Page 3 - Ed Buttrey News Today

The Legislature had a lot of debates this session about reimbursement rates for nursing homes and other health care services – with providers saying they need higher rates to account for the costs.

The single highest-profile component of Gov. Greg Gianforte’s signature red-tape relief effort, his much-touted push to streamline Montana’s code book in the name of efficient government, has emerged from its initial brush with the Legislature in a much-reduced form.

Up against a transmittal deadline, lawmakers acted on dozens of bills Monday in the House and Senate.

Fights are ramping up at the state Capitol over what to do with Montana’s marijuana tax revenue and its funding of the Habitat Montana conservation program.

On its first floor vote Monday, 23 House Republicans joined all 32 Democrats to advance Bozeman Democratic Rep. Alice Buckley’s bill to expand the Best Beginnings Scholarship program, which provides child care scholarships for low-income families in Montana.

House Bill 648 is from Rep. Alice Buckley, a Democrat from Bozeman.

Supporters of the bill said it would protect children from life-altering medications and surgeries before they reach adulthood.

Rep. Alice Buckley, D-Bozeman, pitched her House Bill 648 as a pared-down version of an earlier proposal.

Legislators in the House said “no” on Thursday to “constitutional sheriffs,” to partisan Montana Supreme Court elections, to “roofying” others, and to moving the Cowboy Hall of Fame away from Great Falls.

Legislators in the House said “no” on Thursday to “constitutional sheriffs,” to partisan Montana Supreme Court elections, to “roofying” others, and to moving the Cowboy Hall of Fame away from Great Falls.