Montana Legislature wraps up work Wednesday

HELENA — The Montana Legislature is wrapping up the 2013 session with leaders praising a relatively smooth budget deal, along with fixes to the pension system and other pressing issues.

The House endorsed a measure Wednesday morning that reconciled small budget differences with Gov. Steve Bullock, and then voted to adjourn.

The Senate was finalizing a few other measures and also preparing to approve the budget compromise that adds about $13 million to their $10 billion two-year spending plan.

Both sides praised the smooth finish. Democrats touted fixes to lingering problems like pay increases for state employees that have labored for years under a pay freeze.

Republicans said they got the best deal they could with Bullock, and hoped their bill to cut the business equipment tax would secure his signature.