GOP moves anti-health care bill

HELENA — Montana Republicans focused on undermining the federal health care law advanced a bill that orders the attorney general to join other states in suing the federal government.

The Senate Judiciary Committee voted 6-5 on Friday to send the proposal to the full Senate.

But Republicans who are arguing the federal health care reform law is unconstitutional may be running up against the state Constitution by trying to give an order to the attorney general. A staff attorney says the move could "pose a significant risk" of violating the state constitution's separation of powers clause.

Minority Democrats argued the Legislature has never made such a move before.

Also on Friday, lawmakers were looking at another GOP proposal that tries to declare the federal law null and void.