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HELENA (AP) — The Republican chairman of a special committee charged with fixing the beleaguered state pension systems said Tuesday that elements of his proposal to end the plan for new employees will be part of final negotiations on the complicated issue. Gov. Steve Bullock's office opposed the plan in favor of the Democrat's proposal to fix the current system — setting up protracted negotiations over a tough political issue that has seen lots of talk and little action in recent years. AP Photo/Matt Gouras Republican sta...
HELENA (AP) — A lawmaker's proposal protecting "alternative viewpoints" during the teaching of evolution and science in schools came under fire Friday from opponents who argued it would pave the way for teaching of creationism. Rep. Clayton Fiscus, R-Billings, said evolution isn't settled science and called it a "monumental leap" to believe it is true. His bill would allow teachers — if they want — to address perceived weaknesses in evolution studies in the classroom. "This is just a bill to instruct what we have prese... Full story
HELENA — May is finishing with a flurry of rain — and even snow in places — that is giving drought watchers hope as the summer season looms. A dry start to the year turned less grim with rainfall in much of the state, but experts said it is still too early to tell the effects on the summer fire season, agriculture and recreation. The Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation drought map before much of the recent rain showed dry conditions lingering in southern Montana. Parts of southwestern Montana are harde...
HELENA — Former U.S. Rep. Denny Rehberg isn't ruling out a run for the Senate seat being vacated by U.S. Sen. Max Baucus. The Republican is coming off a bruising loss last year to Democratic U.S. Sen. Jon Tester. But an open Senate seat could entice Rehberg to run again in 2014. Rehberg said Thursday he has been receiving encouragement to take a serious look at the race. He wrote in a brief email to The Associated Press that he owes it to his supporters to "to keep listening and see how things develop." Rehberg is a c...
HELENA — Republican legislators left the Legislature even more divided then when they arrived, with warring factions promising a protracted fight for control of the direction of the Montana GOP. AP Photo/Matt Volz From left, state sensators Jon Sesso, Jason Priest, Cliff Larsen and Art Wittich discussing their dispute over a budget bill that delayed the end of the legislative session. Wittich and Priest lead one of the Republican factions that emerged during the 2013 session, hinting at a future battle for control of the poli... Full story
HELENA — The governor lauded the Montana Board of Regents for its move Friday to freeze college tuition for the next two years. The regents unanimously voted in Great Falls on a plan to freeze college tuition for Montana residents at college campuses around the state. Gov. Steve Bullock said he worked with the university leaders early in the budget process to negotiate the tuition freeze. The Board of Regents has constitutional autonomy over the college system budget even though the Montana Legislature appropriates a large s... Full story
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 f...
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...
House endorses plan to criminalize killing fetus Reps. Wendy Warburton, R-Chinook, and Kris Hansen, R-Havre, voted for the legislation. Rep. Clarena Brockie, D-Harlem, voted no. HELENA (AP) — The House is backing a proposal sought by abortion foes to criminalize the killing of a fetus. The measure is steeped in abortion politics even though it exempts legal procedures, like abortion, and miscarriage from prosecution. The House endorsed the bill Wednesday in a 60-40 initial vote. The measure adds "unborn child" to homicide o...
AP Photo/Matt Gouras State Sen. Tom Facey, D-Missoula, right, tells the Montana Senate Judiciary Committee on Monday that it should remove an obsolete state law that criminalized gay sex before it was struck down by the courts. The Senate Judiciary panel listened to testimony on a proposal that would remove an obsolete state law tha criminalized gay sex before it was struck down by the courts. HELENA (AP) — Gay rights advocates said Monday they hope the Legislature will finally repeal an obsolete state law that c... Full story
HELENA — As new gun laws are considered in the wake of recent mass shootings, the debate over such proposals in Montana is ramping up. One state senator has claimed that gangs of thieves are stalking gun owners, and a state representative is moving to resist any attempt to ban assault rifles. AP Photo/Matt Gouras David Phillip, left, and Kelly Phillip of Missoula pose at a pro-gun rally at the state Capitol on Saturday, Jin Helena. Rallies were held across the country this weekend to raise concerns about possible new gun l...
HELENA — Two fixes for the state's pension systems are nearing final approval despite lingering concern from Republicans over the cost. Some Republicans joined Democrats on Saturday to advance the public employee's pension fix in a 55-45 vote. It is one more vote away from the governor's desk. The House also voted 53-47 not to negotiate differences with the Senate on the teachers' retirement fix. It faces two more House votes. The two bills ask both employees and their local and state public employers to pay more, while r... Full story
HELENA — Gov. Steve Bullock said Friday that the state's next political practices chief could still influence regulation of so-called "dark money" despite the failure of legislation dealing with the issue. Bullock said he expects to name a new political practices commissioner next week. The position has suffered in recent years from partisan wrangling and high turnover. The governor has interviewed five candidates that were suggested to him by the Legislature, asking each about the increase in political contributions that a... Full story
HELENA — Lawmakers on Thursday were considering a renewed effort to test drivers suspected of driving under the influence of marijuana — a measure law enforcement agents said is necessary to deal with an increase in such cases. Republican Rep. Doc Moore of Missoula said his House Bill 168 provides a legal limit for the amount of THC — an ingredient of marijuana — that can be in a person's blood while operating a motor vehicle. He argued the measure is just aimed at enduring streets are safe, not at the debate over medical...
HELENA — Montana Senate Republicans held a pep talk Thursday for their members after documents detailing an internal power struggle publicly exposed a widening rift within the caucus — but the message was met with skepticism by at least one ousted leader. Senate President Jeff Essmann, appearing to offer a concession, told the caucus he will let the group decide policy goals collectively — including whether to back those coming from moderates. Essmann said his only personal goal is a conservative and balanced budget. AP Ph...
HELENA (AP) — Montana lawmakers on Monday looked at a proposal that would require cities to help enforce anti-immigration laws, which supporters argue is necessary to prevent what has happened in other states. The measure from Republican David Howard of Park City would prohibit cities from establishing policies that they won't enforce illegal immigration. He told the House Judiciary Committee on Monday that House Bill 50 ensures local governments will enforce federal law. Howard said that cities elsewhere have made it a p...
HELENA (AP) — U.S. Sen. Jon Tester returned Monday to the place where he got his political start, urging state lawmakers to focus on bipartisan solutions and telling them the biggest challenge on the federal level will be balancing the budget. Tester is fresh off a bruising and expensive — but ultimately victorious — re-election campaign over Republican challenger Denny Rehberg. He said both sides need to put the sometimes bitter election process behind them and find common ground. Tester built on the emerging theme of coope...
HELENA (AP) — The Montana Supreme Court said Tuesday that a judge was wrong to release Barry Beach from prison two years ago and order a new trial in the 1979 slaying of a teenage girl. The Supreme Court's 4-3 ruling reversed a Lewistown judge's 2011 decision that found new evidence raised doubts about Beach's guilt. Beach had been in prison since the 1980s since his original conviction for the murder of a 17-year-old girl on the Fort Peck Indian Reservation. A long list of advocates persistently argued he had been wrongly co... Full story
HELENA — Montana lawmakers said Friday they expect to seek changes to a recently completed plan to redraw the state's legislative map. The Districting and Apportionment Commission is submitting the proposal to the Legislature for comment. The proposal was nearly three years in the making, and crafts 100 new state House and 50 new state Senate districts to align with 2010 population numbers. The plan is set to take effect for the 2014 election. Commission Chairman Jim Regnier told a joint session of the House and Senate t...
HELENA — U.S. Sen. Max Baucus is announcing priorities that include more help for jobless veterans, energy development and renewed focus on fixing the nation's debt. AP Photo/The Independent Record, Dylan Brown U.S. Sen. Max Baucus addresses the Montana Legislature Thursday afternoon,in the House Chambers in Helena. Baucus also says his New Year's resolution is to bring the troops home from Afghanistan after 11 years fighting in that country. Baucus spoke to the Montana Legislature on Thursday. The state's senior senator i...
HELENA (AP) — Gov. Steve Bullock's proposed $500 million spending increase in his state budget plan could be a key issue for Republican legislative leaders. AP Photo Gov,. Steve Bullock at his innaugural ceremonies Monday. The Legislature's budget committees heard a presentation Wednesday on the budget. Bullock's plan modifies the original proposal from former Gov. Brian Schweitzer. Republican Sen. Dave Lewis of Helena says he thinks the requested spending increases over the two-year budget period are the largest in recent d...
MISSOULA — Federal officials reached agreements with the University of Montana after a yearlong investigation into mishandled sexual assault reports on campus that require the university to revise its policies and adequately respond to allegations, federal officials said Thursday. University and Missoula police officials previously said they implemented new policies and training on sexual assault awareness and prevention even before the Justice Department investigation. The investigation began after 11 assaults involving u...
HELENA — A Republican-led Senate rules committee is endorsing leadership actions in the fight over a Democratic attempt to kill GOP bills. The Senate Rules Committee on Monday was looking into Friday's standoff over an absent senator. Democrats publicly announced intentions to halt all business by invoking a parliamentary move that demands every member is present, in an effort to kill Republican proposals in danger of missing a procedural deadline. Republican leaders just ignored the Democrats and went ahead with votes. D...
HELENA — Steve Bullock says he is "incredibly humbled" to take office as the state's 24th governor. The former attorney general was sworn in Monday with his lieutenant governor, former National Guard commander John Walsh. Bullock replaces outgoing Gov. Brian Schweitzer. Both are Democrats. The 46-year-old governor says he plans to build on Schweitzer's legacy improving schools and the economy. But Bullock also says he plans to improve relationships with Republican legislative leaders taking office Monday to start work on t...
HELENA — Gov.-elect Steve Bullock unveiled budget changes Friday that include increased education funding and keeping intact a proposed expansion of Medicaid under the federal health care law. Bullock released the changes to outgoing Gov. Brian Schweitzer's two-year budget proposal as lawmakers arrived in Helena in advance of next week's start to the Legislature. Bullock's proposal, which largely mirrors fellow Democrat Schweitzer's offering, faces a tough road through Republican-run legislative chambers. Bullock's o...
