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House whacks Missoula marijuana, gay rights laws

House whacks Missoula marijuana, gay rights laws

MATT GOURAS, Associated Press

HELENA — The state House has shot down a Missoula city ordinance that extends discrimination protections to gays and upended a Missoula County initiative ordering police to make marijuana crimes their lowest priority.

Republicans targeted the local Missoula policies in a pair of votes Tuesday.

House Bill 516 would undo Missoula's local ordinance protecting residents from housing and employment discrimination based on "actual or perceived" sexual orientation and gender identity.

Republicans argue that job should be left to the statewide anti-discrimination law that protects for the likes of race and religion — but not sexual orientation.

Rep. Kris Hansen, R-Havre, was the sponsor of the legislation. Reps. Wendy Warburton, R-Havre, voted for the measure. Rep. Tony Belcourt voted no.

The House also endorsed a plan Tuesday to override Missoula County's 2006 initiative making marijuana crimes the lowest priority for police.

HELENA — The state House has shot down a Missoula city ordinance that extends discrimination protections to gays and upended a Missoula County initiative ordering police to make marijuana crimes their lowest priority.

Republicans targeted the local Missoula policies in a pair of votes Tuesday.

House Bill 516 would undo Missoula's local ordinance protecting residents from housing and employment discrimination based on "actual or perceived" sexual orientation and gender identity.

Republicans argue that job should be left to the statewide anti-discrimination law that protects for the likes of race and religion — but not sexual orientation.

Rep. Kris Hansen, R-Havre, was the sponsor of the legislation. Reps. Wendy Warburton, R-Havre, voted for the measure. Rep. Tony Belcourt voted no.

The House also endorsed a plan Tuesday to override Missoula County's 2006 initiative making marijuana crimes the lowest priority for police.

 

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