Legislators talk oil and gas

Local legislators said many bills are passing through the Legislature in an effort to increase oil and gas development and natural resource extraction, including a proposal by a Havre senator to take land from the federal government.

Rick Dow of Havre asked legislators in Helena during a video conference in Havre Wednesday about the issue.

Dow said he had read that Democratic U.S. Sens. Max Baucus and Jon Tester were supporting a measure that would reduce oil and gas exploration in some areas. While that is a federal matter, Dow noted, he asked what the Legislature was doing on the issue.

Sena...