "I view this bill basically as pushback to the discussion in Washington, D.C.," said state Sen. Jennifer Fielder, R-Thompson Falls. "...
HELENA — Montana Democrats left little question Saturday night what their top priority is: elect party leader Sen. Max Baucus to a seventh term in 2014. Democrats are coming off a 2012 election cycle that saw a lot of successes — topped by re-electing U.S. Sen. Jon Tester and putting Steve Bullock in the governor's office. The party held its annual Mansfield-Metcalf fundraising dinner Saturday and the focus was all about Baucus, the top Democrat up this election cycle. AP Photo/Matt Gouras U.S. Sen. Max Baucus, left, and U.S....
HELENA (AP) — Montana Department of Military Affairs leaders are asking their employees to participate in a workplace assessment after a study found distrust and dysfunction within the division responsible for emergency preparedness. The Department of Administration is conducting the survey. A link to an online questionnaire was sent to employees last week, with responses due April 17, Adjutant Gen. Matthew Quinn told a panel of state lawmakers Wednesday. A state human resources team will discuss the results with staffers a...
The Hi-Line's state senators, Greg Jergeson, D-Chinook, and Jonathan Windy Boy, D-Box Elder, voted for the legislation. HELENA (AP) — School coaches could face more stringent rules when dealing with student athletes who suffer concussions under a new bill that is advancing in the Montana Legislature. The Montana Senate on Friday endorsed, in a 33-17 initial vote, a plan that aims to better protect high school athletes from the dangers of concussions. It has been adopted in 43 other states, supporters said. Senate Bill 112 w...
HELENA (AP) — A proposal to expand the state's wolf hunt is being fast-tracked through the Legislature and shortly will be sent to the governor's desk for his signature. The Montana Senate on Thursday suspended its rules so it could take initial and final votes on the same day on the measure that already had overwhelmingly cleared the House. The Senate backed it 45-4. House Bill 73 lets the Department of Fish, Wildlife and Parks increase the number of wolves one hunter can take, allows for electronic calls, and removes a r...
HELENA — A state senator whose absence led to an uproar was back in attendance Saturday — but acrimony over a noisy showdown a day earlier promised to linger. AP Photo/Kathryn Haake Montana Senate Democrats stand in protest on Friday, in Helena. Republicans ignored Democratic attempts to stall votes until all members are present, allowing key GOP-backed legislation to clear a procedural deadline. State Sen. Shannon Augare of Browning returned to the Senate early Saturday as the chamber resumed voting. He told reporters in...
HELENA (AP) — The House on Wednesday backed a proposal to require parental permission before students can attend sex-education classes in schools, a measure supporters said is necessary to deal with an increasingly controversial curriculum. Social conservatives are trying again to place limits on local sex-education policies they believe are teaching bad morals. A similar bill cleared the Legislature in 2011, only to be vetoed by former Gov. Brian Schweitzer. Supporters pointed to a debate over sex education in Helena that le...
HELENA — A legislative standoff over a missing Democratic senator has boiled over with Republicans reconvening the floor session while Democrats pounded their desks in protest. Republicans allege Sen. Shannon Augare's absence is a ruse to kill GOP ballot measures. Friday is the deadline for ballot referenda and tax bills. Any bills that don't advance by noon Saturday will die. Senate Minority Leader Jon Sesso told his caucus he would invoke a parliamentary procedure that demands every member is present before business can r...
HELENA — The Montana Senate has rejected former U.S. Rep. Pat Williams' nomination to the state Board of Regents. Williams' nomination failed amid criticism that he went too far when he said the University of Montana had recruited thugs on its football team. The Senate vote of 26-24 on Thursday was mostly along party lines, with Republicans largely opposing one of the most well-known Democrats in the state. State senators said they had received thousands of e-mails, both in opposition and support of Williams. But opponents p...
HELENA — The Montana Senate is debating a plan to use federal money to expand the number of Medicaid recipients in the state. Some Republicans in the chamber joined Democrats to advance the bill to a full vote on the floor Tuesday afternoon. Democrats argue that Senate Bill 395 by Sen. Dave Wanzenried of Missoula also promises reforms to Medicaid sought by conservatives. GOP leaders in the chamber tried to kill the bill in committee. But some Republicans bucked their leaders on a procedural motion, sending the measure to a f...
MISSOULA — A former University of Montana quarterback was acquitted Friday in a rape trial that has played out amid NCAA and federal investigations into how the city and school respond to rape allegations on campus. The accusations against Jordan Johnson, 20, have drawn much attention in Montana, where UM football is the top sports attraction. Jurors deliberated for less than two hours. Johnson led the University of Montana to a successful 2011 season as starting quarterback before being accused of assaulting a woman as they...
