(The Center Square) – A government funding stopgap is on its way to President Joe Biden’s desk after the Senate voted 85-11 to pass a 118-page bill to keep the… Read More
Featured Posts in Politics
Attorney General Knudsen Sues Biden Administration Over Coal Leasing Halt
Montana Attorney General Austin Knudsen has filed a lawsuit against the Biden administration over its plan to halt federal coal leasing in the Powder River Basin, a region responsible for… Read More
Biden’s Controversial Clemency Grants to Convicted Officials Spark Outrage
President Joe Biden faced bipartisan criticism this week after granting clemency to two disgraced officials convicted in high-profile corruption cases. The decision, part of a larger clemency package for 1,500… Read More
23 AGs oppose Biden’s 4th attempt to saddle Americans with student loan debt
(The Center Square) – A group of 23 attorneys general led by Missouri and Kansas has put the Biden administration’s Department of Education on notice about its fourth attempt to… Read More
All Posts In Politics
Rosendale votes against holiday commemorating end of slavery
Montana’s only congressman, Matt Rosendale, was among the 14 House Republicans who voted Wednesday against a bill making June 19 a national holiday commemorating the end of slavery in the… Read More
Supreme Court sides with Catholic adoption agency that refuses to work with LGBT couples
The Supreme Court on Thursday delivered a unanimous defeat to LGBT couples in a high-profile case over whether Philadelphia could refuse to contract with a Roman Catholic adoption agency that… Read More
Gianforte donates first-quarter salary to drug treatment center
Montana Gov. Greg Gianforte (R) will be donating the first quarter of his salary to a drug treatment facility in the state. One Health Bighorn, a medical facility that also does drug… Read More
Federal Judge Blocks Biden Attack on Montana Energy Producers
A federal judge today halted the Biden administration’s moratorium on federal oil and gas leasing and drilling permits that threatened the livelihoods of rural Montana families and would have cost… Read More
Daines Introduces Bipartisan Bill to Expand Mental Health and Addiction Services in Montana
U.S. SENATE — U.S. Senator Steve Daines, Ranking Member of the U.S. Senate Finance Subcommittee on Health Care, introduced a bipartisan bill to enhance access to addiction and mental health services in communities across Montana. This comes after… Read More
MT Supreme Court upholds judicial-appointment law
In a 6-1 decision, the Montana Supreme Court late Thursday upheld the controversial new law that wipes out a 50-year-old process for filling state judicial vacancies in Montana and gives… Read More
Missoula, Bozeman approve hiring full-time judges after mandate from legislature
Missoula and Bozeman are taking action after the governor signed Senate Bill 127 in April, an unfunded mandate cutting all part-time assistant judges in municipal court. Many judges appoint a… Read More
Attorney General Knudsen Leads 20-State Effort Opposing Biden’s ATF Director Nominee
Montana Attorney General Austin Knudsen and 19 other state attorneys general today called on the U.S. Senate to reject David Chipman’s confirmation as director of the Department of Justice’s Bureau… Read More
Pressure Mounts on Red State Attorneys General To Cut Ties With Left-Wing Law Firm
Montana this month ended its relationship with a law firm that has deep ties to the Democratic Party, a victory for conservative legal figures pushing other red states to stop… Read More
New MT law opens public school sports and extracurriculars to private and homeschooled kids
A new Montana law effectively removes the attendance requirements for a child who is not in public school to participate in a school district’s sports or other extracurricular programs. On… Read More
Daines Introduces Bipartisan Package to Promote Retirement Security for Montanans
U.S. Senator Steve Daines is helping lead bipartisan efforts in the U.S. Senate to help Montanans prepare for retirement. The package includes Daines’ bipartisan “Retirement Savings Lost and Found Act” that helps Montanans track… Read More
AOC criticizes Biden statement of support for Israel as siding with ‘occupation’
U.S. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y.,criticized President Biden over his Wednesday statement of support for Israel amid escalating violence with Hamas, claiming he gave little context for what stoked the tensions… Read More
Rep. Rosendale Statement on Cheney Removal
“For months it’s been clear that Cheney is unfit for any leadership role in the Republican Party. Conservatives tried to fix the problem in February, but weren’t listened to. Even… Read More
Gianforte Signs Landmark Investment in Broadband Expansion
Governor Greg Gianforte today signed into law the ConnectMT Act, providing $275 million in federal funds to expand access to reliable broadband across Montana. “Too many of our communities, particularly… Read More
Guest Column: Bitter Bullock should find something better to do
Montana voters overwhelmingly rejected Steve Bullock’s recent attempt to represent us in the US Senate – he lost the race by over 60,000 votes. Based on the column he submitted… Read More
Bernie Sanders Pushing Back on Dem Calls for Removing SALT Deduction Cap
Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., who chairs the Senate Budget Committee, is flatly opposed to removing former President Donald Trump’s cap on what’s known as the SALT deduction on state and… Read More
USHER ANNOUNCES FOR SENATE DISTRICT 20
Representative Barry Usher (R-Laurel) has announced he is running for Montana Senate District 20. Usher, currently represents House District 40, consisting of North Rural Yellowstone County (Molt, Broadview, Acton &… Read More
Montana AG wants to disqualify Supreme Court from case involving itself
HELENA — In the escalating battle between leading Republicans and the Montana judiciary, Attorney General Austin Knudsen has asked that all seven justices of the Montana Supreme Court disqualify themselves… Read More
Montana Supreme Court Will Consider Challenge To New Judicial Appointment Law With Full Bench
The Montana Supreme Court will proceed with a full bench to consider a challenge to a new law that allows the governor to appoint judges and justices to court vacancies…. Read More
Daines Cosponsors Bill to Speed Critical Mineral Production
U.S. Senator Steve Daines cosponsored a bill to streamline the permitting process for domestic critical mineral production. Daines’ bill will help create Montana jobs, boost the economy, protect our national security… Read More
Ryan Zinke jumps on House seat
The U.S. Census last Monday revealed that Montana qualified for a second U.S. House seat, and the first person to announce his intent to fill it is a familiar face…. Read More
Medical marijuana initiative to appear on South Dakota 2020 ballot
South Dakota Secretary of State Steve Barnett announced Thursday that the petition submitted for an initiated measure on legalizing medical use marijuana has been validated and filed. The measure, titled… Read More
Psaki defends administration’s messaging on refugee cap
White House press secretary Jen Psaki on Monday tried to rebut criticism of the Biden administration’s refugee admissions plan after its faltering rollout at the end of last week. President… Read More
Daines, Rosendale, Urge DOI Secretary to Keep Commitment to Follow Science, Delist the Grizzly
Montana’s U.S. Senator Steve Daines and Congressman Matt Rosendale and the entire Wyoming and Idaho delegations today urged Secretary Deb Haaland to listen to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) study that states… Read More
Rep. Rosendale Introduces Health Freedom & Flexibility Act
Today, Representative Rosendale introduced the Health Freedom and Flexibility Act. This bill empowers Americans to make their own decisions on how they spend their hard-earned dollars on healthcare. Thirty-million Americans,… Read More
Governor Gianforte Signs Bill Authorizing Direct Patient Care
At a direct patient care facility in Billings, Governor Greg Gianforte today signed a bill expanding access to affordable, high-quality health care. “We’re committed to making affordable, high-quality health care… Read More
MT Judiciary, GOP Legislators disagree during investigatory committee
The Legislature’s Special Select Committee on Judicial Transparency and Accountability met Monday afternoon to question Montana Supreme Court Justices and the Court Administrator. However, to some committee members’ disapproval, administrator… Read More
Lincoln Co. Lawmaker Seeks Review of Selenium Standard on Koocanusa
A Republican lawmaker from Northwest Montana has introduced a bill instructing the Montana Environmental Quality Council (EQC) to reanalyze the state’s newly adopted selenium standard, which was set to protect… Read More
Billings law to regulate massage businesses, fight human trafficking passes first reading
An ordinance to regulate massage businesses in Billings with the goal to cut down on human trafficking passed in a 8-3 vote at a City Council meeting Monday night. Council… Read More
Montana House endorses bill to let public request election to overturn health board orders
The Montana House has endorsed a bill that would let the public ask for an election to change local health boards’ actions. It’s the latest of a series of bills… Read More
Legislature refuses to comply with SupCo order on judicial emails
The attorney general’s office late Monday told the Montana Supreme Court that Republican legislators will not comply with the court’s order to halt their attempts to acquire and publicize internal… Read More
MT Supreme Court takes unusual step to keep internal emails from being released
The Montana Supreme Court on Sunday put the brakes on a legislative inquiry into the state court administrator’s emails, which recent revelations have shown to contain judges’ polls on pending… Read More
Daines to Introduce Bill to Prevent Taxpayer Funded Handouts for Illegal Immigrants
U.S. Senator Steve Daines announced he will introduce a bill to stop taxpayer dollars from going to states that are making any direct or indirect payments to illegal immigrants. This follows news that… Read More
Motion Filed to Disqualify Judge Kurt Krueger from SB140 Challenge
The Montana Department of Justice today filed a motion to disqualify Judge Kurt Krueger and any Montana judicial officer who “voted” on or expressed approval or disapproval of Senate Bill… Read More
Funding for Forest Management Projects Widely Praised
Last week, Governor Greg Gianforte announced funding for 14 new forest management projects to reduce wildfire risk, improve forest health and wildlife habitats, and support local economies with good-paying jobs… Read More
Flathead County Faces Lawsuits Over Developments
Flathead County is party to two lawsuits seeking court interpretations of the county’s subdivision regulations. The suits were mentioned at the county commission’s March 11 meeting, when Planning Director Mark… Read More
Wilmot Collins seeking re-election as Helena’s mayor
On Monday, Helena Mayor Wilmot Collins has officially announced his intentions to run for re-election. “I want to continue to improve our wonderful home, and make it a better place… Read More
Legislature asking Corrections for details on reform results
More than three years into an overhaul of Montana’s criminal sentencing laws, the Legislature is preparing to ask the Corrections Department for extensive reporting on whether rehabilitation programs are working… Read More
Daines Introduces Bipartisan Bill to Prevent Burdensome Regulations on Montana Agriculture, Livestock Haulers
U.S. Senator Steve Daines introduced the bipartisan “Modernizing Agricultural Transportation Act,” which would delay enforcement of the Hours of Service (HOS) and Electronic Logging Device (ELD) regulations until reforms are proposed by the Transportation… Read More
Attorney General Knudsen Joins Lawsuit Over Biden Administration Energy Lease Moratorium
Montana Attorney General Austin Knudsen, Louisiana Attorney General Jeff Landry, and 11 other state attorneys general filed today to block the Biden administration’s ongoing violation of the Mineral Leasing Act (MLA)… Read More
Rep. Rosendale Introduces the Criminalize Fleeing from Immigration Enforcement Act
Representative Rosendale introduced the Criminalize Fleeing from Immigration Enforcement Act. With the Biden Border Crisis, the Southern Border is seeing increased instances of individuals fleeing Border Patrol agents and other… Read More
Daines Introduces Bipartisan Bill to Increase Public Safety, Support Montana Small Businesses
U.S. Senator Steve Daines today introduced a bipartisan bill, the “Secure and Fair Enforcement (SAFE) Banking Act,” to ensure that legal cannabis businesses have access to banks, credit unions and other financial institutions…. Read More
Florida GOP Senators Back Vote-By-Mail Overhaul
With backing from Gov. Ron DeSantis, a Florida Senate committee on Wednesday approved a wide-ranging proposal to revamp vote-by-mail laws, including banning the use of drop boxes and taking aim… Read More
Dems consider overturning Iowa congressional race
The prospect of a floor vote to overturn a contested congressional race in Iowa has suddenly become a real dilemma for House Democrats’ most vulnerable members. Moderate Democrats are privately… Read More
Daines Votes No on Becerra Confirmation to be HHS Secretary
U.S. SENATE —U.S. Senator Steve Daines today voted against the confirmation of President Biden’s Health and Human Services Secretary nominee Xavier Becerra. “Xavier Becerra has made a career out of defending the… Read More
Outline of Montana cannabis bill shows framework, allocation of revenues
An early look at the legislative plan to implement recreational cannabis use in Montana shows the program aims to address a wide range of priorities and could be a boon… Read More
Daines Statement on Keystone XL Pipeline Lawsuit
U.S. SENATE —U.S. Senator Steve Daines issued the below statement regarding Montana Attorney General Austin Knudsen’s announcement to pursue legal action against the Biden administration for revoking the permit for construction on… Read More
Montana and Texas Lead 21-State Lawsuit to Block Biden’s Illegitimate Keystone Cancellation
Montana Attorney General Austin Knudsen, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton and 19 other state attorneys general filed suit today in United States District Court for the Southern District of Texas… Read More