Content Tagged As 62nd_legislature
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Schweitzer won't sign eminent domain bill Play Video
May 9, 2011 6:40 PM
HELENA- Governor Brian Schweitzer has announced he will not be able to amend the eminent domain bill, but that won't keep it from becoming law. Schweitzer has earlier announced he would amend House Bill 198 , which gives utility companies the right to use eminent domain. The Governor... more » -
Schweitzer vetoes bill to transfer tourism money
May 6, 2011 9:14 AM
WHITEFISH- The Governor has vetoed another key piece of the budget. House Bill 316 would have transfered money from several revenue sources into the General Fund in order to balance the budget and one of the primary funding streams comes from the Department of Commerce tourism account. The... more » -
Montana senators talk about legislative session
May 2, 2011 10:52 AM
BILLINGS-State senators Kim Gillan and Jeff Essmann talked about the recently concluded legislative session on Sunday. Essmann says he would have liked to see one other job bills signed into law while Gillan says she wanted more for education. But, both mentioned that passing the budget was the big... more » -
MT Legislature: late-session budget issues, medical marijuana Play Video
April 28, 2011 8:33 AM
HELENA- Time is quickly running out for the 62nd session of the Montana Legislature and lawmakers are scrambling to put the pieces of the state budget together. The Senate passed the Governor's amendments to the budget in a straight party line vote on Wednesday. "You don't cut budgets... more » -
Montana budget clears another hurdle Play Video
April 27, 2011 10:57 PM
HELENA- The state budget passed a key vote in the Montana Senate Wednesday evening, while jumping all its hurdles in the House. Governor Brian Schweitzer (D-Montana) amended the budget last week to include an additional $38 million in general fund spending and another $100 million in federal money. Even... more » -
Montana House backs budget deal Play Video
April 27, 2011 9:27 AM
HELENA- The Montana House voted to support the Governor's amendments to the State's budget on Tuesday evening. The move comes after Governor Brian Schweitzer (D-Montana) and the Republican leadership reached a deal on House Bill 2 last Friday. Compared the Legislature's budget, the Governor added in $38 million... more » -
Governor, lawmakers hammer out budget deal Play Video
April 22, 2011 11:21 PM
HELENA- In an 11th hour deal Governor Brian Schweitzer (D-Montana), House Speaker Mike Milburn (R-Cascade), and Senate President Jim Peterson (R-Buffalo) have come to an agreement over the state's budget. "I'm here to say that we have a deal. That deal means I am sending an amendatory veto back... more » -
MT Senate to address eminent domain issue
April 19, 2011 3:07 PM
HELENA- After many road bumps the Montana Senate will debate a bill relating to eminent domain on Tuesday. The Senate Energy committee tabled House Bill 198 last week in a tie vote. But on Tuesday, State Senator Chas Vincent of Libby blasted the bill to the Senate floor for... more » -
Montana 24/7 Sobriety proposal up for final vote Play Video
April 19, 2011 9:18 AM
HELENA- Members of the Montana House of Representatives will vote one final time on the statewide 24-7 Sobriety Project for repeat DUI offenders. Kalispell Republican Steve Lavin and Attorney General Bullock introduced the measure which requires anyone arrested for a second or subsequent DUI to take a breath test... more » -
MT lawmakers weigh impact of WA letter on medical marijuana reform Play Video
April 19, 2011 9:10 AM
HELENA- Members of the Montana Legislature are meeting today to put the finishing touches on the Therapeutic Marijuana Act. A bipartisan committee is looking at both the House and Senate versions of the bill, trying to come to consensus over how to regulate the industry. One of the... more » -
MT prescription drug registry becomes law Play Video
April 15, 2011 1:54 PM
HELENA- Montana has joining the ranks of 44 other states in supporting the creation of a prescription drug registry. It took three legislative sessions to get the measure passed. Attorney General Steve Bullock introduced the bill this year and back in 2009 he cited it's previous failure as a... more » -
Marijuana repeal vetoed; what next for reform? Play Video
April 14, 2011 9:03 AM
HELENA- Governor Brian Schweitzer vetoed a bill on Wednesday that would have repealed the Medical Marijuana Act, and now the Montana Legislature is left with the option of reforming the industry. The last proposal in play is Senator Jeff Essmann's (R-Billings) bill, which places regulatory authority under the MT... more » -
GOP leaders recess legislature until next Monday
April 14, 2011 8:43 AM
HELENA - Republican leaders at the 2011 Montana Legislature have decided to delay the end of session for at least another three days. The 62nd Legislative session was originally scheduled to adjourn on April 21st. But because the GOP is waiting to see what Governor Brian Schweitzer does with... more » -
Montana government shutting down? Play Video
April 14, 2011 8:39 AM
HELENA- Governor Brian Schweitzer thinks a state government shutdown is possible if he doesn't get an adequate budget and he's asked the state's top lawyer to prepare information regarding such a scenario. Attorney General Steve Bullock says it will take some time to figure it all out, but he... more » -
Missoula Democrats applaud Schweitzer veto
April 13, 2011 3:05 PM
HELENA- The Democrats representing Missoula County in the State Legislature are backing one of Governor Brian Schweitzer' vetoes that was made during an event at the State Capitol on Wednesday. The Democrats "applaud Gov. Schweitzer's veto of HB 180 this morning. Introduced by Missoula's lone legislative Republican, Rep. Champ... more » -
MT Senate gives green light to spending bill
April 13, 2011 12:45 PM
HELENA- The Montana Senate gave the final green light to House Bill 2, the spending bill, on Wednesday morning. After failing a third vote on Tuesday, the Senate reconsidered its actions and passed the budget along party lines in a 28-22 vote. The House has also passed House... more » -
Energy efficiency tax credit could go away in Montana
April 13, 2011 8:00 AM
HELENA- If Republican Senator Bob Lake of Hamilton has his way Montanans will no longer be able to get a credit for making their homes more energy efficient. Senate Bill 253 gets rid of the energy efficiency tax credit putting $8.5 million back into the state's general fund. ... more » -
Schweitzer signs workers' comp bill into law
April 12, 2011 11:35 PM
HELENA- Workers' compensation reform became a reality in Montana on Tuesday thanks to a bi-partisan effort as Governor Brian Schweitzer signed House Bill 334 into law. The bill, sponsored by MT State Representative Scott Reichner, is the product of years of work completed by the Labor Management Advisory Council.... more » -
Wolf management bill on the table in Helena
April 12, 2011 11:30 PM
HELENA- Legislation to manage wolves is making its way through the Montana State Legislature. The House of Representatives will have a final vote Wednesday on a Senate bill to prohibit game wardens from investigating or citing anyone who kills a wolf while the animal is on the Endangered Species... more » -
Montana House passes spending bill, veto looms Play Video
April 12, 2011 8:28 AM
HELENA- The Republicans' final budget passed a second reading in the House despite the threat of a veto from Governor Schweitzer looming on the horizon. All of the Democrats in the chamber voted against House Bill 2, saying that the spending measure neglects Montana's most vulnerable residents. The... more » -
MT Legislature moving ahead on education funding
April 10, 2011 11:01 AM
HELENA- The Montana Senate is moving ahead on the Republican plan to fund K-12 education in the Treasure State. House Bill 611 is a policy statement which provides for a 2% inflationary increase in school funding. Some critics of the bill say that while every other agency is receiving... more » -
Budget battle heats up in Montana Legislature Play Video
April 7, 2011 9:22 AM
HELENA- The House and Senate of the Montana Legislature have two different versions of the state budget, so a bipartisan committee from both houses is trying to strike a compromise. Republicans aren't budging on the budget, and Democrats have little say in the matter. "There was a lot... more » -
Montana lawmakers debate education funding
April 7, 2011 9:18 AM
HELENA- The Montana House and the Montana Senate are still trying to work out a budget for K-12 education, but they remain about $14-million apart. The House has rolled out a plan to increase funding about $17-million while the Senate's proposal totals about $34-million. Both of the plans... more » -
Medical marijuana debate continues in Helena Play Video
April 7, 2011 9:08 AM
HELENA- There are only two weeks left in the legislative session and lawmakers are scrambling to do something about medical marijuana in Montana. Legislators significantly amended Senator Jeff Essmann's Montana Therapeutic Marijuana Act on Wednesday evening. Representative Cary Smith says the changes still gets rid of storefronts and... more » -
MT Legislature debates $100M bill Play Video
April 6, 2011 8:29 AM
HELENA- The Democrats are calling it their biggest jobs bill of the session, and it carries a price tag of nearly $100 million. MT State Representative Galen Hollenbaugh (D-Helena) is asking the State of Montana to sell $98 million dollars worth of bonds. Hollenbaugh says they will fund... more » -
Montana Legislature wrap up: 4.5.11
April 5, 2011 8:53 AM
HELENA- Lawmakers were busy in the state Capitol on Monday, working on several different fronts. The Senate approved a bill requiring DUI offenders to take a breath test every day, twice a week, until sentencing. A Senate committee advanced a prescription drug registry bill which supporters say would... more » -
Fate of MT medical marijuana reform efforts unclear Play Video
March 31, 2011 8:40 AM
HELENA- The Therapeutic Marijuana Act is still alive in the Montana Legislature, but just barely. On Wednesday it missed its deadline to be transmitted to the House. The bill's sponsor Senator Jeff Essmann (R-Billings) says his bill is about cracking down on the industry. "There has been a... more » -
"Blast" motion to repeal homosexual law fails in MT Legislature
March 29, 2011 12:48 PM
HELENA- A lawmaker on Tuesday attempted to "blast" a bill in the Legislature that would have repealing a Montana law that makes homosexual acts a crime. MT State Representative Diane Sands (D-Missoula), in trying to blast the measure on Tuesday morning, said, "This bill is a statement of conscience,... more » -
Montana Senate passes spending bill
March 29, 2011 11:14 AM
HELENA- The Montana Senate has passed the largest spending bill of the 2011 Legislative Session, but the bill didn't go through without a concerted effort to add money back into the budget. Senators proposed over 160 amendments to House Bill 2, with the Democrats leading the charge to restore... more » -
MT Senate debates biggest spending bill of session
March 28, 2011 6:58 PM
HELENA- Democrats and Republicans in the Montana Senate continue to clash over the largest spending bill of the session. House Bill 2 hit the Senate floor for a vote on Monday and as proposed, the bill is $125 million below the governor's general fund budget. With more than 150... more » -
Bills addressing Butte-based vets home funding move forward Play Video
March 25, 2011 11:00 AM
HELENA- A pair of bill that include funding strategies for the southwest Montana veterans' home to be built in Butte passed a second reading in the State House on Thursday. House Bill 439 , also known as the bonding bill, would put $5 million towards the southwest Montana veterans'... more » -
Montana Democrats slam legislative efforts Play Video
March 25, 2011 9:16 AM
HELENA- Montana Senate Democrats sent a message to their Republican counterparts, calling this session Montana's "March Madness". The largest spending bill of the session hits the Senate floor Friday and Democrats say they'll try to amend it to put funding back in for health and human services and education.... more » -
1st hearing for new "therapeutic" marijuana bill slated for Friday Play Video
March 24, 2011 10:55 PM
HELENA- Montana lawmakers have unveiled their plan to regulate medical marijuana in Montana. The Montana Therapeutic Marijuana Act would repeal the current law and start over, aiming to strike a balance between MT State Representative Mike Milburn's repeal bill and MT State Representative Diane Sand's reform bill. The... more » -
Sides respond to MT stream access bill being tabled Play Video
March 24, 2011 12:01 PM
The Montana Senate Agriculture Committee tabled a bill defining irrigation ditches on Tuesday, sidelining House Bill 309 on an 8-3 vote. Those who had been opposed to the measure have called it an assault on Montana's Stream Access Law, while supporters say it prohibits recreating in ditches with irrigation... more » -
Bill addresses cyanide leach mining in Montana
March 24, 2011 11:31 AM
HELENA- Montana Senator Terry Murphy (R-Cardwell) says he is trying to clarify the voter initiative, I-137, which bans new cyanide leach mines in Montana. Critics say he is violating the will of Montana voters and risking polluting the state's water. Senate Bill 306 states existing open pit mines can... more » -
Indian Health Care Improvement Act discussed in Helena Play Video
March 24, 2011 8:38 AM
HELENA- President Obama permanently reauthorized the Indian Health Care Improvement Act, which provides healthcare services for nearly 11% of Montana's population as part of last year's federal healthcare reform law. The two Acts are intricately tied together: if one goes, so does the other. "What that means when... more » -
Draft of new MT medical marijuana bill completed Play Video
March 24, 2011 8:21 AM
HELENA- Arguably the most contentious issue addressed by the Montana Legislature during the 2011 session has been medical marijuana. Public hearings about the issue have drawn crowds of advocates and opponents and triggered emotional testimony and debate. The Montana Senate tabled a bill last week which was aimed at... more » -
Proposed bill seeks to cut incentives to bring large movies, TV projects to Montana Play Video
March 23, 2011 11:58 AM
BOZEMAN- The Montana State Senate is continuing to move forward with a Republican budget plan and one bill is raising concerns among the Montana film industry. Senate Bill 253 removes incentives to bring large movie and television projects here to the state. The Republicans supporting it say the credits... more » -
Montana state workers may not see pay raises Play Video
March 23, 2011 9:04 AM
HELENA- More than 4,600 Montanans will not get pay raises in the next two years if Tuesday's action by the Montana State Legislature sticks. All but two Republicans on the House Appropriations committee voted to table the state pay plan which would give employees a 1% raise in 2012... more » -
MT Legislature takes up medical malpractice issue Play Video
March 22, 2011 11:55 PM
HELENA- A bill aimed at reforming Montana's medical malpractice laws is pitting the medical and legal communities against one another. State Representative Janna Taylor (R-Dayton) said her bill is about lowering the costs of health care, and her bill is designed to reform medical malpractice laws in Montana. ... more » -
MT Senate committee kills stream access bill Play Video
March 22, 2011 10:10 PM
HELENA- Members of the Senate Agriculture committee killed a bill which fisherman have been calling an assault on Montana's Stream Access Law. A few weeks back hundreds of anglers and recreationists filled the Capitol opposing a bill defining ditches. Supporters of the bill say it prohibits recreating in... more » -
MT Democrats celebrate federal healthcare law
March 22, 2011 8:32 PM
HELENA- Democrats in the Montana Legislature on Tuesday celebrated the one year anniversary of federal healthcare reform and Senate minority leader Carol Williams (D-Missoula) expressed her disgust with Republicans for trying to repeal healthcare. Republicans have introduced several bills in the Legislature aimed at either significantly limiting the Affordable... more » -
MT Legislature eyes anti-bullying measure Play Video
March 22, 2011 11:20 AM
HELENA- A bill that would require Montana public schools to adopt an anti bullying policy has made its way into the House of Representatives. The bill prohibits bullying, harassment or intimidation on school grounds and when a student is traveling to and from school. Critics of the bill... more » -
"Personhood" debated in Montana Legislature
March 22, 2011 7:55 AM
HELENA- The debate over when life begins was addressed on the floor of the Montana House of Representatives on Monday. State Representative Wendy Warburton (R-Havre) has introduced a bill that proposes that life begins at conception. The measure would let Montana voters decide if the state Constitution should be... more » -
Montana Wolf Control Act introduced into MT Legislature
March 21, 2011 2:10 PM
HELENA- State Senator Chas Vincent (R-Libby) has introduced a bill to manage Montana's wolf population. Senate Bill 414, also known as, the Montana Wolf Control Act, states it is "within the people's rights and the state's power under the 9th and 10th amendments to the U.S. Constitution to manage... more » -
Bill to repeal Missoula anti-discrimination ordinance progresses Play Video
March 18, 2011 7:30 PM
HELENA- A bill which could repeal Missoula's anti discrimination ordinance passed its first hurdle in the Montana Senate on Friday. Representative Kris Hansen's bill would prevent local governments from protecting certain classes of people who are not protected under state law. Legislators amended the bill to apply only to... more »
