Legislators comment on special session

Montana lawmakers will return to Helena Monday for a special legislative session to deal with a budget shortfall and reduce the impact of looming budget cuts, and local legislators commented this week on the upcoming session.

Gov. Steve Bullock, D-Mont., called the special session Monday to fill a $227 million hole in the state budget. Unless the Republican-led Legislature and the governor reach a deal a series of across-the-board spending cuts will go into effect that could negatively impact state agencies and essential services.

"I think we are in a spot and something has to be done,"...