Montana Lawmakers Focus in on Capturing Film Industry Dollars
University of Montana School of Journalism
For two whole days in October, the sounds of shattering glass and blood-scrubbing brushes rocked Ruby’s Cafe in Missoula a charming, 40s-style diner owned by Brenda Hallas. She spent the days in her basement office, listening to the chaos without a worry in her mind. In fact, given the chance, she said she’d invite the noisemakers back for another round.
“I really hope if something comes up again, and they need a diner again, they’re going to call us,” Hallas said in a phone call. “I want to have a rapport with these people.”
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Itâs part of Shawn Reagorâs job to distill information for lawmakers and bring to the forefront human stories that illustrate complex policy. But the pace at which the Montana Legislature heard, advanced and dispatched bills in the last week made that a challenge.
âWe have a spreadsheet of everything and Iâm having a hard time keeping track,â said Reagor, program director with the Montana Human Rights Network. âFor any member of the public to be able to keep track and know who to contact and when and what to say? It makes it really difficult.â
Early in the week, Reagor testified on a bill that was one of 20 heard by the House Judiciary Committee in a single day. The session is careening toward the transmittal deadline, which is the cutoff for policy bills that donât deal with money to advance from their original chamber or face defeat.
Montana lawmakers are giving shorter notice for some public hearings as their work picks up speed and a deadline approaches for bills to pass through the chambers. The deadline is leading to marathon policy meetings.
Montana Lawmakers Speed Up Public Meetings As Deadline Approaches mtpr.org - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from mtpr.org Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.