UM Legislative News Service House Minority Leader Kim Abbott, D-Helena, speaks at a press conference following the end of the 67th legislative session. Democrats touted their accomplishments with broadband and healthcare while decrying Republican efforts to investigate the judiciary and slash income taxes.
HELENA The 67th session of the Montana Legislature came to a close Thursday evening.
The legislature advanced some hefty policy over the last 80 days, including Montana’s 2-year $12 billion budget, a bill implementing recreational marijuana and another bill directing about $2 billion in federal funds from the American Rescue Plan Act.
Also on the docket were bills restricting abortion, limiting the rights of transgender youth, expanding gun rights and reforming taxes.
Montana lawmakers wrapped up the 2021 regular session here Thursday – but not without a technical glitch, delays on an aborted marijuana bill and some parting, partisan barbs.
GEORGE OCHENSKI
Right when you think the Republican-dominated Montana Legislature and governor canât get any worse, they do. A number of bills that Gov. Greg Gianforte happily signed into law are already facing court challenges, so to stack the deck in their favor, both the governor and the Legislature have launched a new and shameless attack on the judiciary â the âseparate but equalâ branch of government that is likely to toss their unconstitutional laws in the garbage where they belong.
The initial volley in this highly partisan battle was launched when the legislature passed a bill giving the governor carte blanche authority to appoint judges rather than pick from a list of candidates vetted by the non-partisan Judicial Nominating Committee, which has operated successfully for decades. As one attorney friend quipped: âThis means the governor can pick the absolutely worst, most incompetent lawyer, and providing theyâre sufficiently conse
Former Republican lawmaker Dave Lewis closely tracks what happens under the dome of the Montana Capitol through the 90 days lawmakers fill the building in odd-numbered years, and he s distressed by what s unfolded since the start of the month.
The Legislature, steered by a Republican majority, and the Supreme Court are in an escalating fight. At the end of last week, a newly formed committee led by GOP lawmakers said it would disregard a Supreme Court order and keep seeking emails from the judicial branch they claim show possible misconduct. One branch of government in Montana rejecting the power of another would be unprecedented, except this was the second time it d happened in less than a week.
HELENA, Mont. - The Montana Supreme Court is under investigation by state lawmakers.
After Governor Greg Gianforte signed SB 140 into law, allowing him to appoint judges to the district courts and state Supreme Court instead of going through a judicial nominating commission. Those judges would still have to be confirmed through the State Senate, but that is not the biggest issue at hand.
The investigation revealed Supreme Court Chief Justice Mike McGrath told the governor he was against this bill. Gov. Gianforte signed it anyway and almost immediately; this bill was challenged in the Supreme Court. McGrath recused himself from hearing this challenge because he had already made his opinion known.