Unlikely effort to override vetoes picks up steam

HELENA — A longshot bid to override two of Gov. Steve Bullock's vetoes is gaining momentum.

Bullock said Friday that all of his vetoes were needed to cut spending. The Democrat says he wanted to make sure the state had a projected surplus of at least $300 million.

But he is being criticized for nixing a bill aimed at helping eastern Montana oil-boom towns, and another that increases payments to nursing homes and others who care for the elderly and disabled.

It takes a two-thirds majority in each chamber to override a veto. It is a very difficult threshold because lawmakers traditionally back their own party's governor in such votes.

But some Democrats are bucking the governor and joining with majority Republicans on the two bipartisan