Bullock signs main budget -_ with some exceptions

HELENA, (AP) — Gov. Steve Bullock signed the Legislature's main budget bill Friday — but not after first using his line-item veto authority to strike a small portion of the spending.

Bullock said in his line-item veto message that he needed to reduce spending. His office said the reductions cut about $30 million, roughly 0.4 percent of the two-year, $8 billion budget.

House Bill 2 cleared the Legislature with the backing of minority Democrats and some Republicans. But Bullock said lawmakers did not stick to his goals of a structurally balanced budget that left more money in the in the bank.

"I...