Page 5 - Eric Bryson News Today

Representatives for the Montana Association of Counties, Wild Montana, and the Montana Wildlife Federation this week lauded legislators’ override of Gianforte’s veto of the appropriations bill.

Legislators overrode another veto issued by Gov. Greg Gianforte this week, this time an appropriations bill that includes the mechanism to send marijuana tax money to a habitat improvement program through another vetoed bill that several groups have sued over.

The lawsuit, while focusing on bill regarding pot sales, warns that future legislatures could be undermined by the governor timing vetoes.

The Montana Association of Counties is challenging a veto by Gov. Greg Gianforte that would allow for more funding of county roads through the use of recreational marijuana tax proceeds.

His veto ignores 132 legislators from both parties who voted for SB 442. It ignores 56 county commissions and numerous local governments who support the bill because it supported needed county road maintenance, enabling farmers and ranchers to get their products to market and EMTs to respond to emergencies.

“The constitutionally protected right of the Legislative Branch to override a veto cannot be circumvented by the Executive Branch attempting to find a constitutional loophole.” By Blair Miller, Daily Montanan A bipartisan group of lawmakers including the two minority leaders and Sen. Mike Lang (R) is disputing the determination from the Legislative Services Division that […]

The sponsor of a popular initiative seeking to divvy up more than $50 million of marijuana tax revenue is requesting that lawmakers be given an opportunity to override a veto Gov. Greg Gianforte issued in the final hours of the 2023 legislative session.

“We never thought for a moment he would actually override the will of the Legislature and turn his back on the beneficiaries of the bill.” By Amanda Eggert and Arren Kimbel-Sannit, Montana Free Press The sponsor of a popular initiative seeking to divvy up more than $50 million of marijuana tax revenue is requesting that […]

Sen. Mike Lang wants the Montana Legislature to weigh in one more time on Senate Bill 442.

Controversial proposals backed by right-wing “election integrity” groups were summarily tabled by Montana lawmakers following committee hearings that stretched through Saturday.